Russ Girsberger - Sourcebook for Wind Band and Instrumental Music

As teachers of music, conductors of wind ensembles, and observers of culture in America, we are in a new, exciting and challenging time. The repertoire of todays wind band is moving in increasingly rapid ways, both in quantity as well as in the quality of the works being produced for ensembles of diverse skill levels. Similarly, the material available for instrumental teaching has expanded in quality and scope. Frank Battisti has been one of the most prominent voices in the advancement of the wind band medium and a dedicated advocate for instrumental music education for more than half a century. His passion for music, his inquisitive mind and gift for teaching, matched with an enthusiasm for helping others that only seems to have increased over the years, leads him to write on subjects essential to the work of any conductor and teacher at any level.

Enter now, this Sourcebook for Wind Band and Instrumental Music . One only has to turn to the Table of Contents and quickly see that contained in the pages that follow is important information sending interested readers to websites, recordings, teaching methods, research and opinions vital to preparation in their quest to be excellent teachers and conductors.

The challenge, of course, in attempting to compile the kind of information included in this volume is that every day sees more and more information available about more and more repertoire. So, why write a book that becomes out of date during the time it takes to move from final draft to print? The contents of these pages encourage us to knock on the door of tomorrow and burst through to excitedly view what lies ahead. The motivated musician and teacher will discover, on the pages that follow, information that will take them logically from one source to another. It will provide, for perhaps the first time in one comprehensive volume, the kind of information that will lead to further inquiry and investigation on the part of the reader that will provide a framework for continued growth and fascinating research. For example, as the reader examines the listing Composers and Composer and Literature Research in search of articles about Frank Tichelis An American Dream, it is possible that their eyes might move down a line to see the reference for Fred Tillis. The reader then notices Tom Everretts 1978 article entitled Concert Band Music by Black-American Composers. Your interest is now piqued; you read the article and now what began as one search has now produced information you did not previously have.

Frank Battisti, Bill Berz and Russ Girsberger make a formidable triumvirate, each bringing to this project their enthusiasm and perfect blend of skill, expertise and passion for the medium. This is a resource that every wind band conductor and instrumental teacher should have in his or her library. We are indebted to these three gentlemen for their dedication and painstaking work. It now becomes our responsibility to take this amazing collection of information and make our teaching more inspiring as a result. Our students will be the beneficiaries of this work, and the efforts of these three gentlemen will continue to push the medium ahead for future generations.

Jerry Junkin

Director of Bands

Butler School of Music

The University of Texas at Austin

September 1, 2014