2006 Norwegian National Championships - Preview: Third Section
8-Feb-2006Twelve bands will be performing their own choice selections to open adjudicators in the Third Section. We cast our eyes over the bands.
This was a great contest last year when the 14 bands were adjudicated upon in the open by Frode Amundsen and Trond Elnes. This year the system has been put in place once again and it is a real welcome sign of progress.
As usual here the selections from the bands show real signs of ambition (some a little misplaced) but it has all become part and parcel of the event.
The adjudicators for the event are Rune Bergmann and Geir Ulseth
Austrheim Lindås Musikklag
Conductor: Pål Magne Austnes
National Record:
2005: 5th (Age Torsvik)
2004: 7th (Age Torsvik)
2003: 9th Second Division
2002: 8th
2001: 11th
2000: 12th
Last Year: 5th
Own Choice Selections:
2006: Rhapsody in Brass
2005: Firestorm
Recently came 9th at the SIDDIS Contest in the higher Second Section and 5th here last year show that this is a consistent and solid band. A new MD and there was encouring signs at SIDDIS. Rhapsody in Brass is a bold choice though and will take some playing, but good on them for giving it a go.
Fagernes Musikkorps
Conductor: Tor Arthur Hagen
National Record:
2005: Winners of Fourth Division (Tor Arthur Hagen)
2004: 13th in Third Division
Last Year: Winners of Fourth Section
Own Choice Selections:
2006: The Plantagenets
Made their debut at he contest in 2004 and then certainly found their feet last year when they won the Fourth Section in fine style playing ‘Tryptich for Brass Band' by Philip Sparke. That should set them up for a crack at further success here and they should be more than capable of holding their own.
Gjesdal Brass Band
Conductor: Christian Tenfjord
National Record:
2005: 8th (Russell Gray)
2004: 10th (Russell Gray)
Last Year: 8th
Own Choice Selections:
2006: Festivity
2005: The Long Ships
Christian Tenfjord takes over the helm from Russell Gray this year as the Englishman heads the challenge in the Elite Section with Stavanger. Last year they came 8th and will be looking to improve on that this time around for sure. They could be on the type of form to make a mark though after coming runners up at SIDDIS.
Gjøvik ByBrass
Conductor: Roar Bjerkehagen
National Record:
2005: 10th (Roar Bjerkehagen)
2004: 12th in Second Division (Roar Bjerkehagen)
2003: 2nd Third Division
2002: Joint 13th
2001: 12th
2000: DNC
Last Year: 10th
Own Choice Selections:
2006: The Plantagenets
2005: Kaleidoscope
Another slightly ambitious choice of test piece but one that they must feel they can do justice to. Tenth place last year showed that they may have bitten off a bit more than they could chew - but so what?
Hasle Brass
Conductor: Michael Antrobus
National Record:
2005: 7th (Tarjei Gilbrant)
2004: 6th (Tarjei Gilbrant)
2003: 10th Second Division
2002: 5th in 3rd Division
2001: 8th in 3rd Division
2000: 20th in 3rd Division
Last Year: 7th
Own Choice Selections:
2006: The Land of the Long White Cloud
2005: English Heritage
Last year Hasle really went for it 'big style' by picking a hugely ambitious test piece to play. It didn't come off and perhaps they needed a realistic reappraisal of what they could mange. This time they haven't been put off and are going for it again. Michael Antrobus should give them a solid lead.
Jølster Musikklag
Conductor: Arvid Anthun
National Record:
2005: 4th (Arvid Anthun)
2004: 2nd in Fourth Section (Arvid Anthun)
2003: 9th in Third Division
2002: 7th
2001: 4th
2000: 6th
Last Year: 4th
Own Choice Selections:
2006: Voyage of Discovery
2005: Nautalis
Promoted from the Fourth Division last year, Jolster produced an excellent effort to come fourth and they will be confident of doing well here again. It seems they are a band moving in the right direction.
Laksevåg Musikkforening
Conductor: Tom Brevik
National Record:
2005: 3rd (Tom Brevik)
2004: 5th (Tom Brevik)
2003: 7th
2002: 12th in 2nd Division
2001: 6th in 2nd Division
2000: 2nd
Last Year: 3rd
Own Choice Selections:
2006: The Land of the Long White Cloud
2005: Salute to Youth
Perhaps one of the favourites, although they could only manage 6th place at SIDDIS last year. Tom Brevik is the father of the brass band movement out here and still has a great deal to offer. An ambitious choice of test piece, but one you feel they could manage.
Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn
Conductor: Espen Westbye
National Record:
2005: 9th (Rolf Aksel Gilje)
2004: 11th in Second Division (Alan Fernie)
2003: 6th
2002: 3rd
2001: 5th
2000: 12th in 1st Division
Last Year: 9th
Own Choice Selections:
2006: Excalibur
2005: Blazon
Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn found themselves in the Third Division last year after being relegated from the higher tier and they struggled a little in coming 9th. Espen Westbye took over the reins at SIDDIS and they did well coming in 7th, so they could be on decent form coming here. Espen Westbye is the star soprano play with Stavanger and is making a fine reputation for himself both as a player and conductor.
Nes Musikkforening
Conductor: Andres Halla
National Record:
2005: 11th (Andres Halla)
2004: =8th (Andres Halla)
2003: 4th
2002: 6th
2001: 16th
2000: 14th
Last Year: 11th
Own Choice Selections:
2006: Firestorm
2005: Northern Landscapes
Eleventh place last year was a bit of a disappointment for Nes Musikkforening as in the previous couple of years they had shown improvement and were possibly thinking of a determined effort to take the title. It wasn't to be and they will be looking for a return to form this year on a neat choice of music to showcase their talents.
Rong Brass
Conductor: Reid Gilje
National Record:
2005: 6th (Reid Gilje)
2004: 11th (Hogne Haugsda)l
2003: 3rd
2002: 11th
2001: 7th
2000: 9th
Last Year: 6th
Own Choice Selections:
2006: Purcell Variations
2005: Partita Postcards from Home
The experienced Reid Gilje directs again this year and will be looking to maintain the form that has seen them move up the prize table in the last couple of years. A decent choice of test piece should benefit them and they bring decent form here too after coming 4th at SIDDIS.
Skodje Ungdomskorps
Conductor: Gary McPhee
National Record:
2005: 12thh in Second Division
2004: 2nd in Division 3 (Henrik Dalhaug)
2003: 8th Second Division
2002: 3rd in 3rd Division
2001: 5th in 3rd Division
2000: 15th
Last Year: 12th in Second Section
Own Choice Selections:
2006: Endeavour
Gary McPhee directs Skodje Ungdomskorps once more and they will be looking to make an immediate impression after finding life in the higher section a little difficult. Hopefully they will be able to do just that as they have a talented MD in front of them to spearhead their challenge.
Skui Brass Band
Conductor: Henrik Dalhaug
National Record:
2005: 12th (Trond Nilsen)
2004: 3rd in Fourth Division (Trond Nilsen)
2003: 3rd
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
Last Year: 12th
Own Choice Selections:
2006: Renaissance
2005: Partita Postcards from Home
Skui Brass Band made their debut in the Third Division last year after two years of solid achievement in the lowest section. They came 12th, but that wasn't too bad as they also showed a great deal of promise. They bring excellent form here though after winning at SIDDIS under Henrik Dalhaug. One of the favourites then?
4BR Prediction:
A very difficult one for us here, but there are signs if the bands play to the form they showed at the recent SIDDIS contest (and bearing in mind the confident choices they have made of test pieces) we think our top six could very well be like this.
1. Skui Brass Band
2. Laksevag
3. Rong
4. Fagernes
5. Austrheim
6. Jolster
Dark Horse: Hasle Brass
2005 Result:
1. Borge Brass Band Torstein (Aagaard-Nilsen) - 94
2. Tysnes Musikklag (Yngve Nikolaisen) - 92
3. Laksevåg Musikkforening (Tom Brevik) - 90
4. Jølster Musikklag (Arvid Anthun) - 89
5. Austrheim/Lindås Musikklag (Åge Torsvik) - 88
6. Rong Brass (Reid Gilje) - 87
7. Hasle Brass (Tarjei Gilbrant) - 86
8. Gjesdal Brass Band (Russell Gray) - 85
9. Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn (Rolf Aksel Gilje) - 84
10. Gjøvik Bybrass (Roar Bjerkehagen) - 83
11. Nes Musikkforening (Andres Halla) - 80
12. Skui Brassband (Trond Nilsen) - 78
13. Stavanger Kommunes Korps (Morten Øvrebekk) - 76
14. Rosendal Musikklag (Michael Antrobus) - 73
Soloist prize: Solo cornet, Laksevåg Musikkforening: Best section: Percussion, Jølster Musikklag
