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Friday 1 May: 1700-2200 local time
Test piece: From Ancient Times, Jan Van der Roost
Adjudicators:
Jan Hadermann (Belgium), Garry Cutt (UK), Franz Cibulka (Austria)

What do we think?

What an enjoyable contest this has been today. A super test piece has provided all the bands with the chance to shine — and some have done just that and more. Perhaps the highest overall quality in the test piece section of the contest's recent history for us.

The two performances that do stand out though have come from the reigning champions Cory and the Norwegian's of Eikanger. Very different in approach — Cory more techncially brilliant, but Eikanger perhaps more musically persuasive. Hard to seperate, but we think that extra touch of flambouyant elan in the cadenzas may tip it to the Welsh. It's close though.

After these two, a good length or two behind come the trio headed for us by the impressive Tredegar, followed closely by Treize Etoile and Whitburn with the Austrians of Oberosterreich making the top six.

Grimethorpe? Not for us today — brilliantly exciting but all so edgy at times. The bottom four will be a shake up but Aeolus, Festival, Lyngby Taarbaek and Rijnmond.

4BR Prediction:

1. Cory
2. Eikanger
3. Tredegar
4. Treize Etoile
5. Whitburn
6. Oberostereich
7. Grimethorpe
8. Aeolus
9. Festival
10. Lyngby Taarbaek
11. Rijnmond

Live:

Time: 2150hrs
Festival Brass Band (Belgium), 11
Conductor: Manu Mallaerts

Not a great opening — lacks that sense of monastic atmosphere due mainly to the lack of dynamic contrast. It gets better, but the dynamic is monotone loud especially in the Estampie. Some great sop sounds, but it needs more than this today. Messy stuff at times and it needs warmth.

Cadenzas — some great, some OK — all played with a bravura style though. Link passage to Sax Interlude is neat, but what follows is so lacking in warmth — its just loud and harsh.

Reprise — the band enjoy this and it shows — its all guns blazing. There is plenty to enjoy despite the sheerdesire to blow the roof off. Lacks class, despite the excitement and huge finish.

Overall: One that cried out for a degree of restraint that never looked like coming from the middle. Big, brash and one that won't feature for us.

Time: 2115hrs
Brass Band Rijnmond (Netherlands), 10
Conductor: Ivan Meylemans

Poor start — not even the MD amid the perc team helps, nor does the bumper up playing a trumpet. Surely those days are gone at this level? It's exciting but messy and lacks contrast for us throughout the Estampie. It's bravura (esp sop) but the dynamics have gone AWOL — just a blastfest.

Cadenzas — Variable — some very classy (sop again), others OK only, but fine link to Sax Interlude, which by today's standards doesn't quite cut it.

Reprise is now getting just loud and messy. There are some rays of quality, but not near enough. Gets very harsh to close, even if they have something left in the tank.

Overall: Had its moments but never really had enough quality about it to trouble the best today. Decent effort but needed to be a class above this to compete.

Time: 2050hrs
Brass Band Oberoestereich (Austria), 9
Condcutor: Hannes Buchegger

Super start — just the right sense of monastic atmosphere. The build continues the trend with so a finely wrought musical picture. Not everything shines, but the sop in the Estampie section is awesome. This is real musicality at pace, especially the high filigree work.

Cadenzas — not all come off. Some are superb, others OK. The link to the Sax Interlude doesn't work well and the following section just needs more warmth to assist the technical proficiency.

Reprise — the return to the band's strengths (sop is amazing — what a player!) and what a ride to the end. A fantastic finish.

Overall: Just the middle section may detract. It needed a bit more emotional warmth for us today. The rest though was playing of a very high class.

Time: 2025hrs
Cory Band (Wales), 8
Conductor: Dr Robert Childs

Very atmospheric and monastic, but not always with a secure foundation, which takes time to support. Builds so well after this, with a clear sense of purpose. Sounds very technically proficient this, and stylish? Estampie is tour de force stuff but not always razor sharp.

Cadenzas — this is superb playing from all concerned — and the link to the Sax Interlude is quite beautiful. This now continues with a fine euph lead and a real blossoming of the climax. Now the band are on their toes — great playing.

Reprise sees the gear change to overdrive. Sop is fab and tops some truely brilliant techncial playing. Stomping end.

Overall: A fantastic show — just that opening may cost them, but it is picking the smallest of hairs. May just have nipped it.

Time: 2000hrs
Eikanger-Bjorkvik Musikklag (Norway), 7
Conductor: Bjarte Engeset

Superb start — real monastic mystery and atmosphere, with a real sense of style and lyricism in build to Estampie. This is absolute class in execution — so much control, detail and style. Cracking stuff and the band and MD revel in it.

