Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to present a process for transcribing orchestral works for the wind band. This is achieved through preparing a performance score of Andre Previn’s Sallie Chisum Remembers Billy the Kid, originally for orchestra, for wind band. Though transcription of orchestral works to the wind band medium has been occurring for over two hundred years, a current process for how to go about transcribing them has not been illuminated nor discussed in specific detail. Arthur Clappé, Philip Lang, Erik Leidzén, and Frank Erickson devoted texts to the subject of arranging and transcribing for wind band. However, these texts are out of date as the latest of these was published in 1983, thus creating a significant gap in research to the present day. A contemporary process for transcribing works for wind band would be able to incorporate the considerable advances that the wind band has made regarding repertoire, instrumentation, and orchestration. The complete transcription process is in seven steps: repertoire selection, research, instrumentation selection, transcription, editing score/preparing parts, read-through, final editing, and publication.