Actually, That Piece Too! The World of New Sounds in Brass

Hello everyone!
In Japan, wind bands are said to have a population of over one million people. Over 10,000 groups participate in the All Japan Wind Ensemble Competition every summer, and in recent years, they have been featured on television specials and even in novels and anime. The popularity of wind bands is firmly established. The series that supports this popularity is New Sounds in Brass. So, today, I’d like to talk about this New Sounds in Brass Series, which has supported wind bands for over 40 years, starting from Volume 1.

What is New Sounds in Brass?

New Sounds in Brass is a series of music scores and CDs that arranges various genres of music—including movie soundtracks, J-pop, classical, and jazz—into wind ensemble pieces. Since the release of the first volume in 1972, the series has been released almost every year, and as of January 2022, it has reached its 48th volume, having a long and rich history. The arrangements have been made by figures such as Naohiro Iwai, Toshio Mashima, Masamichi Amano, and Eiji Suzuki, and many of the CDs have been performed by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra.

Many pieces that have become standard in the wind ensemble repertoire were introduced through this series. Next, I’ll introduce four such examples.

A Wind Ensemble Staple: “Takara Jima” (Treasure Island)

First and foremost, we can’t leave out “Takara Jima”. The original composition is “TAKARAJIMA” by T-Square, famously used as the theme for Formula 1 broadcasts, which was arranged for wind ensemble by Toshio Mashima. Unlike the original version, it is arranged in a mambo-samba style, making it a highly energetic piece for concerts, and it remains a staple of the wind ensemble repertoire today. However, its performance difficulty is quite high, with the alto sax solo and brass solos being particularly challenging and highly coveted. It’s challenging, which is perhaps why it’s admired.
“Takara Jima” was first released in 1987 in Volume 15 of the New Sounds in Brass Series. Even 35 years after its release, it remains beloved, a testament to the brilliance of both the original composition by T-Square and the arrangement by Toshio Mashima.

In this performance, the prestigious Yamaha Wind Ensemble, with saxophonist Nobuya Sugawa, delivers a spectacular rendition of “Takara Jima”. Definitely check it out!

A Close Follow-up: “Omens of Love”

Another classic that remains a staple today, alongside “Takara Jima”, is “Omens of Love”. The original piece is by T-Square, and like “Takara Jima”, it was arranged by Toshio Mashima for wind ensemble. The symphonic arrangement works brilliantly on stage, with the chimes at the beginning enhancing its grandeur. The lively melodies throughout guarantee that it’ll excite any audience. “Omens of Love” was included in Volume 14, released in 1986. Coincidentally, “Takara Jima” was in Volume 15, making it incredible that these two legendary pieces were released consecutively. This is part of the charm of New Sounds in Brass.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89bbL8vPUKc

Here, the prestigious Ensemble Liberté Wind Orchestra, with guest drummer Tsugio Ano, delivers a lively performance that epitomizes “Omens of Love”.

A Koshien Classic: “African Symphony”

When you think of wind ensembles, Koshien’s baseball cheers often come to mind. And when it comes to Koshien, one of the most iconic pieces is “African Symphony”. The original piece was composed by Van McCoy as part of his disco orchestral works. It became associated with Koshien when the famous Chiben Wakayama High School used it for their cheering section, which led other schools to follow suit.
The wind ensemble arrangement became widely popular when it was included in New Sounds in Brass, arranged by Naohiro Iwai and released in Volume 5 in 1977. In this arrangement, the horns and trombones use glissandi throughout, creating a powerful ‘roaring’ effect, making it a highly captivating piece.

This is a legendary performance by Sado and the Siena Wind Orchestra. Enjoy the sheer intensity!

A Landmark: “Disney Medley”

Among the many wind ensemble arrangements, Disney pieces stand out for their diversity. There are many wonderful wind ensemble arrangements and medleys based on Disney themes, but in my personal opinion, the one that stands out the most is “Disney Medley” arranged by Naohiro Iwai, which appears in Volume 9 of New Sounds in Brass, released in 1981.
The medley includes seven pieces: “Mickey Mouse March”, “It’s a Small World”, “Hi Ho”, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”, “Someday My Prince Will Come”, “Whistle While You Work”, and “When You Wish Upon a Star”. Each piece has solo parts for various instruments. Since this arrangement can be considered a pioneer, many people who have performed it are likely familiar with it.
Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, so this was released even before that. I believe this historical piece played a significant role in popularizing Disney music in the wind ensemble world.

It’s an enjoyable medley you can listen to and watch.

Final Thoughts

So, that was a discussion of New Sounds in Brass. What’s even more impressive is that, over 40 years later, new volumes are still being released. Whenever a new volume is released, be sure to check it out.
However, the pieces I’ve introduced here are just a few of the most famous ones. If given the chance, I’d love to introduce some lesser-known gems from the New Sounds in Brass Series in the future.
Thank you for reading!

The “sound & person” column is made up of contributions from you.
For details about contributing, click here.