2010 Norwegian National Championships - Second Division preview and prediction
3-Feb-2010Another promising contest in store in the Second Division with 13 well matched bands all hoping to do enough to gain another step up the Norwegian promotion ladder.
Second Division:
Adjudicators: Arnfinn Dahlhaug & Gavin David Lee
Friday 5th February (10.30)
There is the usual colourful selection of music (and possibly mayhem) in the 2nd Division this year, as 13 bands take to the stage in the Grieghallen on Friday morning.
Musical colour
The musical colour is provided by a wide variety of choices from the bands seeking to take the title and the KR10,000 first prize – from the dusty contesting archives and ‘Labour and Love’, through a detour of Salvationist output and ‘My Strength, My Tower’ and ‘Quintessence’ to domestic history with ‘Haakon the Good’ and even Celtic horticulture in ‘Five Blooms in a Welsh Garden’.
It should make for interesting listening for sure, and not just for the adjudicators.
Solid bands
There are plenty of solid bands on display, and with Kleppe and Alexander promoted it should be a fair old battle to see who takes the title this time around.
Brottum Musikkforening came 4th last year and picked up 5th place at the Grenland Festival. They will be looking to carry on the good form under the direction of the experienced Michael Antrobus, and their own choice selection of the former European set work, ‘Five Blooms in a Welsh Garden’.
Flesland Musikklag returns under the direction of euphonium star Patrick Randefalk and will want to improve their form after coming 10th at SIDDIS. They have chosen a bit of home grown music from Magnus Hylander and his ‘Norwegian Landscapes’ for their assault on the title.
Frei Hornmusikk continued their fine form at the contest last year, gaining a second successive promotion under the baton of Kim Lofthouse, and this time they have opted for Salvationist music with ‘My Strength, My Tower’ to inspire their attempt at another step towards the 1st Division.
Experienced
The experienced Reig Gilje continues to direct Folleso Musikklag and after gaining promotion from the 3rd Division, they will be keen to show their quality on their own choice selection of ‘Partita on St Theodulph’ after coming 10th at SIDDIS.
A band that brings good form with them will be Haukas Musikklag after they came 2nd at SIDDIS. Thor-Arne Pederson and his band have opted for ‘Trittico’ as they look to maintain their increasingly impressive form at the contest.
Hornorkesteret Stavanger will want to show that they are not too far off the pace after coming 7th last time around. 12th at SIDDIS in the 1st Division may not tell the whole story, but ‘Purcell Variations’ is a tester.
Labour and Love
Former Stavanger soprano star Espen Westbye continues to show his conducting talents with Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn. They come buoyed by their victory in the 2nd Division at SIDDIS. If they can carry on like that on the century old ‘Labour and Love’ then they may well be celebrating again.
Oster Brass meanwhile will be looking to bounce straight back to the 1st Division following their relegation. Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen continues at the helm and they will be keen to repeat the form they showed in coming 5th in the 1st Division at SIDDIS on their own choice, ‘Connotations’.
Former Eikanger star euphonium Tormod Flaten will direct Radoy Brass once again, and they will be looking to bounce back too after their relegation last year.
4th at the Grenland Festival and 9th in the 1st Division at SIDDIS shows that they have the ability, even if confidence may need a bit of a boost. Can their selection of ‘Coventry Variations’ do just that?
Right and Rong
Will things go right for Rong?
Stian E. Svendsen will hope so after they came 3rd last year and followed that up by winning the 2nd Division title at Grenland and coming 7th at SIDDIS. ‘Tallis Variations’ may have a quiet ending, but the cheers could ring out for all to hear if it proves to be a winner.
Havard Kroka takes the helm once again with Sagvag Musikklag, and they will be looking to regain form after coming a disappointing 10th last year. 6th at SIDDIS was encouraging, whilst their own choice selection of ‘The Saga of Haakon the Good’ should get the competitive juices flowing.
Busy
Reid Gilje is always a busy conductor at these championships and he will be seen in action a second time with Stangaland Brass, who will be looking to improve on their joint 8th place from last year. 8th at SIDDIS means they have work to do with their own choice selection of ‘Quintessence’.
