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Author	Topic: Symphonic Band Arrangements of Film Music

Kris Koon Oscar® Winner	Wandering around the remnants of the FSM message board, I came across a post dated October 26th by Wedge, who expressed his delight at finding an army band CD containg an arragement of a suite of music for HOOK. I was in band in junior high and high school and was in my collage's concert band last spring quarter and will be again next quarter (I play alto saxophone). I suppose as a result of this, I have developed an interest in the branch of classical music known as symphonic band/concert band/symphony band/wind band/wind orchestra/wind ensemble/symphonic winds music (bands have several different names but are all basically the same, except for size differences and minor differences in instrumentation). Given my interests in film scores and band music, I am, of course, excited about a combination of the two. I'm sure some of you were in a symphonic (concert, wind...) band at one time and/or would be interested in different arrangements of film music (kind of like covers of songs in the pop/rock world, I guess), so I've decide to present a list of some of the arrangements of film music I've found for band. HOOK There is a piece called Selections from Hook by H. van der Heide. I don't think this is the same arrangement that Wedge was talking about. It has been recorded by the Osaka Municipul Band, Yoshihiro Kimura, cond., on the CD New Wind Repertoire 1996 and the Johan Willem Friso Kapel, Wim Jongen, cond., on the CD New Compositions for Concert Band 15 (from the publisher, Molenaar). Check out this page on Molenaar's web site for an mp3 audio clip: http://www.molenaar.com/general/article/descriptions/01231007.html STAR WARS There is a 5 movements suite of music from the 1st trilogy arranged by Donald Hunsberger. The movements are: Imperial March, Princess Leia's Theme, Yoda's Theme, Battle In The Forest, and Main Title. It has been recorded by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra , Donald Hunsberger, cond., on the CD Donald Hunsberger and Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra KOCD-302 from Kosei Publishing. There is also an arrangement entitled Star Wars Saga by Johan de Meij and had been recorded by the Royal Military Band & Amsterdam Wind Orchestra (one or the other of them if that is 2 bands) on the CD Arrangements of Johan de Meij, the Royal Military Band, Pierre Kuijpers, cond., on the CD New Compostitions for Concert Band 1 (from publisher Molenaar; probably the same recording as the last CD), CD 9406-1- Symphonisches Blasorchester Norderstedt, Frank Engelke, cond., BAL 9410-1 - Klangfarben Symphonisches Blasorchester Unterpleichfeld, Ernst Oestreicher, cond., and the Royal Military Band from the Netherlans, Pierre Kuijpers, cond., on the CD The Royal Military Band from the Netherlands Plays Favorites (Sony Windmusic Holland; probably still the same recording). This CD can be seen on the Unofficial John Williams Home Page: http://www.classicalrecordings.com/johnwilliams/militaryband.htm The page on Molenaar's site that includes an mp3 sample is here: http://www.molenaar.com/general/article/descriptions/01195008.html THE RED PONY Arranged by Donald Hunsberger and found on the aforementioned Donald Hunsberger and Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra CD. Ennio Morricone Moment for Morricone arranged by Johan de Meij recorded by Le Grand Orchestre d'Harmonie de la Ville du Havre, Philippe Langlet, cond., on Musiques de Film, Cybelia CY 5003, Harmonieorkest Demer en Laak [Belgium], Bert Minten, cond., on DCCD Digi Classics DC9810028 Hora, and Harmonieorkest Jeugd '78, Luc Van Acker, cond., on Digi Classics 98 10041 20 Jaar Jeugd '78 Gent. James Bond James Bond - 007 (containing music by Barry, Norman, and Conti) arranged by Johan de Meij recorded by The Danish Concert Band, Jørgen Misser Jensen, cond., on the CD That's Entertainment, and the aforementioned Musiques de Film. OUT OF AFRICA Out of Africa Main Theme arranged by Johan de Meij recorded by the Amsterdam Wind Orchestra, Heinz Friesen, cond., on New Compositions for Concert Band 5 (Molenarr again), CD OHF01 L'Orchestre d'Harmonie de Fribourg, Jean-Pierre Haeck, cond., the aforementioned Arrangements of Johan de Meij CD, and the Regimental Band of the Green Howards, M. J. Searle, cond., on the CD ]Fond Farwell. http://www.molenaar.com/general/article/descriptions/03207905.html EXODUS The Exodus Song arranged by Johan de Meij recorded by the Royal Military Band, Johan de Meij, cond, on the CD Portrait of Johan de Meij, the Harmonie Municipal Le Havre, Philippe Langlet, cond. on the Molenaar CD New Compositions for Concertband 7, and the Stedelijke Muziekvereniging Huissen, Tijmen Botma, cond., on Miragram 88082-2 Art in Harmony. http://www.molenaar.com/general/article/descriptions/08206906.html Highlights from Exodus arranged by Alfred Reed recorded by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, Alfred Reed cond., on the CD Exodus KOCD-3013 from Kosei Publishing. THE GODFATHER Love Theme from The Godfather arranged by Taylor recorded by The Queen's Division Normandy Band, Capt. J. W. Taylor cond., on the CD Souvenirs of the Mediterranean from Plantagenet Music. The Godfather Trilogy is a medly of themes from the 3 movies arranged by Jack Bullock and unrecorded as far as I know. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA Lawrence of Arabia arranged by Alfred Reed on the aforementioned Exodus CD. THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM The Man with the Golden Arm arranged by Alfred Reed on the aforementioned Exodus CD. A BRIDGE TOO FAR I'm not sure if these are all the same arrangements or if they were done by Addison himself, but I think they are all just the march: Band of the Royal Air Force - Germany, Donald Wood cond., on Brandenberg Gate: A European Salute, an unknown ensemble on Military Band Favorites, and one of various British military bands on Marching Around the World. A Bridge to Far arranged by Vinson (he's director of bands at my college) recorded by the Band of the Prince of Wales' Division on the CD In Concert from Plantagenet Music. 633 SQUADRAN 633 Squadron recorded by the Band of the Royal Air Force, Cranwell, D. S. Stephens cond., on 633 Squadron and on the aforementioned Military Band Favorites CD. 633 Squadron arranged by Baldwin on the aforementioned In Concert CD. THE LONGEST DAY The Longest Day on the aforementioned Military Band Favorites CD. 1941 Marches from 1941 recorded by the Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guided, Norbert Nozy, cond. on United States Marches March from 1941 recorded by the Military Band of Funen, E. Hammerback cond., on The Last Sundown and Das Ausbildungsmusikkorps der Bundeswehr, Hilden, Walter Ratzek, cond., on Concert Edition, Volume 1 from Bauer Studios MIDWAY Midway March arranged by Jim Curnow recorded by the Minden Band of the Queen's Division, Capt. C. R. Meldrum, on Concert Marches Midway March (might be the same arrangement as above): St. Olaf Band, Timothy Mahr, cond., on A Musical Observance: Commemerating the 50th Anniversiary of the End of WWII, the aforementioned United States Marches CD, and one of various British military bands on Great Marches, Volume 9 More to come later!
posted 02-19-2000 03:47 PM PT (US)

