Divertissement for Double Wind Quintet, Op.36: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

This score gives your band a Romantic-era gem that sits comfortably at Grade 5 without sacrificing musical substance. The doubled wind quintet layout creates rich tonal possibilities and allows flexible casting across your section, and Bernard's orchestration reveals how beautifully Classical form and elegant melodic writing translate to the wind band stage.

A graceful stroll through Romantic melody and French harmonic refinement. The doubled wind quintet creates a warm, singing sound that feels chamber-like in its intimacy yet band-like in its coloristic range, moving through contrasting sections with the leisurely pacing and architectural balance of the divertissement form.

Concert bands working at Grade 5 who want substantial repertoire with genuine musical and historical weight. This score rewards both experienced ensembles seeking a polished concert program and developing bands ready to tackle Romantic-era wind scoring with character and nuance.

• Balance the primary melody against the harmonic foundation by having your first section carry the line while remaining sensitive to accompaniment textures in inner voices.
• Respect the sectional architecture: each division has its own character, so rehearse them as distinct units before welding them into a coherent whole.
• The doubled wind quintet texture invites transparency; avoid overblowing and instead cultivate clarity across all dynamic levels.
• Lean into the Romantic harmonic language with slight rubato and phrase shaping that honors the lyrical quality without undermining the piece's Classical structural elegance.

Program this as a concert centerpiece that bridges your Classical and later Romantic offerings, or pair it with other French wind band works to build a thematic half of your concert. Its elegant proportions and moderate length make it ideal for a spring pops program or chamber wind concert.

• Balancing melody and accompaniment across doubled instrumental sections
• Understanding divertissement form and sectional architecture
• Reading and executing characteristic Romantic phrasing and harmonic language
• Achieving tonal transparency and blend in extended wind textures
• Responding to conductor shaping and sectional independence within ensemble context