A competition that wind band musicians across the country aspire to enter.
You spend an entire year practicing hard for that contest, don’t you?
At that competition, depending on the division, bands typically perform two pieces: a set piece and a free-choice piece.
While the set piece is chosen from several works announced each year, how do you decide on your free-choice piece?
Some bands compete with a piece they’ve performed for years and feel comfortable with, while others take on the challenge of a new work—but either way, it’s a tough decision.
In this article, we carefully select and introduce recommended pieces for your free-choice selection in competitions.
We’ll cover timeless classics and recent popular works, so please use this as a reference!
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Recommended pieces for a wind band competition (1–10)
Brussels RequiemBert Appermont
A piece by Bert Appermont that became a major sensation, performed as the free-choice work by many ensembles at the 2019 wind band competition.
It was composed as a requiem to mourn the victims of the series of bombings that occurred in March 2016 in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
The piece incorporates the theme of the French children’s song “Au Clair de la Lune.” It begins with a clarinet solo, and the theme is then passed among various instruments, including xylophone, horn, and English horn.
It is a work filled with appeal—beautiful melodies, tense harmonies, and brilliant runs.
Overture to AlcobacaJames Barnes
This is a piece by Barnes characterized by its dynamic nature and very fast tempo.
It suits larger bands, and while you’ll need plenty of practice to lock into the rapid rhythms at the beginning, it sounds fantastic when everything lines up.
It’s also a piece that is often selected as a required work for competitions spanning a wide range of ages, from elementary school students to adults.
If you play in a wind ensemble, you’ll almost certainly perform it at least once.
El Camino RealAlfred Reed
One of the signature works by wind band master Alfred Reed, affectionately known as “El Cami.” It gained attention when it was featured in the 2016 TV drama ‘Aogeba Totoshi.’ “El Camino Real” means “the Royal Road” in Spanish, and it is said to have been inspired by the historic route in California.
The piece is characterized by a fast, triple-meter pulse and a passionate tone, along with a middle section that carries a sense of melancholy.
It incorporates the style of Spanish flamenco.
Forest of ResonanceFukushima Hirokazu
Composed in 2018 on a commission from the Tokai University Takanawadai High School Wind Orchestra.
“Sinfonietta” is an Italian word meaning “little symphony,” and, as the name suggests, it is given to works that possess the character of a symphony but on a smaller scale.
The subtitle “Forest of Resonance” does not depict any particular forest; rather, it refers to the way sounds resonate with one another, creating a texture that evokes a forest as if trees were densely growing.
A single theme develops through changes in pitch and rhythm, unfolding across the timbres of various instruments.
Tanabata (Star Festival)Sakai Itaru
The composer has stated that they drew inspiration from a wide range of pieces—from wind band and classical to pop—making the work approachable even for those unfamiliar with wind music.
It opens with a brass fanfare and, led by the snare drum, launches into a driving main theme.
In the middle section, Orihime appears as an alto saxophone solo and Hikoboshi as a euphonium solo.
This call-and-response between the two solos can be considered the piece’s greatest highlight.
After a development section centered on beltone textures in the brass, the tempo returns to its brisk pace, leading to a refreshing and grand finale.
Symphonia NobilissimaRobert Jager
A work composed in 1964 by New York–born composer Jager as a dedication to his wife.
It is written in a three-part fast–slow–fast form with an introduction and coda.
The beautiful theme presented in the introduction is developed in various guises—buoyant at times, tinged with melancholy at others.
The six-bar introduction should be performed with noble grandeur, then gives way to brisk, heroic music.
An oboe-led woodwind melody forms an expressive middle section that unfolds dramatically, and the piece closes with a brilliant finale.
Daphnis and ChloeJoseph-Maurice Ravel
A ballet score composed by Maurice Ravel.
It is a three-part work based on the love story Daphnis and Chloé, traditionally attributed to the ancient Greek poet Longus, and was composed at the request of Sergei Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes.
“Daybreak” portrays the scene of Daphnis and Chloé’s reunion as the light gradually brightens amid the murmur of a river and birdsong.
“General Dance” depicts Daphnis and Chloé dancing together with young shepherds and maidens near the rock of the pastoral god Pan in front of the nymphs’ grotto.
Try listening while imagining each scene!