About Wind Symphony

What is a "Wind Ensemble"?

The term as understood today was first used in 1952 by Frederick Fennell at the Eastman School of Music to codify what was the ongoing practice of the previous 500 years -- namely, the performance of wind and percussion music according to the precise instrumentation of each piece. Essentially, this means "one player per [each] part" as specified by the composer. The primary goal of this "new" group as envisioned by Fennell and stated by his successor Donald Hunsberger is "artistic development as [the] only foundation."

Through the years following, the term "Wind Ensemble" has been applied more and more generally, not as an exclusively "one on a part" group whose forces change strictly with the instrumentation of each piece, but rather as a premier band, usually smaller than a Symphonic Band, and concerned primarily with performing original wind music for art's sake. The term "Wind Ensemble" is still in use at Eastman, but other names have been adopted as well: "Wind Symphony" (North Texas); "Wind Orchestra" (Florida State); and "Symphonic Winds" or "Symphonic Wind Ensemble." Two of the premier, leading professional wind symphony organizations are the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra and the Dallas Wind Symphony.

Fennell tends to be a polarizing figure among instrumental conductors, and opinions abound as to the aesthetic, educational, and artistic benefits of the myriad ways to combine wind and percussion instruments. It is certain, however, that the term "Wind Ensemble" in the 21st century setting is probably more likely to mean "a premier, wind and percussion group" than a "one on a part band." It is also certain that Fennell didn't invent the "Wind Ensemble" or "Wind Symphony"-- it is the creation of the thousands of composers that have written for winds and percussion through the centuries.

~Marshall Forrester

For more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concert_band

http://www.dws.org

www.tkwo.jp/english/index.html

www.esm.rochester.edu/ewe