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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- [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
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- [March] A curated selection of classic marches and dazzling crowd-pleasers for concerts!
From Classics to Popular Medleys: A Collection of Pops to Energize with Wind Ensemble (41–50)
A Cruel Angel’s ThesisTakahashi Yoko
Yoko Takahashi’s “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” is a staple in the wind band world.
It opens with a saxophone solo that’s both cool and sweet in tone, then surges to a climax at the drummer’s cue.
The arrangement makes not only the melody but also the call-and-response lines and rhythms sound stylish.
Every instrument gets a spotlight moment, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that will get the whole venue fired up.
From Classics to Popular Medleys: A Collection of Pops that Excite in Wind Band (51–60)
dance hallMrs. GREEN APPLE
It’s common for concerts to be held as part of welcome or send-off parties, isn’t it? In that case, I recommend “Dance Hall,” a song that lifts listeners’ spirits.
It’s by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE and is also well known as the theme song for the morning news show Mezamashi 8.
The biggest highlight is the layered vocals in the final chorus, so keep an ear out for that.
By the way, the Osaka Toin High School Wind Ensemble performance that’s popular on YouTube adds some arrangement touches for an even more dazzling finish.
Disney’s Fantillusion!Hoshide Takashi
Among sheet music for wind ensembles, there are many Disney-related arrangements, and this medley is one of the most popular.
It recreates Disney’s Fantillusion!, the nighttime parade that took place at Tokyo Disneyland from 1995 to 2001.
It opens with the Fantillusion fanfare for a dazzling start, followed by a succession of familiar Disney classics like “Heigh-Ho” and “A Whole New World.”
fireworks (launched into the sky)DAOKO × Yonezu Kenshi
DAOKO × Kenshi Yonezu’s “Uchiage Hanabi” is perfect for performances at summer competitions and events.
Released in 2017, the song was used as the theme for the animated film “Fireworks, Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?”.
It achieved strong results on Billboard Japan’s overall and anime charts, and the music video has surpassed 400 million views.
While the piano is particularly beautiful in this piece, arranging it for wind ensemble instruments gives it a different kind of appeal.
If you’re performing at an event without restrictions, it might be a good idea to include a piano as-is in the performance!
Racing into the NightYOASOBI
This is one of YOASOBI’s signature songs, famous for their style of turning novels into music.
In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a video of the Osaka Toin High School Wind Ensemble performing it was posted on YouTube and became a huge sensation! Not only does it have a lively, catchy tempo, but it’s also extremely well-known and popular, so it’s sure to get the crowd excited at a concert.
The arrangement emphasizes dynamic contrast, allowing you to fully showcase both the power and elegance of a wind ensemble—aim for a wonderful performance!
U.S.A.DA PUMP
DA PUMP’s “U.S.A.” kicks off with a shout.
It’s upbeat, with an arrangement that gives both the woodwinds and brass their moments to shine.
There’s also a cool saxophone solo in the middle! It’s a crowd-pleaser that gets even more exciting with staging, like performing it together with dance.
Hyping up the audience might be a great idea, too.
flareSuperfly
The theme song of the NHK morning drama series Scarlet.
The arrangement gives each instrument its own spotlight, from high to low registers.
The drums drive the rhythm, resulting in a lively, upbeat finish.
While retaining the original song’s cuteness, it also delivers the rich, powerful sound and cool vibe characteristic of wind ensembles.
It’s sure to bring the house down at concerts!