Finally, Orskog Brass, who Karl Ole Mitbo will direct this year. They will be another band looking for a confidence boost this weekend following last year’s relegation, so will their choice of ‘Essence of Time’ bring a time for celebration come the announcement of the results?
As for a winner?
It would be great if 4BR could write the headline; ‘Right for Rong!’ and we think they could be in the mix come the results. However, we think they will be pushed all the way by Gjallarhorn and may just be pipped on this occasion.
Others in with a shout should be Oster, Haukas, Orskog and Brottum with our dark horse Radoy.
4BR Prediction:
1. Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn
2. Rong Brass
3. Oster Brass
4. Haukas Musikklag
5. Orskog Brass
6. Brottum Brass
Dark Horse: Radoy Brass
Brøttum Musikkforening
Conductor: Michael Antrobus
2010 Draw: 11
Own Choice Selection: Five Blooms in a Welsh Garden
National Record:
2009: 4th (Erling Myserth)
2008: =5th (Erling Myserth)
2007: 4th (Thorbjørn Lunde)
2006: 10th in First Division (Thorbjørn Lunde) (rel)
2005: 6th (Thorbjørn Lunde)
2004: 9th (Thorbjørn Lunde)
2003: Winners of Second Division (prom)
2002: 8th in First Division
2001: 3rd
2000: 9th in First Division
Overall Record:
Winners of Second Division 1999, 2003
Last Year: 4th
Own Choice Selection:
2009: Tallis Variations
2008: Trittico for Brass Band
2007: Diversions on a Bass Theme
2006: Chivalry
2005: Montage
Flesland Musikklag
Conductor: Patrick Randefalk
2010 Draw: 3
Own Choice Selection: Norwegian Landscapes
National Record:
2009: 5th (Patrick Randefalk)
2008: 2nd in Third Division (Svein Henrik Giske) (prom)
2007: 12th in Second Division (Svein Henrik Giske) (rel)
2006: 10th (Bengt Florvag)
2005: 7th (Yngve Nicolaisen)
2004: 9th (Egil Magnussen)
2003: 11th
2002: 5th
2001: 7th
2000: Joint 9th
Last Year: 5th
Own Choice Selection:
2009: Endeavour
2008: Sinfonietta –The Wayfarer
2007: Dampsanger
2006: The Land of the Long White Cloud
2005: Viking Saga Opus 3
Frei Hornmusikk
Conductor: Kim Lofthouse
2010 Draw: 2
Own Choice Selection: My Strength, My Tower
National Record:
2009: 2nd in 3rd Division (Kim Lofthouse) (prom)
2008: 4th in Fourth Division (Stein Åge Sørlie) (prom)
2007: 14th in Third Division (Stein Åge Sørlie/ John Hudson) (rel)
2006: 4th in Fourth Division (Stein Åge Sørlie) (prom)
Overall Record:
Winners of Third Division 2001
Last Year: 2nd in 3rd Division (Kim Lofthouse) (prom)
Own Choice Selection:
2009: Song of the Eternal
2008: The Saga of Haakon the Good
2007: Laudate Dominum
2006: Inspiration - Jan de Haan
Follesø Musikklag
Conductor: Reid Gilje
2010 Draw: 1
Own Choice Selection: Partita on St. Theodulph
National Record:
2009: 3rd in 3rd Division (Reid Gilje) (prom)
2008: 12th in Second Division (Rune Hannisdal) (rel)
2007: 10th in First Division (Eirik Gjerdevik) (rel)
2006: Winners of Second Division (Egil Magnussen) (prom)
2005: 9th (Jan Arne Pope)
2004: 3rd in Third Division (Jan Arne Pope) (prom)
2003: 6th
2002: 10th
2001: 6th
2000: DNC
Overall Record:
Winners of Second Section 2006
Last Year: 3rd in 3rd Division (Reid Gilje) (prom)
Own Choice Selection:
2009: Purcell Variations
