2006 Norwegian National Championships - Preview: Second Division
8-Feb-20064BR casts its eye over the 13 bands hoping to fight their way out of the Second Division at Bergen.
Thirteen bands will line up to try and win the Second Division title on the weekend, and there is a fair old battle royal in the making with a number of bands all in with a very good chance of doing well. Some familiar faces will lead the band here as well, with euphonium star Tormod Flaten and composer Torstein Aagaard Nilsen at the helm of some of the contenders.
In addition there are some very experienced MDs on show, whilst the recent SIDDIS Championship may give some guideline to the form book though, although it is quite difficult to tell given some of the choices of works the bands have opted for.
These include this year some ambitious choices such as ‘Blitz', ‘A London Overture' ‘Ballet for Band', three ‘Trittico's' and even a bit of Gilbert Vinter and his ‘Variations on a Ninth'. The adjudicators to impress are Karl Ole Midtbø and Jens T. Larsen.
It should make for interesting listening and our choices to whom we think may win are at the bottom of the page.
Bergen Brass Band
Conductor: Stian Svendsen
National Record:
2005: 3rd (Stian Svendsen)
2004: 5th (Stian Svendsen)
2003: 10th
2002: 14th in 2nd Division
2001: 2nd
2000: 7th
Last Year: 3rd
An improving band it seems and in the last two years Bergen has jumped up the results table and came a well merited 3rd last year under Stian Svendsen. They will be hoping that the improvement continues this year as well and a possible win could be within their grasp. Helge Haukas took them to SIDDIS where they came 11th in the First Section, so that could be an indicator to their hopes here at a lower level.
Borge Brass Band
Conductor: Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen
National Record:
2005: Winners of Third Division (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen)
2004: =8th (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen)
Last year: Winners of Third Division
Borge and their talented MD return once more to Bergen and will be looking to take yet another title after their success last year. Giving a fine performance of ‘The Present Age'. They may find life a little tougher this time around, but when we spoke to the MD he seemed pretty confident of doing well. Ones to watch out for we think then.
Flesland Musikklag
Conductor: Bengt Florvag
National Record:
2005: 7th (Yngve Nicolaisen)
2004: 9th (Egil Magnussen)
2003: 11th
2002: 5th
2001: 7th
2000: Joint 9th
Last Year: 7th
The experienced Yngve Nicolaisen took the band here last year when they pout in a decent enough performance to come 7th, but they have chosen to go with Bengt Florvag this time around to see if they push themselves up the results table and challenge for a possible podium position. Recent form suggests they might be in with a real shout this time as under the baton of Hogne Holmas they won the Second Division title at SIDDIS.
Follesø Musikklag
Conductor: Egil Magnussen
National Record:
2005: 9th (Jan Arne Pope)
2004: 3rd in Third Division (Jan Arne Pope)
2003: 6th
2002: 10th
2001: 6th
2000: DNC
Last Year: 9th
Follesø held their own here last year in coming 9th on their debut at this level and they will looking to improve on that this time around if they can. Egil Magnussen replaces Jan Arne Pope at the helm and they will be looking to improve on the form that saw them come a lowly 8th at SIDDIS.
Fræna Musikkorps
Conductor: Jens Kristian Mordal
National Record:
2005: 11th (Jens Kristian Mordal)
2004: 6th (Jens Kr. Mordal)
2003 – Winners Third Division
2002 – 9th
2001 – DNC
2000 – DNC
Last Year: 11th
The 2003 Third Division Champions put in a solid show here in 2004 to come 6th under Jens Kr. Mordal, but they fell away a little last year to come a lowly 11th. They will therefore be in need of a good result to banish any thoughts of possible relegation. They should be able to do that if they play to form, but then again, who knows?
Hornorkesteret Stavanger
Conductor: Geir Karlson
National Record:
2005: 8th (Geir Karlson)
2004: 11th in Division 1 (Russell Gray)
2003: 8th
2002: 2nd in 2nd Division
2001: 4th in 2nd Division
2000: 5th in 2nd Division
Last Year: 8th
Hornorkesteret Stavanger returned back to the Second Division in 2005 after being relegated from the higher section the year before. They will looking to improve on that result again this year and they did more than hold their own at SIDDIS in the First Section where they came 13th. Wait and see then.
Sagvåg Musikklag
Conductor: Havard Kroka
National Record:
2005: 10th (Michael Fowles)
2004: 8th (Michael Fowles)
2003: 9th First Division
2002: 5th
2001: 9th
2000: 8th
1999: 8th
Last Year: 10th
Sagvåg Musikklag, just seem to be finding life a bit difficult here in the past few years and after gaining a well earned 5th place in 2002, the last three years have seen them battling it out at the wrong end of the prize giving table. Havard Kroka takes over the conducting duties this year from Englishman Michael Fowles and it seems to have been a good team as they showed considerable form at SIDDIS in coming 5th in the First Section.
Stangaland Brass
Conductor: Morten E. Hansen
National Record:
2005: 6th (Morten E. Hansen)
2004: 10th (Morten E. Hansen)
2003: 12th
2002: 4th
2001: 10th
2000: Joint 5th
Last Year: 6th
The experienced Morten Hansen may well have to work hard to improve things for Stangaland Brass for a third consecutive year here and they look like a band that is heading in the right direction at this contest. Twelth in 2003 has been turned into 6th last year and you feel that they will be looking to go at least a couple of places better this time around. Fifth place at SIDDIS was a solid return, but can they go a few places better here?
