I was recently asked by a colleague of mine to list out a few resources that his students could access from home during this unprecedented COVID-19 Outbreak. I put together this list and I’m asking any of you that have great, relevant resources to add them in the comment sections below. There are so many resources available, some are hard to find and some are buried in the Google search results.
These particular resources focus on scores, individual sheet music related to band literature, and band literature recordings. Again, please feel free to help all of us about sharing your own resources or ones that you’ve come across in the comment section below; also feel free to drop us a note, I know that many people are viewing and using the resources on MusTech.Net, but few take the time to leave a comment.
Please note that the resources listed below are in no particular order; however, the Spotify playlists are toward the bottom.
The Wind Band Symphony Archive
“The Wind Band Symphony Archive collects information about original symphonies for wind band, presenting all of its findings in searchable and sortable form. Its purpose is threefold:
- to promote the symphony genre as a serious vehicle for wind band music and expression;
- to give band conductors and enthusiasts free access to information about wind band symphonies, thereby making it more likely that wind band symphonies will make it onto concert programs;
- to shed light on forgotten and neglected works so that they might re-enter the repertoire.”
Institute for Composer Diversity:
“ The Institute for Composer Diversity, winner of the 2018 ASCAP Deems Taylor/Virgil Thomson Media/Internet Award and housed at the State University of New York at Fredonia, is dedicated to the celebration, education, and advocacy of music created by composers from historically underrepresented groups through online tools, research-based resources, and sponsored initiatives.”
IMSLP, Petrucci Music Library:
Featuring almost 200,000 works, 20,000 composers, 60,000 recordings, 500,000 scores, and 10,000,000 pages, the Petrucci library is a GIFT to instrumentalists everywhere.
“BandMusic PDF Library preserves and shares band music from the Golden Age of the American Town Band. If you are looking for public domain music to play with your school band, community band or other group, you’ll find it here–marches, waltzes, rags, theater music, cornet solos, trombone features, and much more.”
The Complete Marches of John Philip Sousa
“’The Complete Marches of John Philip Sousa’ is a multi-year recording project and is the Marine Band’s first comprehensive collection of Sousa’s marches since the 1970s. Initiated by Director Col. Jason K. Fettig, the collection is presented in chronological order. Volume 1, released on April 6, 2015, contains Sousa’s first 17 marches, covering the years 1873 to 1882. Volume 2, released on April 11, 2016, contains 18 marches, spanning the years 1883 to 1889, when Sousa was Director of the Marine Band. Volume 3, released Dec. 12, 2016, includes 20 marches Sousa composed from 1889-98. Volume 4, released April 9, 2018, includes 20 marches Sousa composed from 1899-1916. Volume 5, released on April 11, 2019, includes 20 marches Sousa composed from 1917-1920.”
WASBE, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles
“World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) is the only international organization of wind band conductors, composers, performers, publishers, teachers, instrument makers and friends of wind music. It is the only organization completely dedicated to enhancing the quality of the wind band throughout the world and exposing its members to new worlds of repertoire, musical culture, people and places. WASBE is a non-profit international association open to all individuals, institutions and industries interested in symphonic wind bands and wind ensembles.”
Wikipedia, List of Concert Band Literature
“This is an inclusive list of the accepted standard works written specifically for concert band or wind ensemble.”
“A search system for musicians.” Chock full of useful music for various ensembles.
“We offer contemporary, classical and educational free sheet music for all instruments. Free-scores.com is a free and legal platform for composers, arrangers and publishers.”
John McAllister Music – Free Reources
A nice selection of warm-ups, scales, arrangements, and sight-reading exercises.
“The Band Director Media Group is dedicated to bringing important professional information to band directors and other music educators of all experience levels in ways that interest, excite, and intrigue. We provide live and spirited engagement by working with today’s top music education leaders to create a better music education environment for today’s schools.”
The United States Army Field Band Recordings:
“The United States Army Field Band has produced a series of recordings on compact disc. These recordings were painstakingly researched to authenticate standard performance practices and reflect the original intent of the composers. Some of the enclosed booklets include historical background on the composers, detailed program notes on each selection, and vintage photographs.”
Concert Band 101: An Introduction to Wind Ensembles (MPR)
“The concert band is an ensemble that goes by many names: wind ensemble, wind symphony, wind band, wind orchestra, symphonic band — or just plain “band.” It’s a collection of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments that is best known to the general public for patriotic marches, but it also is an ensemble that more and more composers are turning to for their next big work.
So what exactly is a concert band? Here are some answers for those new to the genre as we launch the Concert Band stream.”
Naxos Records, Wind Band Classics
“The Wind Band Classics series is devoted to presenting the best in symphonic band music, performed by international wind ensembles such as the President’s Own US Marine Band, Peabody Conservatory Wind Ensemble, University of Houston Wind Ensemble. The series includes world première recordings, as well as arrangements of well-known popular works from the classical repertoire. An indispensable set for collectors and fans of band music.”
Top 10 Spotify Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band Playlists (plus an extra):
- Concert Band Music, D. Garza
- Best of Concert Band, J. Donnelly
- Gros’s Ultimate Playlist of Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, K. Gros
- Mr. Brown’s Concert Band Favorites
- Symphony of the Winds
- Concert Band Favorites, C. Ellis
- Concert Band/Wind Ensemble, T.J. Weller
- Symphonic Wind Band Music, T. Rippinger
- Concert Band Classics, D.J. Rhodes
- The Sound of Wind Ensemble, Sounds of Spotify
- Wind Ensemble, Zachary Christy
