Concert band  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to:
navigation, search A concert band     In the 18th century,
military ensembles were doing double duty as entertainment at
the royal courts, either alone or combined with orchestral
strings. Composers such as Mozart were writing chamber music for
these groups, called Harmonie bands, which evolved to a standard
instrumentation of two oboes, two clarinets, two horns, and two
bassoons. In addition to original compositions, these groups
also played transcriptions of opera music.[citation needed]
Contact with the music of the Turkish Janissaries contributed to
the expansion of the Western European wind band. The splendor
and dramatic effect of their percussion prompted the adoption of
bass drum, cymbals, and triangle, as well as piccolo to balance
the increased weight of the percussion section; see Turkish
music (style). More clarinets were gradually added and brass
instruments were further developed. The wind band eventually
reached its current size, tho