The music of Richard Wagner has always been a favourite amongst band conductors. At times Wagner himself recommended some of his music as an appropriate addition to the band repertoire. Here is an example, a letter to Friedrich Wilhelm Graf von Redern, dated Dresden, 26 June 1846, where Wagner wrote,
While I doubt that there are many pieces in my opera that are suitable for production as military music, I permit myself to draw your attention, however, particularly to one number which has gone exceedingly well on parades here in Dresden; I refer to the first section of the fourth scene of the second Act; it is in the style of a March with chorus … that lends itself well to treatment as an effective piece for military band.
Here he is talking about Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral, and his use of the term “Military Band” simply reflects the large band with woodwinds and brass and does not suggest a “military” style.
There are now a great number of works by Wagner available for band, at all levels of difficulty.
Tips for conductors
I use two books to look up the most recommended recordings of orchestral music: The Penguin Guide to the 1000 Finest Classical recordings, and the 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die. I look up the works in these two books and then listen to them on Spotify, and try to find videos of the conductors on YouTube. When conducting transcriptions it is imperative to do them justice as works of art, and not treat them as dumbed-down versions worthy of less than our best efforts.
Level 1
Overture to Rienzi
arr. Mark Williams
Alfred
2:31
Level 2
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral
arr. Robert E. Foster Jr.
Wingert-Jones Publications
3:40
Die Meistersinger Themes
arr. Daehn
Daehn Publications
2:12
Pilgrims Chorus
J Cacavas
Alfred
2:44
Pilgrims Chorus
arr. Eric Osterling
Hal Leonard
Prelude from Parsifal
arr. Osterling
Hal Leonard
Tannhauser March
arr. Henderson
Alfred
Die Meistersinger
arr. Story
Alfred
Tannhauser Overture (Theme)
arr. Tyler
Alfred
Grand March from Tannhauser
arr. Bender
Carl Fischer
Pilgrims Chorus from Tannhauser
arr. Holmes
Rubank
Level 3
Ride of the Valkyries
arr. Mark Williams
Alfred
2:02
Lohengrin-Excerpts
arr. Eric Osterling
Ludwig-Masters Publications
O du mein holder Abendstern
Jos van de Braak
Baton Music
Pilgrim’s Chorus (from “Tannhauser”)
arr. Bullock
Alfred
3:36
Die Meistersinger
arr. G Milford
Alfred
5:56
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral
arr. Frank Erickson
Alfred
Themes from Tannhauser
arr. Thygerson
Heritage Music Press
Ouverture Du Vaisseau Fantome
arr. Georges Corroyez
Editions Robert Martin
Euch Luften, die mein Klagen
arr. Christian E. Schuller
Baton Music
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral
Bocook
Hal Leonard
Scenes from Rienzi
arr. Hubbell
Heritage Music Press
Tannhauser Suite
arr. Daniels
Alfred
Prelude to Act Three of Lohengrin
arr. Frank Erickson
Alfred
Rienzi
arr. Osterling
Ludwig-Masters Publications
Level 4
Prelude to Parsifal
arr. John R. Bourgeois
Wingert-Jones Publications
12:23
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral
trans. David Whitwell
Maxime’s Music
Trauermusik
Mod. edn. David Whitwell
Maxime’s Music
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral
arr. Bradley Kerr Green
Print Music Source
Lohengrin
arr. Donald Patterson
CL Barnhouse
3:58
Trauermusik
arr. Votta, Boyd
Ludwig-Masters Publications
8:20
Huldigungsmarsch
Mod. edn. David Whitwell
Maxime’s Music
Homage March
ed. Bourgeois
Wingert-Jones Publications
5:27
Kaisermarsch
arr. Franco Hanle
Baton Music
Heil, Konig Heinrich
arr. Geert Mooren
Baton Music
Die Meistersinger
arr. Eric Osterling
Ludwig-Masters Publications
Lohengrin
arr. Christian E. Schuller
Baton Music
Sigfried’s Trauermarsch
arr. Christiaan Janssen
Baton Music
Siegfrieds Funeral Music
arr. Whear
CL Barnhouse
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral
arr. Mark Hindsley
Hindsley Transcriptions
Die Frist ist um
arr. Jos van de Braak
Baton Music
Level 5
Excerpts from Die Walküre
Arranged by David Whitwell
Maxime’s Music
Excerpts from Siegfried
Arranged by David Whitwell
Maxime’s Music
Excerpts from Das Rheingold
Arranged by David Whitwell
Maxime’s Music
Excerpts from Götterdämmerung
Arranged by David Whitwell
Maxime’s Music
Entrance of the Guests (from Tannhauser)
arr. Mark Prowen
Mark Prowen
6:29
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral (from “Lohengrin”)
arr. Lucien Cailliet
Alfred
5:59
Prelude to Parsifal
arr. John R. Bourgeois
Wingert-Jones Publications
12:23
Ride of the Valkyries
trans. Robert Longfield
CL Barnhouse
4:40
Tannhauser Grand March
arr. McAlister/Reed
Masters Music Publications Inc
Liebestod – Archive
arr. Glenn Cliffe Bainum
Neil A Kjos
Rienzi
arr.
