 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: farabout
Date: 2026-09-16 23:50
I cannot resist wondering why American band conductors generally favor "modern" pieces with little to no melody (mostly by zero-talent composers), while neglecting a plethora of superior classical & romantic works?
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Author: farabout
Date: 2026-09-16 23:51
Here's the explanation from AI:
"The preference of American community band conductors for modern, textures-and-effects-based pieces over traditional Classical and Romantic lyrical repertoire comes down to a mix of educational programming trends, instrumentation flexibility, and the acoustic realities of community ensembles.
While individual tastes vary, several systemic factors explain why modern literature frequently dominates their music stands:
1. Instrumentation and Balancing Realities
Classical and Romantic pieces—originally written for orchestras—rely heavily on strings for lyrical expression. When transcribed for wind bands, those lush string lines are assigned to clarinets or flutes.
The Clarinet Problem: A community band rarely has the massive, perfectly in-tune clarinet section needed to mimic a 30-piece orchestral string section.
The Modern Advantage: Modern wind band literature is composed specifically for wind and percussion instruments. It often relies on rhythmic drive, brass impacts, and block chords, which are much easier for a variable community band to balance than transparent, exposed romantic melodies.
2. Differing Skill Levels ("The Safety Network")
Community bands welcome players of all backgrounds, leading to a wide gap in technical ability.
Exposed Lyricism: Classical and Romantic pieces demand impeccable intonation, long breath support, and flawless tone quality. In a slow, lyrical piece, a single out-of-tune note or a missed entry stands out immediately.
Modern Textures: Many modern pieces utilize cluster chords, aleatoric (chance) elements, and complex percussion colors. If a player misses a note or plays slightly out of tune in a dense, modern soundscape, it often blends into the texture rather than ruining the phrase.
3. The Composition Market and the "Midwest Clinic" Effect
The economics of the wind band world heavily favor new music. The American band movement is driven by organizations like the National Band Association (NBA) and the annual Midwest Clinic.
Publishing Incentives: Publishers constantly promote new commissions. Conductors are heavily incentivized to play new music to support living composers and stay relevant in the contemporary band community.
Scarcity of True Classical Repertoire: The "Wind Band" as a serious artistic medium didn't truly mature until the 20th century (via composers like Holst, Vaughan Williams, and later Grainger). Consequently, there are very few "authentic" Classical or Romantic pieces written for bands; almost everything from those eras is an arrangement or transcription.
4. Audience and Musician Engagement
Percussion Inclusion: Romantic transcriptions often leave a large percussion section sitting idle for 90% of the piece. Modern pieces actively utilize 5 to 8 percussionists, keeping a vital part of the community band engaged.
Cinematic Appeal: Modern wind literature frequently borrows stylistic cues from movie soundtracks (e.g., John Williams, Hans Zimmer). Even without a traditional "singable" melody, the dramatic shifts in volume and color are highly engaging for modern audiences."
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Author: kdk
Date: 2026-09-17 01:45
farabout wrote:
> I cannot resist wondering why American band conductors
> generally favor "modern" pieces with little to no melody
> (mostly by zero-talent composers), while neglecting a plethora
> of superior classical & romantic works?
What are examples of the "plethora of superior classical & romantic works?" Does that refer primarily to transcriptions of music for other ensembles (mostly orchestra) or are that many classical and Romantic works originally for wind band? And what are you considering to be "modern" pieces?
Karl
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Author: farabout
Date: 2026-09-17 02:15
The term classical & romantic works refers to anything composed in the style of the respective periods, regardless of the ensemble originally written for. The term "modern" pieces refers to the cacophonic horror pretending to be l'art pour l'art, yet the performance of which might be best suited for Guantanamo.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-09-17 03:40
Wow, after reading the AI synopsis, I am convinced we've already lost the battle with the robots!
Screw the lack of Laureneau and Lake arrangements, we have WAY bigger problems.
"Sandra Connor?"
............Paul Aviles
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2026-09-17 17:41
The term "modern" pieces refers to the cacophonic horror pretending to be l'art pour l'art, yet the performance of which might be best suited for Guantanamo.
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So you are saying that if you do not personally deem a composition acceptable, that pertains to all people?
I don't think so.
Is anyone forcing you to listen to this detestable music?
You know, this has been done before. Look up Entartete Kunst.
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Author: farabout
Date: 2026-09-17 19:22
rmk54 wrote:
> The term "modern" pieces refers to the cacophonic horror
> pretending to be l'art pour l'art, yet the performance of which
> might be best suited for Guantanamo.
