Brass Band Arrangements

What to look for when buying an arrangement

Introduction
Some well-known brass band arrangers
Difficulty of the piece
Is the arrangement interesting to play?
Is the arrangement interesting to listen to?

Introduction

There is an abundance of arrangements available for brass bands ranging from the classical repertoire to jazz and pop. Many of the arrangements can be bought over the Internet and delivered direct to your door. But how do you know which ones to buy and what to look for in an arrangement?

If you know the exact piece and arranger you want to purchase, there is little question of choice, but it is worth considering the points below to ensure you are buying a piece that will be suitable for your band and audience alike. If you do not know which piece or arrangement to choose, some research is essential.

If at all possible try to look at the score or listen to a recording of an arrangement before buying. If you are not sure where to start in buying an arrangement for your band it may be best to stick with pieces by some of the more well-known arrangers.

Some well-known brass band arrangers

Darrol Barry
Derek Broadbent
Alan Catherall
Andrew Duncan
Ray Farr
Alan Fernie
Peter Graham
Phillip Harper
Gordon Langford
Roy Newsome
Goff Richards
Sandy Smith
Steve Sykes
Keith Wilkinson

Difficulty of the piece

Some distributors will label their music according to its difficulty. This is a useful tool as it is important to buy a piece that is going to suit the standard of your band. Level of difficulty is particularly important when buying for youth and lower section bands as choosing a piece that is way out of their reach could prove demoralising. On the other hand, a piece that is too easy to play for a higher section band could be detrimental as players will not be challenged and could get turned off. You also need to consider any major solos that are written in the music and be sure that your players will cope with the demands.

Is the arrangement interesting to play?

Some arrangers, particularly less known ones, merely re-orchestrate the original music as opposed to arranging it. This may suit a handful of pieces but the majority will not successfully translate directly for the brass band. For example, some orchestral works can be tricky to arrange due to the sheer number of colours available in an orchestra. Popular music arrangements, if not done well, can be repetitive and monotonous due to their verse-chorus type structure and repeated chord sequences. Some jazz music needs careful consideration too due to features such as swung quavers and passages of improvisation. It is important that the majority of your players (we can't please everyone all of the time!) will find the music interesting and enjoyable to play.

Is the arrangement interesting to listen to?

Brass bands provide entertainment. It is vital to consider how well a piece will be received at your concert or performance. If the original music is well known chances are that audiences will like it, as they will know it. If the music is less well known, do think carefully about your type of audience and the occasion. For example the arrangements you choose for a Christmas Concert will differ from those you would choose for a 'dining in' night or a music festival. Special features or effects in a piece can make it more appealing to an audience. For example, passages where it is suggested that the players stand up, or an extended drum kit solo, all increase the entertainment rating.

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