Over recent years NBK, the organisers of the Dutch National Championships has either commissioned or utilised several new compositions that have challenged their non-championship level bands in refreshing ways.
On visits to Utrecht we’ve been fortunate to enjoy ‘Green’, ‘The Pillars of Mankind’, ‘ A Buoy’, ‘From San Marco Quarter’, ‘A Journey to the Bermuda Triangle’ and more – each worth checking out by the bands this weekend as potential future own-choice contest works.
Real tester
One of those has been ‘Albinus Variations’. Originally written by Swiss composer Etienne Crausaz for the Third Section of the Kerkrade World Music Contest, it was used at the Dutch Nationals in the Third Division in 2022.
That it is being used in the Second Section in Cheltenham is an accurate indicator of its substantial technical and musical challenges. It is a real tester.
Johann Georg Albinus (1624-1679) was a 17th century German theologist, writer and psalmist; a real old-fashioned polymath – a bit of a musical Stephen Fry.
Polymath
Johann Georg Albinus (1624-1679) was a 17th century German theologist, writer and psalmist; a real old-fashioned polymath – a bit of a musical Stephen Fry.
Many of his works were inspired by Lutheran hymns (he was also a rector and pastor), including 'Alle menschen massen sterben', which Bach (above) harmonised as a chorale, and 'Choral Gesange Nos 17 & 18' - both of which in minor and major keyed form are referenced throughout this inventive composition.
Different
Crausaz (above) is well known for bringing something a little different to his writing. That is certainly the case here with numerous solo lines (from the solemn quasi cadenza opening horn and standing solo cornet) woven into thematic development that asks a great deal of both players and conductors alike throughout is five contrasting variant sections.
There are both blindingly obvious as well as deliciously subtle changes in flow and style, colour and texture, dynamic and tempo. Even the ‘de-rigueur’ tam-tam roll to herald the final chord is just brought forward a bar or two.
Colourful canvas
Mixed into the colourful canvas are also polymath musical nods and winks of homage - from the obvious Bach and Tallis to indirect hints of Tchaikovsky and Copland and more oblique references to the brass band giants of Sparke and Wilby.
It’s a cracking 13 minutes or so of music making with plenty for everyone to do – including four busy, integrated percussionists who asked to be much more than mere keepers of rhythmic accuracy and effect.
It’s a cracking 13 minutes or so of music making with plenty for everyone to do – including four busy, integrated percussionists who asked to be much more than mere keepers of rhythmic accuracy and effect.
Brett Baker, Ian Porthouse and Andrea Price should have plenty to keep them occupied in the box on Sunday afternoon and well into the evening from the 19 well matched bands.
The contenders:
The battle for the Second Section National title has been keenly fought since the return to post Covid contesting in 2021.
Whitworth Vale & Healey (below) claimed it last year, following in the footsteps of Marple (2014), Boarshurst (2017) and Middleton (2018).
This year hopes rest with the trio of Area champion Skelmersdale (Third Section National Champion in 2022), Diggle (returning for a second successive year) and Besses Boys (for the first time since 2019).
Yorkshire boast
Yorkshire can also boast a fine record, with wins for Stannington (2016), South Yorkshire Police (2019) and Hebden Bridge (2021).
South Yorkshire Police returns after finding its Area title winning feet back in the Second Section this year. They are joined by Emley, making its first Cheltenham bow since 2012.
Wales and the West of England ruled the roost here in the first part of the millennium.
The title was taken back over the River Severn four years in a row between 2007 and 2010 and again in 2013, but the last time the Welsh were triumphant was 2015 with Ebbw Valley. It is also interesting to note (if a little depressing) that two of those former winners no longer exist.
Father and sons
Hopefully bright futures ahead for champion Abertillery & District (back for the first time since 2021) and Usk, who claimed the Fourth Section National title in 2015. Both are led by Cory players in Stephen Sykes (below) and Jamie Jones.
Interestingly both their fathers have National titles to their names – Sykes snr with Yeovil in 1996 and Jeff Jones with Usk in 2015.
That’s something of a select club comprising just William and Stan Lippeatt (1969 and 2000), John and Robert Childs (1973 and 1992) and Fred and Gwyn Evans (2000 and 2008).
That’s something of a select club comprising just William and Stan Lippeatt (1969 and 2000), John and Robert Childs (1973 and 1992) and Fred and Gwyn Evans (2000 and 2008).
This year the Sykes are competing against each other too.
Saints
Oddly there have also been at least three West of England winning Saints too – in Dennis, Keverne and Breward.
This year hopes rest with Area champion St Austell who return to Cheltenham for the first time since 2014, St Keverne (who competed here in 2021) and Gosport Solent Brass (who were in the line-up in 2022).
The London & Southern Counties are represented by Area champion, St Sebastian Wokingham, back for the first time since 2018, City of Cambridge (last appearance in 2007) and Tilbury (who last competed in 2022).
That leaves the contenders making the long trip down from the north, with the Scots represented by champion and Cheltenham debutant, Newmains & District, and for the first time since 2011, Broxburn & Livingston.
The last band from the Midland to triumph at Cheltenham was Hathern in 2004, so hopes of breaking a two decade drought rests on the shoulders of Area champion Raunds Temperance (back for a third time since 2019) and Audley Brass (first appearance since 2018).
That leaves the contenders making the long trip down from the north, with the Scots represented by champion and Cheltenham debutant, Newmains & District, and for the first time since 2011, Broxburn & Livingston.
There are also long roads trip for the North of England contenders Durham Miners Association (although they will know their way as it is their third time since 2021) and Ferryhill Town (for their first appearance since 2010).
Iwan Fox
Section 2:
Sunday 15th
Test piece: Albinus Variations (Etienne Crausaz)
Start: After completion of Section 4
Abertillery Town (Stephen Sykes)
Audley Tom Hancock)
Besses Boys (James Holt)
Broxburn & Livingston (Charlie Farren)
City of Cambridge (Philip Fisher)
Diggle (Sean Conway)
Durham Miners' Association (Stuart Gray)
Emley (Tim Sidwell)
Ferryhill Town (Jonathan Fenwick)
Gosport Solent (Phillip Littlemore)
Newmains & District (Paul McKelvie)
Raunds Temperance (Jonathan Pippen)
Saint Sebastian Wokingham (John Watts)
Skelmersdale Prize (Benjamin Coulson)
South Yorkshire Police (Leigh Baker)
St Austell Town (Steve Sykes)
St Keverne (Karl Long)
Tilbury (Melvin White)
Usk (Jamie Jones)
