Good Band scores to study?

Originally Posted by in rainbows 109

Honestly, 90% of wind band music is pretty awful. Most of the composers who write for it are mediocre, bands play with terrible intonation, and composers don't compensate for that in their orchestration and create some of the worst orchestration I've ever seen/heard. Basically, if you're going to write for band you better write something good. And some Grainger march does NOT qualify as good.

I'd rather write something that a band might butcher than write something an orchestra will never play.

Originally Posted by in rainbows 109

And some Grainger march does NOT qualify as good.

Very substantial evidence you have backing up that claim.

Originally Posted by in rainbows 109

bands play with terrible intonation

Strings cover up their terrible intonation with vibrato.

By ClassicalSax:
Strings cover up their terrible intonation with vibrato.

Right on! I have a recording of Luther College playing Brahms that I can't listen to for more than 90 seconds. Granted, the strings are on the correct pitch for brief moments in their out-of-tune vibrato, but...