2008: The Plantagenets
2007: Royal Parks
2006: Kaleidoscope
2005: Firestorm
Haukås Musikklag
Conductor: Thor-Arne Pedersen
2010 Draw: 9
Own Choice Selection: Trittico for Brass Band
National Record:
2009: =6th (Thor-Arne Pedersen)
2008: 12th in First Division (Thor-Arne Pedersen) (rel)
2007: =8th (Thor-Arne Pedersen)
2006: 7th (Thor–Arne Pedersen)
2005: Winners of Second Division (Thor–Arne Pedersen) (prom)
2004: Winners of Third Division (Thor–Arne Pedersen) (prom)
2003: 11th in Second Division (rel)
2002: 4th
2001: 13th
2000: =9th
Last Year: =6th
Overall Record:
Second Division winners 1993, 2005
Third Division winners 2004
Own Choice Selection:
2009: Swedish Festival Music
2008: Journey into Freedom
2007: Dances and Arias
2006: Tallis Variations
2005: Connotataions
Hornorkesteret Stavanger
Conductor: Clive Zwanswiniski
2010 Draw: 5
Own Choice Selection: Purcell Variations
National Record:
2009: 7th (Clive Zwanswiniski)
2008: =5th (Clive Zwanswiniski)
2007: 5th (Geir Karlson)
2006: 4th (Geir Karlson)
2005: 8th (Geir Karlson)
2004: 11th in First Division (Russell Gray) (rel)
2003: 8th
2002: 2nd in Second Division (prom)
2001: 4th
2000: 5th
Last Year: 7th
Own Choice Selections:
2009: Land of the Long White Cloud
2008: Firestorm
2007: Chivalry
2006: Variations on a Ninth
2005: The King of Elflands Daughter
Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn
Conductor: Espen Westbye
2010 Draw: 7
Own Choice Selection: Labour and Love
National Record:
2009: =6th (Espen Westbye)
2008: 8th (Espen Westbye)
2007: Winners of Third Division (Espen Westbye) (prom)
2006: 6th (Espen Westbye)
2005: 9th (Rolf Aksel Gilje)
2004: 11th in Second Division (Alan Fernie) (rel)
2003: 6th
2002: 3rd
2001: 5th
2000: 12th in First Division (rel)
Overall Record:
Winners of Second Division 1980, 1989, 1996
Winners of Third Division 2007
Last Year: =6th
Own Choice Selections:
2009: Heart of a Salvationist
2008: Forest of Dean
2007: The Land of the Long White Cloud
2006: Excalibur
2005: Blazon
Oster Brass
Conductor: Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen
2010 Draw: 4
Own Choice Selection: Connotations
National Record:
2009: 11th in 1st Division (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen) (rel)
2008: =5th (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen)
2007: 7th (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen)
2006: 9th (Reid Gilje)
2005: 5th (Reid Gilje)
2004: 10th (Oddmund Hjartaker)
2003: 11th
2002: 10th
2001: 8th
2000: 10th
1999: 7th
Overall Record:
Second Division winners 1982, 1983, 1992, 1995
Last Year: 11th in 1st Division (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen) (rel)
Own Choice Selection:
2009: The Essence of Time
2008: Dances and Arias
2007: Forest of Dean
2006: Variations on an Enigma
2005: English Heritage
Radøy Brass
Conductor: Tormod Flaten
2010 Draw: 6
Own Choice Selection: Coventry Variations
National Record:
2009: 12th in 1st Division (Tormod Flaten) (rel)
2008: =5th (Tormod Flaten)
2007: 6th (Gareth Pritchard)
2006: 8th (Gareth Pritchard)
2005: 8th (Gareth Pritchard)
2004: 2nd (Gareth Pritchard)
2003: 5th
2002: 9th
2001: 5th
2000: 5th
1999: 5th
Overall Record:
