#37 Suggested Repertoire from Around the World for Developing Bands

This 37th installment of suggested repertoire is proposed by Rune Hannisdal is currently head of music in the Norwegian Band Federation.

He holds a master’s degree from Guildhall School of Music and Drama (England) in orchestral music and trombone. He has worked with bands at all levels, both wind band and brass bands, and is head of Norway’s largest conducting course, Conductors’ week in Stavanger. This article is written in collaboration with Thorgeir Thunestvedt and Birgitte Grong who also works within the Norwegian Band Federation.

Introduction

The Norwegian Band Federation (NMF) is Norway’s largest cultural volunteer organization, bringing together over 61,000 members in approximately 1,600 brass bands, wind bands, and baton twirling groups across the country.  Founded in 1918, NMF operates through eight regional offices across Norway, ensuring strong local support and national reach.  The organization plays a key role in strengthening musical development and community engagement by organizing competitions, courses, and development programs for musicians and twirlers of all ages, while supporting local groups with training, resources, and be a vocal advocate on behalf of its members. NMF builds its culture on the core values of community, mastery, development, and safety, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can grow and contribute.

Grade 2.5

Bruremarsj/Wedding March (1991) – 3'30" – Purchase at Jan Magne Førde AS

Jan Magne Førde (Norway, 1962)

Premiered by The Brazz Brothers conducted by Jan Magne Førde

in Trondheim, Norway on 10 July 1991

Jan Magne Førde has been a jazz musician and composer for more than 45 years. He is best known as the trumpeter and founder of The Brazz Brothers, a brass ensemble that has performed more than 5,000 concerts and toured in over 40 countries.

Førde’s compositions for ensembles and choirs are performed and sung all over the world. His music is often inspired by Norwegian traditional music, with strong roots in jazz and rhythmic music.

The composition Bruremarsj has roots in Norwegian folk music. The melodic line is inspired by the tonal qualities of the traditional Norwegian folk instruments, the Hardanger fiddle and the birch bark horn (neverlur). The rhythmic foundation is built on a playful, jazz-inspired funky groove, giving the piece a fresh and contemporary character. The piece opens up for improvisation, also for not experienced players, and different ways to set up your band and placing of your musicians. The repeated tune is played by many sections of the band – everyone gets a piece of melody.

Bruremarsj can be used for ceremonies and concerts, both indoors and outdoors. Førde has made the piece available also for brass bands, brass quintet, big band, choir, orchestra and organ.

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Grade 4

March after Erling Kjøk (2012) – 4'30" – Purchase at Norsk Musikkforlag

Traditional

arr. Svein Henrik Giske (Norway, 1973)

Premiered by The Brazz Brothers conducted by Jan Magne Førde 

in Trondheim, Norway on 10 July 1991

Svein Henrik Giske is a well-known composer, musician and conductor. His music is innovative, exciting and accessible. He has many different inspirations for his compositions and is known for his innovative use of different genres in his music. This arrangement was a commission from The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces for the Norwegian Military Tattoo. It is partially inspired by a recording by the folk music group Kvarts.

March after Erling Kjøkken refereres to a Norwegian fiddler and a strong representative of the folk music from Nord-Gudbrandsdal. The music is calm and reflective and is a loved and performed by bands at many levels.

The piece features strong, singable themes and clear harmonic framework that supports secure ensemble playing. It is called a march, but stands out as different as what could be expected when you read the title. March after Erling Kjøk is well suited for concerts, ceremonial occasions and educational settings.

Grade 4

Kerberos (2019) – 5'30" – Purchase at Norsk Musikkforlag

Kjetil Djønne (Norway, 1996)

Premiered by Eidanger Pike- og Guttekorps conducted by Sigurd Skramsett 

in Ælvespeilet in Porsgrunn on 9 November 2019

Kjetil Djønne is a graduate of the Grieg Academy at the University of Bergen. He is a composer, arranger, conductor and performer. The music is a mixture of several genres described in Djønne's own tonal language. He is inspired by everything from folk music and jazz, to popular music and classical gems.

Kjetil Djønne own reflections about Kerbos and his work with the conductor of Eidanger Pike- og Guttekorps that made the commission.

 «When Sigurd Skramsett got in touch and wanted to commission a piece for Eidanger pike og Guttekorps anniversary concert in November, Immediately thought of composing a piece about his role in the local bands. My meeting with Sigurd in the summer of 2019 was at Dirigentuka (Conductors week) in Stavanger.. All of the music at the course has inspired me in this piece. The name Sigurd originates from Norse mythology and means 'victory' and 'guardian'. KERBEROS is the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the underworld of Greek mythology. Three heads, representing the past, present and future, became three movements representing three styles, and moods, in this work»

Kerberos is a dramatic and rhythmically driven piece. Drawing on dark colours, strong motifs and a sense of forward momentum. The piece creates a vivid musical narrative that is engaging for both performers and audiences.

Pedagogically, Kerbos offers valuable opportunities to develop rhythmic stability, controlled intensity, and challenge the ensemble to focus on energy as well as shaping longer musical lines.

Grade 4

Diplodocus (2023) – 2'40" – Purchase at Norsk Musikkforlag

Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen (Norway, 1993)

Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen is a Norwegian composer whose music blends bold textures and lyrical sensitivity, drawing from the brass band tradition to exploring various genres. She earned her Master’s degree in Musicology from the University of Oslo, specializing in brass band test pieces. In 2025 she wrote Embracing Duality, the set test piece for the Challenge section at the European Brass Band Championship in Stavanger (2025).

Though she focuses on brass band music, Vilhelmsen also composes for orchestra, wind band, and smaller ensembles.

Diplodocus is said to be one of the largest dinosaur to ever have lived. This plant munching beast weighted approximately 20 tons, and could measure up to 30 metres from head to tail. The dinosaur lived in North America during the Jurassic period.This piece describes the carefree nature of a Diplodocus. A life with no natural enemies, and with an exceptionally small brain.

The piece is well-balanced, at gives all the sections in the band a challenge. There is also suggestions from the composer to the percussion section. The piece is available for both wind bands and brass bands.

Diplodocus is also available for brass band.

More on Ingebjørg Vilhelmsen

Grade 4.5

Sollicitus (2017) – 10'30" – Purchase at Norsk Musikkforlag

Frederick Schjelderup (Norway, 1990)

Premiered by Midtun Skoles Musikkorps conducted by Christian Breistein 

in Norwegian Nationals on 24 June 2017

Fredrick Schjelderup is a Norwegian composer who over the last decade has established himself as one of the leading composers for both wind and brass bands in Norway and abroad. He has made compositions for bands at all levels. From beginning bands to his last big composition - the set test piece (championship section) for the European Brass Band Championship in Stavanger in 2025.

Solliticus is a contemporary work that offers developing bands the oppotunity to engange with a modern musical language. The title suggests a state of inner restlessness, reflected in the music through recurring rhythmic figures, contrasting sections, and a transparent yet distinctive harmonic language.

lt is well suited for developing school bands, youth ensembles and community bands, as can be heard in the live performance at the Norwegian youth band championship by Midttun Skoles Musikkorps.

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