page_title: Concert band
section_title: Instrumentation
hierarchical_section_title: Concert band / Instrumentation
caption_attribution_description: English: Concert band performing in 2013
context_page_description: A concert band, variously also called a wind ensemble, symphonic band, wind symphony, wind orchestra, wind band, symphonic winds, symphony band, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of members of the woodwind, brass, and percussion families of instruments, and occasionally including the double bass or bass guitar. On rare occasions, additional non-traditional instruments may be added to such ensembles such as piano, harp, synthesizer, or electric guitar.
  A concert band's repertoire includes original wind compositions, transcriptions/arrangements of orchestral compositions, light music, and popular tunes. Though the instrumentation is similar, a concert band is distinguished from the marching band in that its primary function is as a concert ensemble. The standard repertoire for the concert band does, however, contain concert marches.
context_section_description: Instrumentation for the wind band is not completely standardized; composers will frequently add or omit parts. Instruments and parts in parentheses are less common but still often used; due to the fact that some bands are missing these instruments, important lines for these instruments are often cued into other parts.
  Instrumentation differs depending on the type of ensemble. Middle school and high school bands frequently have more limited instrumentation and fewer parts (for example, no double reeds, or only two horn parts instead of four). This is both to limit the difficulty for inexperienced players and because schools frequently do not have access to the less common instruments.
  The standard concert band will have several players on each part depending on available personnel and the preference of the conductor. A concert band can theoretically have as many as 200 members from a set of only 35 parts. The wind ensemble, on the other hand, will have very little doubling, if any; commonly, clarinets or flutes may be doubled, especially to handle any divisi passages, and others will have one player per part, as dictated by the requirements of a specific composition. Also, it is common to see two tubas playing the same part in a wind ensemble. Some people have observed that this distinction is antiquated and the terms "concert band," "wind ensemble," "wind symphony" and the like are now more or less interchangeable.
  Complicated percussion parts are common in concert band pieces, often requiring many percussionists. Many believe this is a major difference between the orchestra (which usually lacks a large battery of percussion) and the concert band. While in older transcriptions and concert works, the timpani were treated as its own section as in the orchestra, today, in bands, the timpani are considered part of the percussion section. Consequently, the timpani player often will double on other percussion instruments.
  Contemporary compositions often call on players to use unusual instruments or effects. For example, several pieces call on the use of a siren while others will ask players to play recorders, whirly tubes, or to sing, hum, snap, clap or even crinkle sheets of paper. The wind band's diverse instrumentation and large number of players makes it a very flexible ensemble, capable of producing a variety of sonic effects.
  
  
   
  Woodwind
  Piccolos 1 (, 2)
  Flutes 1, 2 (, 3)
  (Alto flute)
  Oboes 1, 2
  (English horn)
  Bassoons 1, 2
  (Contrabassoon)
  (Clarinet in E♭)
  Clarinets in B♭ 1, 2, 3 (, 4, 5)
  (Alto clarinet)
  Bass clarinets 1 (, 2)
  (Contra-alto clarinet/Contrabass clarinet) Only one rarely both
  (Soprano saxophone)
  Alto saxophones 1, 2
  Tenor saxophone
  Baritone saxophone
  (Bass saxophone)
  Brass
  Trumpets/Cornets in B♭ 1, 2, 3 (, 4, 5, 6)
  (Flugelhorns in B♭ 1 (, 2))
  (Alto (tenor) horns in E♭ 1, 2 (, 3, 4))
  Horns in F 1, 2, 3, 4
  Tenor trombones 1, 2 (, 3)
  Bass trombone
  (Alto trombone)
  Euphoniums/Baritone horns 1 (, 2)
  Tubas
   
  Percussion
  Non-pitched (possibilities):
  Snare drum
  Bass drum
  Tenor drum
  Cymbals
  Tam-tam
  Triangle
  Tambourine
  Guiro
  Timbales
  Slide whistle
  Sleigh bells
  Wood blocks/Temple blocks
  Tom-toms
  Bongos
  Congas
  Claves
  Anvil
  Vibraslap
  Wind chimes
  Rain stick
  Whip
  Maracas
  Finger cymbals
  Drum set
  Pitched (possibilities):
  Timpani
  Glockenspiel
  Xylophone
  Marimba
  Crotales
  Vibraphone
  Chimes
  Keyboards
  (Piano)
  (Celesta)
  (Organ)
  (Synthesizers)
  Strings
  (String bass)
  (Harp)
  (Violoncello)
  (Electric guitar)
  (Acoustic guitar)
  (Electric bass guitar)
   
  In Bavarian wind music no piccolo is called for, as the E♭ clarinet substitutes for it.
  If called for, sometimes doubled by flute 2 or 3.
  If called for, sometimes doubled by oboe 2.
  If called for, sometimes doubled by bassoon 2.
  The contrabass clarinet part is usually provided in both B♭ and E♭ (contra-alto).
  In most cases, if a soprano saxophone is called for, it will replace the first alto saxophone part.
  In very rare cases, only a single alto saxophone will be called for (e.g., Holst Band Suites). However, this practice has generally been discontinued with two alto saxophones almost alway
caption: A high school concert band—BHS Band in performance, 2013
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