First Division winners 1994, 1997
Second Division winners 1988, 1990, 1991
Last Year: 12th in 1st Division (Tormod Flaten) (rel)
Own Choice Selection:
2009: Dances & Alleluias
2008: Diversions on a BassTheme
2007: Montage
2006: Odyssey
2005: London Overture
Rong Brass
Conductor: Stian E. Svendsen
2010 Draw: 8
Own Choice Selection: Tallis Variations
National Record:
2009: 3rd (Stian E. Svendsen)
2008: Winners of Third Division (Reid Gilje) (prom)
2007: 6th (Reid Gilje)
2006: 3rd (Reid Gilje)
2005: 6th (Reid Gilje)
2004: 11th (Hogne Haugsda)l
2003: 3rd
2002: 11th
2001: 7th
2000: 9th
Overall Record:
Winners of Third Division 2008
Last Year: 3rd
Own Choice Selections:
2009: The Forest of Dean
2008: Kenilworth
2007: Kaleidoscope
2006: Purcell Variations
2005: Partita - Postcards from Home
Sagvåg Musikklag
Conductor: Havard Kroka
2010 Draw: 12
Own Choice Selection: The Saga of Haakon the Good
National Record:
2009: 10th (Havard Kroka)
2008: 7th (Havard Kroka)
2007: 10th (Havard Kroka)
2006: 7th (Havard Kroka)
2005: 10th (Michael Fowles)
2004: 8th (Michael Fowles)
2003: 9th in First Division (rel)
2002: 5th
2001: 9th
2000: 8th
1999: 8th
Overall Record:
Winners of First Division 1995
Last Year: 10th
Own Choice Selections:
2009: Dances & Arias
2008: Tallis Variations
2007: A London Overture
2006: Blitz
2005: Music for the Common Man
Stangaland Brass
Conductor: Reid Gilje
2010 Draw: 10
Own Choice Selection: Quintessence
National Record:
2009: =8th (Reid Gilje)
2008: 4th (Reid Gilje)
2007: 6th (Yngve Nikolaisen)
2006: 9th (Eirik Gjerdevik)
2005: 6th (Morten E. Hansen)
2004: 10th (Morten E. Hansen)
2003: 12th
2002: 4th
2001: 10th
2000: Joint 5th
Last Year: =8th
Own Choice Selections:
2009: Rhapsody in Brass
2008: The Forest of Dean
2007: Variations on a Ninth
2006: Trittico
2005: Tallis Variations
Ørskog Brass
Conductor: Karl Ole Midtbo
2010 Draw: 13
Own Choice Selection: The Essence of Time
National Record:
2009: 10th in 1st Division (John Hudson) (rel)
2008: Winners of Second Division (John Hudson) (prom)
2007: 3rd (John Hudson)
2006: 6th (Henrik Dalhaug)
2005: 12th in First Division (Michael Antrobus) (rel)
2004: 4th (Michael Antrobus)
2003: 2nd Second Division
2002: 7th
2001: 11th in First Division
2000: 2nd
Overall Record:
Winners of Second Division 2008
Last Year: 10th in 1st Division (John Hudson) (rel)
Own Choice Selections:
2009: Spectrum
2008: Dances and Alleluias
2007: English Heritage
2006: Trittico
2005: Five Blooms in a Welsh Garden
2009 Result:
1. Kleppe Musikklag (Russell Gray) - 96
2. Alexander Brass Band (Morten E. Hansen) - 94
3. Rong Brass (Stian E. Svendsen) - 93
4. Brøttum Brass (Erling Johan Myrseth) - 91
5. Flesland Musikklag (Patrik Randefalk) - 90
6. Haukås Musikklag (Thor-Arne Pedersen) - 89
6. Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn (Espen Westbye) - 89
8. Hornorkesteret Stavanger (Clive Zwanswiniski) - 88
8. Stangaland Brass (Reid Gilje) - 88
10. Sagvåg Musikklag (Håvard Kroka) - 87
11. Skui Brassband (Philip Hannevik) - 86
12. Gjesdal Brass Band (Jonas Skartveit Rogne) - 85
13. Trondheim Politis Brassband (Peter Hatfield) - 83
Adjudicators: Elisabeth Fossan, Arvid Anthun
