Each piece is listed with composer, title, instrumentation, and (but not always) a brief description of the
work. The music is supplied free for personal use, including performances, and is supplied as PDFs. To
help you choose, you can listen to part of the arrangement where there is a link.
Please see our ordering page for details about how to order.
Anon. – Tyrolean Holiday
Instrumentation: 2 Solo Cls 2Ob 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 2 minutes
Comments: I know nothing about this - not even the real title! It is for 2 solo clarinets accompanied by the rest of the octet.
Beethoven – Bagatelle No.2
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn
Duration: 2˝ minutes
Comments: A scherzo arranged as a bit of fun for an octet session on Beethoven's birthday.
Brahms – Hungarian Dance No.10*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 1˝ minutes
Comments: A fast and exciting piece which would make a good encore.
Brahms – Hungarian Dances Nos. 3 & 7
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 3˝ minutes
Comments: Not the most famous but quite well known. Not boisterous - they are both marked Allegretto. These were published a while ago by Boosey & Hawkes and are available from June Emerson. This item is not available from me. It can be ordered through your local music shop, or on-line at Boosey & Hawkes or June Emerson - Wind Music.
Brahms – Hungarian Dances Nos.13 & 19*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB ,
Duration: 3 minutes
Comments: Two of the lesser-known dances. More relaxed than some – good for encores.
Clements – Big Band arrangements for Wind Octet
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB(opt)
Duration: minutes
Comments: Various big band numbers arranged for standard wind octet. Contact me for details.
Clements – Christmas arrangements for Wind Octet
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn
Duration: minutes
Comments: Various carols and Christmas songs arranged for standard wind octet. Contact me for details.
Debussy – La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin*
Instrumentation: Ob CA 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn
Duration: 2 minutes
Comments: The cor anglais part can be played on an oboe if necessary.
Dvorák – Slavonic Dance No. 11*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 3 minutes
Comments: Three of my Slavonic Dances (Nos. 8, 9 & 15) were published a while ago by Boosey & Hawkes and are available from June Emerson. Nos. 6, 7 & 11 were arranged at much the same time.
Dvorák – Slavonic Dance No. 15
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: Published by Boosey and Hawkes along with Nos. 8 & 9. This item is not available from me. It can be ordered through your local music shop, or on-line at Boosey & Hawkes or June Emerson - Wind Music.
Dvorák – Slavonic Dance No. 4*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 6˝ minutes
Comments: Three of my Slavonic Dances (Nos. 8, 9 & 15) were published a while ago by Boosey & Hawkes and are available from June Emerson. Nos. 6, 7 & 11 were arranged at much the same time. This was made more recently and is one of the gentler dances.
Dvorák – Slavonic Dance No. 6*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: Three of my Slavonic Dances (Nos. 8, 9 & 15) were published a while ago by Boosey & Hawkes and are available from June Emerson. These four were arranged at much the same time.
Dvorák – Slavonic Dance No. 7*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 3 minutes
Comments: Three of my Slavonic Dances (Nos. 8, 9 & 15) were published a while ago by Boosey & Hawkes and are available from June Emerson. These four were arranged at much the same time.
Dvorák – Slavonic Dance No. 8
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 3 minutes
Comments: Published by Boosey and Hawkes along with Nos. 9 & 15. This item is not available from me. It can be ordered through your local music shop, or on-line at Boosey & Hawkes or June Emerson - Wind Music.
Dvorák – Slavonic Dance No. 9
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: My first arrangement for octet and my favourite! Published by Boosey and Hawkes along with Nos. 8 & 15. This item is not available from me. It can be ordered through your local music shop, or on-line at Boosey & Hawkes or June Emerson - Wind Music.
Gabrieli – Sonata Pian' e Forte*
Instrumentation: 2Ob Cl BHn (or Cl) 2Hn 2Bn
Duration: 4˝ minutes
Comments: For two choirs (Oboes & Bassoons and Clarinets & Horns) and works well if performed antiphonally (obviously!). Originally one of the clarinet parts was written for basset horn and both parts are included.
Gabriel-Marie – La Cinquantaine*
Instrumentation: Solo Bn 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn Bn
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: Originally written for the Budapest Wind Ensemble as a double-bass solo plus wind octet (see nonets), this version has been re-scored just for the octet with a solo bassoon.
Ganz – Qui Vive*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: A Galop of the Victorian piano duet school. Good fun as an encore although a bit long for that.
Gounod – Introduction to Faust*
Instrumentation: Fl(opt) 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn
Duration: 4˝ minutes
Comments: Useful as a quiet interlude. There is an optional flute part for nonet concerts.
Grieg – Holberg Suite*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn
Duration: 15 minutes
Comments: Complete suite (5 movements).
Haydn – Symphony No.83*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn ,
Duration: 25 minutes
Comments: 4 movements. Makes a change from Krommer, although more 'serious' and therefore not so suitable for background music.
Joplin – A Breeze from Alabama*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: A typical Joplin rag.
Lefébure-Wély – Sortie*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB (or CBn)
Duration: 3˝ minutes
Comments: I love this piece!
Mendelssohn – Nocturne from A Midsummer Night's Dream*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB(opt)
Duration: 5 minutes
Comments: Features the 1st horn as in the original.
Mendelssohn – Scherzo from the String Octet*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn
Duration: 5 minutes
Comments: An optimistic arrangement which is fun but very hard to play up to speed. Not popular with string players therefore well worth doing!
Mendelssohn – Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB(opt)
Duration: 3 minutes
Comments: I think this is quite well-known.
Mozart – Romanza from Serenade in Bb
Instrumentation: 2Ob Cl BHn 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: Arranged by request for a special occasion. The basset horn is essential. The double bass, though optional, is highly desirable.
Rachmaninov – Serenade*
Instrumentation: Ob CA 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: A gentle waltz-like piece which uses a cor anglais instead of the 2nd oboe.
Sapellnikov – Polka Miniature*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB(opt)
Duration: 2˝ minutes
Comments: A charming polka.
Sonntag – Nibelungen March
Instrumentation: P(opt) 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 4˝ minutes
Comments: A march based on motives from Wagner's Ring. As well as the double-bass part there is an optional piccolo part. There is also a combined piccolo/double-bass part for anyone who can play both (supplies on request)!
Sousa – Stars & Stripes Forever
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl(Eb & Bb) 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 3˝ minutes
Comments: The DB is optional but desirable. Note the Eb clarinet! I also have a version with added piccolo and 2 Bb clarinets.
Sousa – Washington Post
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 2˝ minutes
Comments: What can I say?
Strauss J. – Csárdás from Die Fledermaus
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 4 minutes
Comments: Version A. This includes the original slow section ('Sound of Gypsy music'), which is quite long and tricky for ensemble.
Strauss J. – Csárdás from Die Fledermaus
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB
Duration: 2˝ minutes
Comments: Version B. This is shorter than version A and has a easier slow section with the same fast section.
Strauss J. – Die Fledermaus Overture*
Instrumentation: 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn 2Bn DB (+opt. Picc)
Duration: 7˝ minutes
Comments: An arrangement of the ever-popular overture which has an optional piccolo part.
Watters – Double or Quits
Instrumentation: 2 Solo Hns 2Ob 2Cl 2Bn
Duration: 1˝ minutes
Comments: Originally for 2 trumpets, this has been arranged for horns accompanied by the rest of the octet.
Weber – Intro & Rondo Ongarese*
Instrumentation: Solo Bn 2Ob 2Cl 2Hn Bn ,
Duration: 7 minutes
Comments: Familiar to bassoonists. The accompaniment has been arranged for the rest of the octet.
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