Results: Youth Championships:

Development Section:

1. Smoras Skolemusikk (Magnus Brandseth): 98
2. Jugend Brassband Sudtirol (Johann Finatzer): 96
3. Elland Silver Youth Brass Band (Samantha Harrison): 93*
4. Aukstyn (Remigijus Vilys): 92
5. Wardle Academy Youth Band (Lee Rigg):90*
6. South Wales Youth Band (Angela Westacott): 89
7. PotzBlech (Hans Jacob): 86*

Best Soloist Samuel Winter (marimba) — Smoras Skolemusikk

*1 point time penalty

Premier Section:

1. Catch Basin Brass Band (Prof. Andreas Lackner): 97
2. The National Youth Brass Band of Denmark (Stig Mearsk): 95
3. Youth Brass 2000 (Christopher Jeans): 93
4. Liberty Brass Band Junior (Matthias Keller): 92
5. Brass Band Sklepucini (Vilmantas Vapsva): 91
6. Swedish Youth Brass Band (Berit Palmquist): 90

Best Soloist: Jakob Ettlinger (trombone)

Gala Concert and results around 5.00pm...

There is now a little bit of a break before the final attraction of a very fine festival here in Malmo with the announcement of the results.

We will put them up on the site up as soon as we have them.

Premier Section:

6. Swedish Youth Brass Band (Berit Palmquist) — Sweden

Brass Wings (Jerker Johansson)
Phoenix' Chant (Daniel Mollas)
Benedictus (Karl Jenkins)
Dig a little deeper (arr. Gilje)

And so, entirely appropriately, it falls to the Swedish Youth Brass Band to complete what has been a first class competitive celebration of European youth banding.

And the band does so by opening its programme with a cracker of an opening number in Jerker Johannson's 'Brass Wings'…played with an infectious verve and brio that prefaces the darker opening of the set test piece.

'Phoenix' Chant' opens atmospherically and there is terrific work from Eb bass and later, solo baritone who goes on to be one of the stars of this performance.

The warmth of sound and expression in the middle section of the work is one of the highlights of the performance, with the building of momentum toward the final flourish being carefully managed.

Karl Jenkins' 'Benedictus' that follows radiates warmth and gives a moment of peace and reflection with the touching melody being given ample space and freedom by the band's solo euphonium player.

That just leaves space for an encore style closer of Reid Gilje's arrangement of 'Dig A Little Deeper', closing the band's performance and indeed the contest on a note of upbeat fun and humour.

Christopher Thomas

Premier Section:

5. Youth Brass 2000 (Christopher Jeans) — England

Valaisia Variants (Tom Davoren)
Idyll on an Irish Folk Hymn (Ralph E Pearce)
Soloist: Jake Humphreys (cornet)
Phoenix' Chant (Daniel Mollas)
Flight of the Bumblebee (Rimsky-Korsakov)
Starburst (Dan Price)

Youth Brass 2000 have managed to cram five pieces into its programme and the spirited, life affirming opening of Tom Davoren's 'Valaisia Variants' gets the band's campaign off to a cracking start.

The band's principal cornet player Jake Humphries gives an exquisite account of 'Idyll on an Irish Folk Hymn' (probably better known to many of us as the hymn tune 'Lord of all Hopefulness') and played, as so many solos have been today, completely from memory.

This had poise, lyrical elegance and most of all a touching sense of emotion and tenderness. Quite beautiful and with sensitive accompaniment throughout.

'Phoenix Chant' opens with another terrific Eb bass solo (how blessed we have been with some great solo bass playing in this contest) and what follows is hugely impressive in its grasp of the demanding technical aspects of the score. This has been another fine performance of a piece that demands so much from a band.

For dexterity you would be hard pushed to beat the quartet of euphonium, horn, cornet and bass that rise to their feet to give us a fleeting, gossamer like account of 'Flight of the Bumble Bee', leaving Dan Price's 'Starburst' to bring the Youth Brass 2000 set to a high octane end featuring several of the band's corner soloists.

Another great show packed with typical Youth Brass 2000 style and polish.

Christopher Thomas

Premier Section:

4. Catch Basin Brass Band (Prof. Andreas Lackner) — Austria

The Home of Legends (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)
Colors for Trombone (Bert Appermont)
i. Blue
ii. Green
Soloist: Jakob Ettlinger (bass trombone)
Phoenix' Chant (Daniel Mollas)
Riverdance (Bill Whelan)

The Austrian band opens with the set test piece and what a fine opening it is. The Eb bass solo sings and there is also a great contribution from solo euphonium to follow.

The rhythms are played with crisp incisiveness, the ensemble is magnificently taut and that Eb bass once again…what a player this young man is.

This has been such an impressive account of 'Phoenix' Chant' from Catch Basin…and with inspirational leadership from Andreas Lackner.

