A Collection of Pop Hits for Wind Band: From Classics to Popular Medleys
What kind of pieces are performed at wind ensemble concerts?
Familiar pieces that have been passed down as club traditions and that year’s competition set pieces are common, but pop music is also essential for concerts.
It’s not just formal wind band works—Japanese and Western pop songs that everyone recognizes really get the crowd going!
In this article, we’ll introduce recommended pop tunes to perform with a wind ensemble.
We’ve selected a wide range, from the latest J-pop to classic staples and medleys arranged for wind band.
Popular songs usually have scores available, so no worries!
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- A popular anime song medley. Classic and popular anime songs.
- A collection of video game music I want to perform in a wind ensemble
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- Youthful songs recommended as theme songs and openings for cultural and school festivals
- [Uplifting Songs] A curated selection of popular and latest tracks to energize your school cultural festivals!
- [History] A roundup of popular set pieces from the All-Japan Band Competition
- [Wind Ensemble] Recommended Western pop songs for concerts: timeless classics from every era
- Recommended pieces for a wind band contest
- [March] A curated selection of classic marches and dazzling crowd-pleasers for concerts!
From Classics to Popular Medleys: A Collection of Pops That Fire Up Wind Bands (21–30)
FateOfisharu Higedan Dism
A song by Official HIGE DANDism that energized the 101st National High School Baseball Championship as the theme for the 2019 ABC TV/TV Asahi network program “Netto Koshien.” Eighty-seven students selected from across Japan took part in the recording for the wind ensemble and chorus.
With its pop, beautiful melody and powerful brass section, it’s an exceptionally cool track!
ultramarineYOASOBI
YOASOBI’s masterpiece “Gunjō” evokes bittersweet warmth and powerful emotions.
The commemorative live “SING YOUR WORLD” for their T-shirt collaboration with UT was especially memorable—the harmony between the richly colorful tones of the Osaka Toin High School Wind Ensemble and YOASOBI’s expressive performance was so beautiful it was moving.
It pairs exceptionally well with wind ensemble, and even playing it yourself would surely lift your spirits! As a defining J-pop song of the 2020s with enduring support, it’s guaranteed to bring the excitement.
From Classics to Popular Medleys: A Collection of Pops to Excite with Wind Ensemble (31–40)
The world is smiling at you.Little Glee Monster
Little Glee Monster’s “Sekai wa Anata ni Waraikaketeiru,” a huge hit among young people.
It opens with a beautiful clarinet melody, then passes the tune between various instruments through solos and soli.
It feels just like Little Glee Monster weaving their vocals together.
The transition from the sections where only the melody is played to everyone joining in for the final climax is truly moving.
Deep Purple MedleyDeep Purple
Among songs by Western rock bands, this Deep Purple medley is especially popular in the wind band world! It features three of their signature tracks: Burn, Highway Star, and Smoke on the Water.
People who listened to Deep Purple in real time, of course, and even those who didn’t, have probably heard these three songs somewhere! That said, this medley is designed so that even those who’ve never listened to them at all can get excited.
Some may wonder, “Can you really play hard rock with a wind band?” but the powerful performance, interwoven with solos from each section, is absolutely breathtaking!
Theme of Lupin the ThirdŌno Yūji
This piece is practically a staple at wind ensemble concerts—it’s performed so often it’s almost a given! It’s the theme from the hugely popular anime Lupin the Third, and I’m sure it’s a tune everyone’s familiar with.
It’s up-tempo, with the drum set laying down a steady beat throughout, giving it a fantastic groove.
The melody alternates between the brass and woodwinds, creating a great sense of presence and excitement.
There are solo spots for various sections in between, offering plenty of highlight moments, and it’s sure to bring the whole venue together for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!
No doubtOfisharu Higedan Dism
Official Hige DANDism’s “No Doubt” starts off with a slightly jazzy vibe.
After the drums set the tone, the flute and piccolo, trumpet, and trombone weave the melody.
It’s a captivating piece whose charm lies in how the mood shifts throughout the song—from cool to beautiful to light and sprightly.
horizonback number
Although they are a rock band, back number is known for their gentle, emotionally resonant sound, and their fourth digital single, “Suiheisen,” is a prime example.
The song was reportedly written for high school students who were aiming for the Inter-High but had their event canceled due to COVID-19.
It’s a masterpiece that comforts you when things are beyond your control.
A highlight is the concert band arrangement, where an alto sax solo shines within the calmly progressing sound.
It’s also a relatively approachable piece to tackle, so why not consider adding it to your program?