J. Neumann & Co.
12:06
Ride of the Valkyries
L. P. Laurendeau
J. Neumann & Co.
5:30
Homage March
ed. Bourgeois
Wingert-Jones Publications
5:27
Procession of the Knights
arr. Houseknecht
Carl Fischer
Rienzi Overture
arr. D. Patterson
Southern Music Company
Prelude and Love-Death from Tristan und Isolde
arr. Mark Hindsley
Hindsley Transcriptions
Trauersinfonie
arr. Erik Leidzen
Associated Music Pub.
Tristan und Isolde
arr. Christiaan Janssen
Baton Music
Lohengrin
arr. Marco Tamanini
Baton Music
Rienzi (Overture)
arr. Douglas McLain
Baton Music
Was duftet doch der Flieder
arr. Jos van de Braak
Baton Music
Wahn! Wahn! Uberall Wahn!
arr. Jos van de Braak
Baton Music
Prelude from Tristan and Isolde
arr. G. Brand
G&M Brand
Ride of the Valkyries
arr. Mark Hindsley
Hindsley Transcriptions
Pilgrims Chorus from Tannhauser
arr. Alfred Reed
CL Barnhouse
3:56
Die Meistersinger
arr. Mark Hindsley
Hindsley Transcriptions
Lohengrin – Introduction to Act 3
arr. Mark Hindsley
Hindsley Transcriptions
Lohengrin-Prelude to Act Three
arr. G. Brand
G&M Brand
Procession to the Cathedral
arr. Patterson
TRN Music
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral
trans. Bourgeois
Wingert-Jones Publications
Das Libesverbot
arr. Jurrens
Hal Leonard
Lohengrin, Act 1 Excerpts
arr. Lucien Cailliet
Alfred
Huldingungs March
arr. Alfred Reed
Masters Music Publications
Feast of the Apostles
arr. Jurrens
Hal Leonard
Good Friday Spell
arr. Earl Slocum
Alfred
Invocation of Alberich
arr. Lucien Cailliet
Sam Fox
Good Friday Spell from Parsi
arr. Godfrey
Chappell Music Company
Introduction to Act 3 from Lohengrin
arr. Lucien Cailliet
J.W. Pepper & Son
Level 6
Gotterdammerung
arr. Christiaan Janssen
Baton Music
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg Prelude (Overture)
arr. Trans. Theodore Moses-Tobani
J. Neumann & Co.
Entry of the Gods Valhalla
arr. Godfrey
J.W. Pepper & Son
Rienzi
arr. Meyrelles
Carl Fischer LLC
Tannhauser Overture
arr. Mark Hindsley
Hindsley Transcriptions
Tannhauser
arr. Safranek
Carl Fischer LLC
Flying Dutchman Overture
arr. Kenneth Singleton
Masters Music Publications
Die Walkure
arr. Christiaan Janssen
Baton Music
Siegfried (Symphonic Suite)
arr. Christiaan Janssen
Baton Music
Entry of the Gods Valhalla
arr. O’Neill
Carl Fischer
Flying Dutchman Overture
arr. Mark Hindsley
Hindsley Transcriptions
Rienzi Overture
arr. Mark Hindsley
Hindsley Transcriptions
Prelude to Parsifal
arr. Godfrey
Chappell Music
Rienzi Overture
arr. Godfrey
Chappell Music Company
Faust Overture
arr. Godfrey
Chappell Music Company
Brunnhildes Awakening
arr.
Boosey & Hawkes
Lohengrin, Excerpts from Act 1
arr. Lucien Cailliet
Hal Leonard
Siegfrieds Rhine Journey
arr. Lucien Cailliet
J.W. Pepper & Son
Entry of the Gods into Valhalla
arr. Godfrey
Boosey & Hawkes
Wotans Farewell and Magic Fire Music
arr. Winterbottom
Boosey & Hawkes
Siegfrieds Rhine Journey
arr. Lucien Cailliet
Alfred
Die Meistersinger
arr. Winterbottom
Boosey & Hawkes
Flying Dutchman Overture
arr.
Chappell Music Company
Flying Dutchman Overture
arr. Laurendau
Carl Fischer
Tristan and Isolde
arr. Godfrey
Masters Music Publications
Vorspiel und Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
arr. Godfrey
Boosey & Hawkes
Siegfrieds Rhine Journey
Arr. Lucien Cailliet
J.W. Pepper & Son
Flying Dutchman Overture
arr.
G. Schirmer
Siegfrieds Rhine Journey
arr. Hibbert
Boosey & Hawkes
Das Rheingold (Symphonic Suite)
arr. Christiaan Janssen
Baton Music
