Wonderful wind ensemble

Perfect for free selections and concert programs! Introducing famous and classic favorites in wind ensemble music.

Graduated from a music school / 21 years of piano experiencesatomi
I began playing the piano at the age of four and spent six years at a conservatory, focusing mainly on classical music while honing my skills. In addition to solo performance, I studied extensively in chamber music and two-piano repertoire, and I had the opportunity to perform twice on stage as a soloist in piano concertos. While not to the same extent as classical, I also learned jazz and pop through practical performance. I was active as a pianist in various settings, including instrumental and vocal/choral accompaniment, performance assistance for other departments, and recording sessions. Beyond the piano, I devoted five years to the trombone in a wind ensemble. I hope to draw on these experiences to share the charm of music with many people.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Members of school wind bands often get frequent chances to perform in public—at competitions (free-choice pieces), regular concerts, baseball game rallies, and even sports days! And every time, choosing the repertoire is the big headache.

Besides classic wind band standards and trending Japanese pop arrangements, if it’s a free-choice piece for a competition, you also want something that shows off your ensemble’s strengths—so when you think through everything, it can be hard to land on “this is it.” In this article, we’ll introduce a wealth of recommended wind band pieces that will surely help if you’re feeling stuck.

We’ve picked out a wide range—from dazzling numbers across various genres to stylish and cool pieces—so please find works that make you think, “We want to perform this!”

Perfect for free selections and concert programs! Introducing classic and staple favorites of wind band music (161–170)

El CapitanJohn Philip Sousa

El Capitan / J.P. Sousa

El CapitanJohn Philip Sousa

A masterpiece known as a brilliant march born from an operetta.

Crafted by John Philip Sousa, famed as the “March King,” this piece is a wind band classic with an appealing, lively, and accessible melody.

In the United States, it has been performed continuously by concert and military bands since its 1896 premiere.

In Japan, it became beloved by many performers after being chosen as a required piece for the 4th All Japan Band Competition in 1956.

It’s perfect both as a dazzling opener for concerts and as a piece to enjoy playing together with friends.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Covington SquareJames Swearingen

Covington Square // J. Swearingen Tsurumi Ward Wind Ensemble

Covington SquareJames Swearingen

A wind band piece composed by James Swearingen, one of the most popular composers among concert band enthusiasts.

It is a three-part work with a gentle, beautiful melody.

The main section has a march-like character, while the middle section is uniquely relaxed, featuring an appealing cornet solo.

In the latter part, the main theme returns, building to a spirited conclusion.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

In conclusion

We’ve introduced many staple pieces for concert band—from past competition set pieces and long-loved classics to marches and pops.

If you were once in a school band, you probably spotted several tunes you’ve played and feel nostalgic about.

Use this as a reference when choosing a free selection for contests or pieces to perform at concerts.

Find your favorite and show it off with style!