Tom Scofield unregistered	Hey Kris, are you familiar with band composer Ron Nelson? He writes great, film music-like band scores, in addition to his regular concert work. He has done a few obscure TV scores, but he really should be doing more film music, he's fabulous! [This message has been edited by Tom Scofield (edited 19 February 2000).]
posted 02-19-2000 03:51 PM PT (US)

Aaron Collins Oscar® Winner	Ya, actually a lot of people are not familiar with the concert band literature. I was actually talking to someone from this board about Holsts band literature. They had no idea he composed some of the best wind ensemble music ever! Actually my composition teacher for 3 years has been Alfred Reed. He is a good friend of mine and a fantastic composer. I have had the pleasure to work with many top band composers including: Ron Nelson(Amazing music!), William Francis McBeth(Check out Of Sailors and Whales... based on Moby Dick), James Barnes(very film-like music), Frank Ticheli, and some others. If you do not have any band recordings, I suggest you at least check out one or two. They are definitely worth it! If you need any suggestions, IM me at Shaggenman or email me at acollins@bv.net In regards to "film-music" being aranged for concert band, there are many pieces. A lot of them are not very good transcriptions, but easy level music. There are some great transcriptions of some more difficult movie music. The ones that come to mind are: -The Cowboys trans. by James Curnow -Star Wars trans. by Donald Hunsberger(Kris mentioned this, but Hunsberger happened to do two different transcriptions. The last one he finished is 90 percent of the score from Star Wars. This transcription is amazing and Hunsberger got every single detail that Williams put in. This is a mammoth score to read!) There are some more, and I will look through my library to see if I have some more to list. By the way, I play all brass, with my primary instrument being the French Horn. Thanks, Aaron NP: Hindemith's SYMPHONY IN B FLAT for band
posted 02-19-2000 05:55 PM PT (US)

