We wish all friends of Musicainfo.net a good start into the new year with our “Happy New Year” playlist lasting over four hours!
The playlist is also available in our new radio apps:
The turn of the year has always been a special moment in brass music. Between retrospection and new beginnings, it is precisely those works that are festive, rhythmic and tonally balanced that unfold their effect. Our New Year’s Eve playlist “Happy New Year” picks up on precisely this area of tension and offers a carefully compiled selection for wind music and wind orchestra fans.
The focus is not on individual “hits”, but on a musical sequence that carries the evening – from the early festive character to the transition into the new year.
Reliable classics at the turn of the year
“On the beautiful blue Danube”
The Danube Waltz is an inseparable part of New Year’s Eve. In the wind orchestra version, the work develops a special clarity: lines become more transparent, the pulse remains stable and the typical Straussian momentum is nevertheless retained. Johann Strauss Sohn shows here how timeless this music is – even outside the classical string orchestra.
“Radetzky March”
This march should not be missed as an energetic counterpoint. Rhythmic precision, clear articulation and the familiar form make it an effective highlight of the playlist. The work by Johann Strauss Vater stands for verve and festivity and is a proven crowd-puller.
“Auld Lang Syne”
The emotional core of the turn of the year. In wind orchestra arrangements, this traditional song has a particularly immediate effect. Warm tone colors and a calm arrangement create space for reflection and community. As Auld Lang Syne, it marks the moment of transition – musically simple, but effective.
The main works between the highlights
What makes this playlist special is the selection of works between the well-known fixed points. They give the program structure and depth.
Concertante overtures
These pieces open the evening with a festive character and concertante ambition. They present wind music as fully-fledged concert literature – with clear themes, suspenseful arcs and colorful instrumentation.
Sophisticated marches
In addition to the well-known classics, there are marches that impress with their musical substance. Differentiated dynamics, harmonic subtleties and clean form make them more than just rhythmic accompaniment music.
Gallops and fast character pieces
These works bring lightness and movement to the playlist. They set specific accents, enliven the musical progression and demonstrate the technical and rhythmic strength of modern wind orchestras.
Intended for brass music fans
This New Year’s Eve playlist is aimed at people who appreciate brass band music – as a listening pleasure, as a club and concert culture or from their own active experience. It combines tradition with musical quality and creates a harmonious setting for the turn of the year.
Whether heard consciously or as a festive accompaniment:
This selection shows how versatile, sustainable and festive brass music is at the end of the year.
