I had a little free time this weekend to put a project together that may help out both high school and collegiate directors who have to work with smaller ensembles. In the last issue I talked about Flexible Band and Chamber Winds, including some works from Brain Music. If you didn't get it or want to see it again,
you can get it here.
Brain Music in Japan has been publishing music for band and instrumental ensembles for about 45 years now, and their works are distributed in the United States by Bravo Music. They have a pretty wide selection of music in a variety of styles. The most noticeable thing about their publications is that while they may often follow traditional Western harmony, they don't sound American or European. They also don't always sound distinctly Japanese either. It's just a different compositional style, which can be a pretty refreshing sound for both instructors, players, and listeners.
The works in their catalog are short and fairly accessible. While they list a grade level in their catalog, don't take it at face value. Grading is a subjective term, and I've found some of their works listed at a grade 4 or 5 level to sometimes be a half or full grade level lower in my opinion. So don't be frightened off if you're a high school director. The Grade 5 works aren't necessarily as difficult as the level implies.
Here's what I've done for you - I've cataloged all their ensemble works according to what type of ensemble it is, so you can sort through it quicker. Whenever Brain had a Youtube link of a recording, I included it. You'll be able to listen to most of these. They're readily available at this time, so I can get them for you pretty quickly. You should be able to find them on our web site, or you can call or email me if you want to order some of these.