Tom Scofield unregistered	Aaron, Band Music has always been a very misunderstood, but wonderful branch of music. There is just some great stuff out there. Some of Frederick Fennell's (sp?) albums still sound great on Mercury. You mentioned some wonderful composers, and the amazing Ron Nelson is one of the best. I used to play clarinet and flugelhorn, but that was MANY years ago and I can barely read a note now. However, my love of music remains undeminished.
posted 02-19-2000 08:28 PM PT (US)

Wedge Oscar® Winner	Kris, based on the description of the selections and the length of the suite, I'd say YES this version you've dug up is the same version I was talking about. The recording I have is truly fabulous -- the sound is crystal-clear and the performance is flawless. On top of it all, the arrangement is terrific, with some segues unique to the suite.
posted 02-19-2000 08:45 PM PT (US)

Kris Koon Oscar® Winner	Yes, Alfred Reed is a great composer along with McBeth, Nelson, and Ticheli. You're lucky to have studied with them. I happen to love Reed's El Camino Real (subtitled: A Latin Fantasy) and also his Allejulah! Laudamus Te for band and optional organ. Anyone interested in hearing Jim Curnow's arrangement of Williams's Cowboys Overture that Aaron mentioned can check out the Dallas Wind Symphony web page at www.dws.org, where there is a real audio file of a complete live performance of it. Aaron, have you heard of composer Stephen Melillo. He has written some nice pieces for band, such as In the Beginning (formerly titled A Walk in Jurassic Park, inspired by Chticton's novel), which is in 3 movements totaling about 13 minutes. Any fan of action/adventure scores would do well to check it out. He has also written a piece called Erich!, inspired by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and also in 3 movements. He is probably best known for his 3 movement work for band, Stormworks, which is also pretty good. His web page is at www.stormworld.com. Go there and click on the link to his page at liquidaudio.com were you can hear samples of music from 2 of his band CDs (LiquidAudio player or RealPlayer with LiquidAudio plugin required) and even purchase whole tracks in AAC format and burn them to CD-R yourself. Alabama All-State Band was held at my college last year and W. Francis McBeth conducted the Red band (top band) and they performed Of Sailor's and Whales: Five Scenes from Melville. I also have a CD from the publisher Southern Music Company of McBeth conducting an unspecified ensemble (posibly another All-State band) which sounds fairly good. The piece is in 5 movements: Ishmael, Queequeg, Father Mapple (the band has to sing in this one), Captain Ahab, and finally culminating in The White Whale (this would make a great action cue). In fact I might make some mp3s and post them some where so others cang here the piece as the CD was free and I doubt Southern Music Company would mind that much. Robert W. Smith (Alabama composer and director of bands at Troy State University) writes a lot for less advanced school bands, but his Divine Comedy symphony and Twelve Seconds to the Moon are really good. He has an arrangement of music from The Phantom Menace now, as well. Some of David R. Holsinger's music is pretty good, too. Looking at my above post, it is apparent that my cd lists were a jumbled, incoherrent mess, but I guess it doesn't matter since you can't by most of them at normal record retail outlets, anyway, as band music is really not very popular and one must got a lot of recordings from special band music outlets.
posted 02-19-2000 09:23 PM PT (US)

