Alfred Reed, known as a master of wind orchestra music, composed many renowned works, among which Armenian Dances remains one of the most beloved pieces to this day. This composition is arranged in a medley format, incorporating five Armenian folk songs, yet its originality transcends mere arrangement, making it a true composition in its own right.
■Arrangement Details(explanation:Keisuke Nishibu)
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I arranged this piece with a strong desire to make a brass band masterpiece sound cool even with only tubas. To preserve the original image and structure, I carefully designed the melody to be shared among different parts throughout the piece. In a full wind ensemble, the conductor provides direction and momentum, but in a quartet, the performance can sometimes feel heavy due to the lack of that driving force. This is especially true in halls with long reverberation, where synchronizing with the echoed sound can cause the tempo to drag. To counter this, frequent rehearsals are essential for refining ensemble cohesion. If certain passages are difficult to play on the instrument, practicing by singing them together can significantly speed up improvement.