Sørum Musikklag
Conductor: Erling J. Myrseth
National Record:
2005: 11th in First Division (Erling J. Myrseth)
2004: =7th (Trond Elnes)
2003 – 7th
2002 – 7th
2001 – 2nd in 2nd Division
2000 – Joint 5th in 2nd Division
Last Year: 11th in First Division
Sørum certainly rid themselves of the 7th place they seemed to be suffering here last year when they fell through the relegation trap door after coming a lowly 11th in the First Section. They will therefore be keen to return back to whence they came as quickly as possible, but they will have their work cut out to do so. Christian Tennfjord took them at SIDDIS where they came a very encouraging 9th place in the First Division, so it may appear they could well be in fighting form.
Tertnes Amatørkorps
Conductor: Tormod R. Flaten
National Record:
2005: =4th (Tormod Flaten)
2004: 4th in Third Division (Tormod Flaten)
2003: Winners Fourth Division (Tormod Falten)
2002: DNC
2001: DNC
2000: DNC
Last Year: =4th
Principal Euphonium player of the Eikanger Band, Tormod Flaten will once again lead his Tertnes Amatørkorps for the fourth time and he has some record to maintain at the contest after a win, a promotion and a very solid fourth place here last year. That should set them up to do very nicely here again this year and a top three position should be the least of their ambitions.
Trondheim Politis Brassband
Conductor: Odd Steinar Morkved
National Record:
2005: =4th (Odd Steinar Morkved)
2004: 3rd (Odd Steinar Morkved)
2003: 5th
2002: 11th in 1st Division
2001: 7th in 1st Division
2000: Joint 5th in 1st Division
Last Year: =4th
Trondheim Politis Brassband came joint 4th here last year and will be looking for certain to maintain that run of form to claim an even higher place or a possible win here this time around. No appearance at the SIDDIS Contest, so their current form is a little bit of a mystery but on the basis of the last few years they should be there or thereabouts come the results.
Tysnes Musikklag
Conductor: Eirik Gjerdevik
National Record:
2005: 2nd in Third Division (Yngve Nikolaisen)
2004: 12th (Yngve Nikolaisen)
2003: 5th
2002: 11th in 2nd Division
2001: 12th in 2nd Division
2000: Winners
Last Year: 2nd in Third Division
Last year Tysnes put in an excellent performance to take the runners up spot and gain promotion. It was well deserved. This year they have opted to go with Eirik Gjerdevik, although with Yngve Nikolaisen they showed their form at SIDDIS where they came third. They should hold their own though and a possible top six place may be on the horizon.
Ørskog Brass
Conductor: Henrik Dalhaug
National Record:
2005: 12th in First Division (Michael Antrobus)
2004: 4th (Michael Antrobus)
2003: 2nd Second Division
2002: 7th
2001: 11th in 1st Division
2000: 2nd
Last Year: 12th in First Division
After a fine performance in 2004 when they pushed hard for a podium place, Ørskog fell away badly in 2005 and propped up the First Division table and found themselves relegated. That was their first result since 2001, and so they will be determined to get a decent result here this year.
4BR Prediction:
It could very well be a close old contest this one, but there are still a few form horses here that we think will make a definite mark. We can't look much further than Bergen for us with Borge just behind. Flesland and Sagvag should be good enough to battle it out for the final podium place with Stangaland Brass and Tertnes making up the top six for us. Our dark horses are Sorum.
1. Bergen
2. Borge
3. Flesland
4. Sagvag
5. Stangaland
6. Tertnes
Dark Horse: Sorum
Own Choice Selections:
A London Overture - Philip Sparke
A London Overture - Philip Sparke
Ballet for Band - Joseph Horovitz
Blitz - Derek Bourgeois
Firestorm - Stephen Bulla
Kaleidoscope (Five Variations on the Brugg Song) - Philip Sparke
Partita on "St. Theodulph" - Kevin Norbury
Quintessence - Robert Redhead
The Land of the Long White Cloud - Aotearoa - Philip Sparke
Trittico for Brass Band - James Curnow
Trittico for Brass Band - James Curnow
Trittico for Brass Band - James Curnow
Variations on a Ninth - Gilbert Vinter
2005 Result:
1. Haukås Musikklag (Thor-Arne Pedersen) - 94
2. Tromsø Brass (Robert Skoglund Jensen - 93
3. Bergen Brass Band (Stian E. Svendsen) - 92
4. Trondheim Politis Brassband (Odd Steinar Mørkved) - 90
4. Tertnes Amatørkorps (Tormod Flaten) - 90
6. Stangaland Brass (Morten E. Hansen) - 89
7. Flesland Musikklag (Yngve Nikolaisen) - 88
8. Hornorkesteret Stavanger (Geir Karlson) - 87
9. Follesø Musikklag (Jan Arne Pupe) - 86.5
10. Sagvåg Musikklag (Michael Fowles) - 86
11. Fræna Musikkorps (Jens Kristian Mordal) - 85
12. Skodje Ungdomskorps (Gary MacPhee) - 84
Soloist prize: Solo cornet, Haukås Musikklag: Best section: Trombones, Tromsø Brass