Onelegger Oscar® Winner	Ahh, Band music. Second only to Film Scores. Someone above mentioned and arrangment of James Bond music by Johan DeMeij. I think many of the people on this board will appreciate his work Symphony no. 1 "Lord of the Rings" It's a great piece of work and is one of my favorites. NP - Real audio of American Beauty. Finally saw this movie, awesome.
posted 02-19-2000 11:30 PM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	Akira Ifukube was commissioned by an American concern in the early 1970s to write a brass band piece; the result, ultimately never played in the US (to the best of my knowledge), was "Rondo in Burlesque," which consisted of various marches Ifukube wrote for fantasy films like BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE and certain GODZILLA movies. To my knowledge, it was only recorded once, in 1983, and is available on the (frequently reissued) live, original SYMPHONIC FANTASIA CD. (Subsequent rerecordings of it, conducted by Masaru Sato and Junichi Hirokami, omit "Rondo," which covers similar territory but is not really part of the Symphonic Fantasia trio.) It always comes back to Ifukube with me, doesn't it? Sorry for the repetition, people, but the rule tends to be "Write what you know." I ALSO liked the arrangement of the wonderful song "Downtown" as played by brass band early into JAWS 2 ...
posted 02-19-2000 11:37 PM PT (US)

Lou Goldberg Oscar® Winner	There is a William Walton CD which has Henry V and other Walton works arranged for Band. Another CD (entitled Heroes of the Air, I believe) has music from Battle of Britain, Conquest of the Air and Coastal Command arranged for band. I've actually seen drum corps perform Morricone, Steiner, Herrmann, Korngold, and Rozsa pieces. NP: Last Embrace
posted 02-20-2000 02:16 AM PT (US)

Aaron Collins Oscar® Winner	Kris, Alfred Reed is great! Very nice guy too! Other works that are great by him are: -Hounds of Spring(great piece... very thematic) -Russian Christmas Music(one of the best pieces he's done) -Armenian Dances(Probably one of the most difficult works he has composed and such an awesome piece of work) I have actually played "A Walk through Jurassic Park" This piece is an exciting piece and very fun to listen too! Check out some Persichetti, K. Husa, and Gianninni. These guys are very good composers and there music is awesome!!! Someone mentioned the Drum Corps playing some film music. Every year I believe, at least one corp is playing a film music show! I have arranged some music for a show based on Danny Elfman music and it is great to hear it played by a huge brass line! Well, off to go get my Woodwind quintet recorded! Later, Aaron Collins NP: Don Juan DeMarco
posted 02-20-2000 03:01 PM PT (US)

J. Peter Wolk-Laniewski Oscar® Winner	Aaron: 1. Which corps did the Elfman show you wrote? 2. Do you know how I can get a good recording of Russian Christmas Music? 3. How about some of Holsinger's? 4. You probably remember this, but for those who didn't hear, Blue Devils are playing Bernard Hermann this year. Check it out: www.bluedevils.org As to the original topic: If you want film music arrangements, the place to look is Hal Leonard. This is a publisher that regularly arranges popular music (Disney and Horner, mostly) for wind band. The arrangements are kind of cheesy and not very difficult. In my opinion, they don't do the music any kind of justice, either. If you want good arrangements of film music, I'd suggest you do your own. When I was in high school, one of our percussionists arranged "Gabriel's Oboe" from The Mission (Morricone) and it was very cool. It's also a great way to learn about composing. P.S. If there's any more Drum Corps guys out there, speak up! I'd love to know that I'm not alone!
posted 02-20-2000 06:20 PM PT (US)

Wedge Oscar® Winner	Man! I remember "Russian Christmas Music!" Great piece ... it was such a joy to have a good Tuba solo to perform for once!
posted 02-20-2000 07:19 PM PT (US)

