5 Things You Might Not Know About Concert Bands
Concert bands are a familiar part of the musical landscape, performing everything from marches and movie music to classical masterworks. Yet many audience members are surprised to learn just how unique and versatile a concert band really is. Whether you’ve attended performances for years or are discovering wind band music for the first time, here are five interesting things you might not know about concert bands like the London Concert Band.
1. Concert Bands Don’t Have String Sections
Unlike a symphony orchestra, a concert band typically does not include violins, violas, or cellos. Instead, its sound is built from three instrumental families: woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Clarinets, oboes, flutes, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, horns, tubas, and a wide range of percussion instruments combine to create a surprisingly rich and colourful sound. Skilled composers use these instruments in creative ways to produce everything from delicate lyrical passages to powerful, full ensemble moments.
2. The Clarinet Section Is Often the Largest
In many concert bands, the clarinet section is the biggest group in the ensemble. It’s not unusual to see ten or more clarinet players on stage. Because the instrument has such a wide range and flexible tone, clarinets often play musical lines similar to the violin section in an orchestra, carrying melodies and helping blend the woodwind and brass sections together.
3. The Saxophone Is Actually a Woodwind
It may look like a brass instrument, but the saxophone is officially part of the woodwind family. That’s because it produces sound using a single reed, just like a clarinet. The saxophone family—from soprano to baritone—adds warmth and richness to the concert band sound and often bridges the tonal gap between woodwinds and brass.
4. Concert Band Music Is More Than Marches
While marches are an important and exciting part of the repertoire, modern concert bands perform a wide variety of music. Today’s wind ensembles play symphonic works written specifically for winds and percussion, as well as film scores, Broadway favourites, jazz-influenced pieces, and arrangements of classical masterpieces. Many contemporary composers write complex and expressive music for wind band that rivals orchestral works in scope and musical depth.
5. Community Bands Bring Generations Together
One of the most special aspects of community ensembles is the diversity of the musicians themselves. Groups like the London Concert Band often include players ranging from young adults to retirees, representing a wide variety of professions and backgrounds. What they share is a passion for music and the joy of performing together for their community.