>
> ----------------------------------
> So you are saying that if you do not personally deem a
> composition acceptable, that pertains to all people?
>
> I don't think so.
>
> Is anyone forcing you to listen to this detestable music?
>
> You know, this has been done before. Look up Entartete Kunst.
You are out of line. My original question was 'why American band conductors generally favor "modern" pieces with little to no melody (mostly by zero-talent composers), while neglecting a plethora of superior classical & romantic works', and it has nothing to do with shoving my personal tastes & preferences down other people's throats. Have you missed the high school/college critical reading & comprehension classes?
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2026-09-17 19:39
plethora of superior classical & romantic works
-------------------------------------------
Say you.
Have you missed the high school/college critical reading & comprehension classes?
---------------------------------------------------------
No, but apparently your parents neglected to teach you any manners.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-09-17 20:19
So part of MY concern was that the AI summary totally nailed almost all the major points without the necessary “back and forth” that would have led us mere humans there IF the conversation did not first devolve into an ego driven hissy fit.
I was part of the Mid-West sales job that promoted the new works for the year. In defense of John Paynter’s attempt at being fair and comprehensive, the composers of new works deserve a good shot at a living.
The point about writing specifically for the ensemble in front of you could not be more valid. That’s probably why Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 has no clarinets. Or maybe because those clarinetists took whatever disagreement they had out to the alley.
What’s wrong with AI? All your money is accessible through the internet along with our entire global economy. Worried yet? No? Then you are not paying attention.
……….Paul Aviles. (not a bot, yet)
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Author: davyd
Date: 2026-09-17 20:41
So that I know to avoid them: what are some examples of "modern pieces with little to no melody" by "zero talent composers"?
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2026-09-17 20:43
Hi farabout. There's plenty of great modern music for band. Maybe you haven't been exposed to it yet. Check out some works by David Maslanka, John Mackey, and Frank Tichelli, for example. I'm all for the great past eras in band music and other genres, and there is indeed a lot of modern music that is no cup of tea for me unless hemlock, but nothing is missing from the better band music of modern day.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-09-17 21:23
Beethoven's Mass in C major, Op. 86 is a perfect example of "modern pieces with little to no melody" by "zero talent composers." Apparently previous masses where composed for Prince Nikolaus II Esterházy's wife's birthdays. When Haydn died, Esterhazy asked Beethoven if he would take up the projects. Apparently this work infuriated the count so much that he verbally abuse Beethoven immediately after the premiere for going too far with his music.
and so it goes
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: farabout
Date: 2026-09-18 00:11
Paul Aviles wrote:
> Beethoven's Mass in C major, Op. 86 is a perfect example of
> "modern pieces with little to no melody"
>
Au contraire, the said Mass is very rich in lyrical melodies.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2026-09-18 01:30
farabout wrote:
> The term classical & romantic works refers to anything composed
> in the style of the respective periods, regardless of the
> ensemble originally written for. The term "modern" pieces
> refers to the cacophonic horror pretending to be l'art pour
> l'art, yet the performance of which might be best suited for
> Guantanamo.
Or performed for beautiful Guantanameras.
Not all "modern" pieces are horror stories (some in my experience are but): Glass, Morricone (a lot more than just the great spaghetti western themes), Leonard and Elmer Bernstein, Maurice-Alexis Jarre, Messiaen (try playing Abîme des oiseaux some time ... even the first note will take some time to get where you want it to be ...) and a thousand more. It may seem that I have overrepresented the film genre, but without the Church sponsoring anymore and operas not being incredibly popular anymore, that's what pays the bills.
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Author: farabout
Date: 2026-09-18 01:37
Mark Charette wrote:
>
> Or performed for beautiful Guantanameras.
>
![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif)
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2026-09-18 06:09
With every past band I've played in and the current one (member since 1985) it always goes like this--
-- "band" composition (ie. Holst Suites)
-- musicals (medleys)
-- pop tunes
-- marches
-- featured soloist (pop, classical. opera perhaps)
-- one major symphonic work transposed for band
-- dixieland feature (small group fronts the band)
-- one big band piece ("Big Band Favorites" etc.)
-- possibly a band "modern piece", but quite tonal.
I don't see how this line up equals American conductors favouring
modern pieces with little or no melody.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book -- Songburd Music (paper and digital)
Search title. Amazon.com (search Tom Heimer).
Boreal Ballad solo -- Songburd Music item -- search title.
Post Edited (2026-09-18 06:11)
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