Kris Koon Oscar® Winner	Russian Christmas Music is on Kosei Publishing KOCD-2301 Alfred Reed and Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra - Alfred Reed, conductor. It is also recorded by the Norhshire Concert Band on the CD Sleigh Ride conducted by John P. Paynter. Both of these CDs are only sold through specialty band music outlets like Shattinger Music or West Coast Music Services: http://www.shattingermusic.com http://home.earthlink.net/~bandcd/ There is a series of 6 CDs featuring the music of David Holsinger. They are from Mark Custom Recording are are available through Mark or TRN Music Publisher. The CDs have perfomances by various ensembles, mostly college groups. I have Volume 4 and it really isn't very well performed or recorded. It features the University of Nevado, Reno Wind Ensemble and they have many intonation and blending problems. It is however the only (non-high school level) CD that I know of that has Holsinger's 3 children's dances: Havendance, Nilesdance, and Greysondance (ever hear a matallic step ladder used as a percussion instrument). http://www.markcustom.com/ http://www.trn-music.com/ The Encore Winds Wind Orchestra page also has a real audio file of a complete performance of Russian Chtristmas Music as well as another performance of The Cowboys Overture. http://www.encorewinds.com/html/esm.htm On the University of Washington Husky Marching Band page, they have Real Audio and Windows Media clips (used to have mp3s, hmmm) from theird CDs, including several film scores like Robin Hood and Beetlejuice. Their John Williams Medley is interesting, too. The files for Patton seem to be missing, though. http://depts.washington.edu/hmb/main/ A real audio file of a full performance of Gandalf, the 1st movement of de Meij's Lord of the Rings symphony that Onelegger mentioned and I mentioned on another thread on the San Jose Wind Symphony page. http://www.sjws.org/ Concerning Ifukube, there is a piece called Lauda Concertata for Marimba and Wind Ensemble on Kosei Publishing KOCD-2906 Signals from Heaven, Kim Hong Jae conducting the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. I assume it is a version of his LC for Marimba and Orchestra for wind band, although he may have arranged it himself since I don't see an arranger listed. The CD also has pieces by Toru Takemitsu. [This message has been edited by Kris Koon (edited 20 February 2000).]
posted 02-20-2000 10:03 PM PT (US)

H Rocco Oscar® Winner	Kris Koon, thank you SO much for the news about Mr. Ifukube's LAUDA CONCERTATA. I'd heard about alternate recordings that never came through -- I'd be fascinated to hear this one. Hope I can find it. Thanks again! NP: STAR TREK TMP (Jerry somebody)
posted 02-21-2000 12:10 AM PT (US)

Jonathan unregistered	All this talk of band music arrangements, yet no mention of one of the best and most effective film music arrangements for band -- THE WIND AND THE LION. When I was in college (at Univ. of Ala.) I was in the Wind Ensemble when we played this piece. What an awesome rush! In fact, we took it on tour and it was always a big hit with audiences. I'll never forget our percussion section, which almost doubled for that piece! Any of you currently playing in groups who have the ability to do something of this level should suggest it to your conductors.
posted 02-21-2000 07:26 AM PT (US)

Kris Koon Oscar® Winner	Yes, I remember reading about the arrangement of The Wind and the Lion in the Intrada CD's liner notes. Can you tell me who the arranger was. J. W. Pepper's web site has an out-of-print arrangement by someone named Davis.
posted 02-21-2000 12:07 PM PT (US)

Kris Koon Oscar® Winner	A recently released CD entitled Monkey contains a suite from The Wind and the Lion arranged for symphonic band by Michael Davis. I believe it's the one mentioned in the Intrada CD's liner notes. It's performed by the UNLV Wind Orchestra conducted by Thomas G. Leslie on Mark Custom MCD-3130. Here is the track listing: 1 Fanfare for Spartacus (James Curnow) 2 Monkey (Steve Bryant) 3 What was That Song I Heard You Singing? (Dale Wilson) 4 Praise Jerusalem! (Alfred Reed) 5 Florish for Glorious John (Ralph Voughan Williams, arr. by John Boyd) 6 Variations on a Hymn by Louis Bourgeois (Claude T. Smith) 7 The Wind and the Lion (Jerry Goldsmith, arr. by Michael Davis) 8 Thunder and Blazes (Julius Fucik) 9 UNLV Alma Master (Eric Whitacre)
posted 04-06-2000 10:09 AM PT (US)

Howard L Oscar® Winner	Oh wow, we did an arrangement of Ben-Hur in JUNIOR HIGH that began just as the movie, but I can't recall if it segued into the opening title music after the nativity scene. Hadn't thought of this in a long time. Heck, that was 30 years ago. It's killing me, can't remember if it was for orchestra (clarinet) or band (alto sax). We had a real good music program in town. [This message has been edited by Howard L (edited 06 April 2000).]
posted 04-06-2000 02:21 PM PT (US)

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