66 Festive & Famous Chorales for Band: Bassoon Book

These chorales work as both efficient warm-up material and substantive repertoire, a rare combination that respects directors' time constraints. Erickson's arrangements preserve the harmonic and melodic character of each chorale while distributing parts intelligently across the band, giving every section something musical to play rather than filler notes. The flexibility to perform them as full band or smaller ensembles makes this one collection solve multiple programming and rehearsal needs.

These chorales carry the warmth and familiarity of the hymn tradition, yet Erickson's scoring brings fresh color to well-known material. Each piece unfolds with clarity and purpose, offering moments of genuine lyricism that reward careful listening and playing.

This collection serves concert bands at all levels, from middle school through community ensembles. Bassoonists will find accessible but musical lines that fit naturally in the woodwind family and build confidence in blend and intonation work.

• Balance the inner voices carefully during rehearsal. The alto and tenor lines carry harmonic interest and should be audible without overwhelming the melody.
• Shape each chorale as a complete musical thought, not a series of chords. Aim for gentle crescendos and diminuendos that reflect the contour of the melody.
• Use these for sectional warm-ups before tackling larger works. Five minutes of chorales can establish focused intonation and ensemble listening better than scales alone.
• Vary articulation approaches across different chorales to prevent repetitive phrasing. Some may benefit from slightly detached quarter notes; others from legato connection.

Open concert programs with a set of contrasting chorales to establish a reflective tone and demonstrate ensemble musicianship early. The collection also works beautifully as a brief interlude between major works, giving audiences a moment of repose while allowing your band to reset intonation and focus.

• Balancing inner harmonic voices against the melody
• Sustaining tone quality and intonation across longer passages without vibrato distractions
• Phrasing through chord changes and cadences
• Blending in smaller sectional configurations
• Reading four-part voicing and identifying your line within harmonic context