Cadenzas — Played with real finesse and elan with sop quite stunning. We are hearing rare quality in the Sax interlude. Just the odd moment but so what.

Reprise has the stamp of class eve with odd waver. Retains the quality, with something to spare right to the triumphant and resounding ending.

Overall: The clear leader so far in a high class field. This was playing and a reading of the highest class. Take some beating.

Time: 1930hrs
Whitburn (Scotland), 6
Conductor: Russell Gray)

Safely done this and with that hint of monastic distance too. Builds well if a little blandly but again it is safe enough with fine developing lines. Estampie just lacks for something now and again — perhaps a touch more detail, but the shape is so neat.

Cadenzas — bravo one and all. Euph is top notch and shows class in Sax interlude. This is neat but loses focus at times with the odd sloppy moment or two. Just strains in places.

Reprise is well handled, lots to admire in the stylish approach. The odd moment when it just wanes, but a second breath takes it to a very bold ending.

Overall: Another good one this — that really did have its high class moments. Just a few times it lost focus, but it was very nicely shaped and developed.

Time: 1845hrs
Lyngby-Taarbaek Brass Band (Denmark), 5
Conductor: Christian Schmiedescamp

Not the most atmospheric of starts — a touch mechanically rather than monastically inclined. Builds well, but there is a lack of dynamic contrast in the ensemble. Safe enough but not a thrilling Estampie.

Cadenzas are weak at times — some struggle and this is a section that is not enjoyed. The Sax section has its moments and lyrical lines but it seems harsh in tonality.

Reprise seems overblown and messy too often. There is volume a plenty but it is starting to lose focus. Brave effort to end though, but it fades.

Overall: The weakest performance so far today, but still a very brave and commited effort on a very difficult test piece. Not a contender we think though.

Time: 1820hrs
Tredegar Band (Wales), 4
Conductor: Ian Porthouse

Super start has real atmosphere and sense of distance. Great leading lines, boldly coloured. Estampie is classy — lots of detail and clarity at deliberate tempi. Enjoyable stuff this.

Cadenzas are well played too — just the odd moment of unease but overall played with elan. Sax appeal is very emotive with super euph lead. Sop is becoming a star performer. Little moments but they do not detract.

Reprise is wellpaced and detailed too. There is so much in reserve and the sop tops it all off brilliantly. Great contrasts and what a well managed ending.

Overall: A very high class show this — lots to enjoy and admire and some star performers too. Right up there for us.

Time: 1750hrs
Grimethorpe Colliery Band (England), 3
Conductor: Allan Withington

Safe to start — a touch monastically mechanical perhaps, but the emerging line is so clear. Red blooded stuff in the Estamppie — what huge sounds and effects to go with the drive. Edgy though at times overtly so.

Cadenzas have the touch of class even if not always 100 percent. Sop brilliant. Sax appeal yes — but it does get very emotional at times. Dynamics are optional in filigree work at times but this is so exciting.

Reprise for home is more of the same — what sounds they make — simply hue and the sop is a colossus. Fantastic ending.

Overall: They gave it their all here — and more at times it must be said. Hard to think of a more exciting performance but one that did have edges to it at times.

Time: 1725hrs
Brass Band Aeolus (France), 2
Conductor: Bastien Stil

A bit workmanlike to start — just lacks that air of monastic mystery and it soon beomes clear — its French bravura. Quicker than a HGV train in places. It was certainly exciting but also edge of the seat stuff in the Estampie dance.

Cadenzas vary from the brilliant (great 2nd sop and cornet) to the average. Adolfe Sax interlude was a touch harsh in places and lacked lyrical quality, but the return for home is all bells and whistles.

Sounds a touch strained in places as the stamina wanes but this still has legs (well done sop) right to the end.

Overall: A fine French effort — lots to admire in the approach even if the execution was not always of the very highest class. One to be proud of though.

Time: 1700hrs
Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Switzerland), 1
COnductor: James Gourlay

A really atmospheric opening has the distant monastic feel required and builds with purpose and clarity to the Estampie dance.

This controlled playing of a high class. Some untidy filigree work, but its stylish playing. Hats off to the cadenza soloists — all played with a real touch of elan and class. Beautiful Adolphe Sax lyricial section too — fine sop!

Great build and stamina in reserve for the finish too. A real marker this and such a persuasive reading from the MD.

Overall: We liked this a great deal — so musical and controlled — and this is a lip sapper of a piece. What a start.