Bert Appermont next and two movements, 'Blue' and 'Green', from his 'Colors' for solo trombone. Jacob Eklinger is the soloist playing from memory and with a trombone legato style to die for.

This is stylish, beautifully nuanced playing, the languid style of 'Blue' captured to perfection. In 'Green' that languid style gives way to playing of agility and quite remarkable coolness and maturity. Terrific stuff indeed.

'Riverdance' changes the mood completely to that of a joyous, uplifting ending to what has been a terrific show from Catch Basin. So musically disciplined and with fabulous collective energy

Christopher Thomas

Premier Section

3. The National Youth Brass Band of Denmark (Stig Maersk) — Denmark

Ad Astra (Jacob Vilhelm Larson)
Fortune's Fool (Stan Nieuwenhuis)
Soloist: Holger Sandergaard (cornet)
Phoenix' Chant (Daniel Mollas)

A mightily impressive and weighty start from the Danes in Jacob Vilhelm Larsen's 'Ad Astra'.

This is a big band with a big sound to match, but the control and clarity heard, particularly in the cornet section, allowed so much detail to project through the textures, allied with abundant drive and momentum.

What a fine cornet soloist in Stan Nieuwenhuis' 'Fortune's Fool'. Played from memory and delivered with such cool ease.

The lyricism of the opening was silkily smooth, the funky technical pyrotechnics that followed sounding so natural in what is a very tricky piece.

The accompaniment was perhaps just a little heavy for the soloist at times but what a player this young man is!

The opening of the set test is imbued with a chilling, sense of darkness and mystery. This is an atmosphere laden start and there is immense presence about it.

The faster music that follows is etched with confidence and there is so much clarity to the detail. At lower dynamic levels we hear every note and the gradual cranking up and pacing is so brilliantly done.

A performance of huge stature and maturity from the young Danes. This has been terrific stuff indeed!

Christopher Thomas

Premier Section:

2. Liberty Brass Band Junior (Matthias Keller) — Switzerland

Modus Operandi (Stephan Hodel)
Capricorno (Philip Sparke)
Soloist: Al Sadi (horn)
Phoenix' Chant (Daniel Mollas)

The band from eastern Switzerland chooses to open its programme with the set test…a thoughtful decision perhaps, allowing the band to dispel any test piece nerves ahead of the music to follow.

If there were any nerves however they certainly weren't evident as the band sinks its teeth into the test with huge vigour, displaying a big sound and dynamic range that at times lifts the roof. There is so much contrast heard here, with detail and ensemble impressively tight in what is a highly challenging test piece.

Philip Sparke's horn solo 'Capricorno' next and a florid, lyrically flowing opening section passes neatly into the more acrobatic section that follows which is despatched with able dexterity by a soloist of outstanding ability.

The finale of Stephan Hodel's 'Modus Operandi' seems to prolong the programme somewhat when a little more stylistic variety might have helped but this has been a strong technical show from the Swiss.

Christopher Thomas

Premier Section:

1. Brass Band Sklepucini (Vilmantas Vapsva) — Lithuania

Starlight (Alan Fernie)
Momentum (Thomas Doss)
Phoenix' Chant (Daniel Mollas)
When Thunder Calls (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)

As the first band on stage in the Premier Section, we once again get to hear just how well Lithuanian banding has developed with a group of players that have an exciting year ahead in the run up to Palanga.

Alan Fernie's 'Starlight' is a great programme opener from the band, played in an uplifting spirit that in its rhythmic energy is a marked contrast to the subdued, haunting tones of Thomas Doss' 'Momentum' that follows. This was imbued with a lovely sense of atmosphere and some great lyrical playing from the band's soloist's.

The set test piece, Daniel Mollas' 'Phoenix' Chant' is a tough challenge indeed with so much to consider in terms of detail, balance and technique. At times its difficulty shows here but the band puts so much effort in…this is really gutsy playing with so much concentration evident on the player's faces.

A rousing rendition of Paul Lovatt-Cooper's 'When Thunder Calls' rounds off a truly fine effort from Sklepucini.

Christopher Thomas

Premier Section:

Draw:

1. Brass Band Sklepucini (Vilmantas Vapsva) — Lithuania
2. Liberty Brass Band Junior (Matthias Keller) — Switzerland
3. The National Youth Brass Band of Denmark (Stig Maersk) — Denmark
4. Catch Basin Brass Band (Prof. Andreas Lackner) — Austria
5. Youth Brass 2000 (Christopher Jeans) — England
6. Swedish Youth Brass Band (Berit Palmquist) — Sweden

Withdrawn: N.P.B.B. Brass Band of the Conservatoire 'N. Piccinni' of Bari Mo (Antonio Legrottaglie) — Italy

Development Section:

7. PotzBlech (Hans Jacob) — Germany

Turning Torso (Magnus Hylander)
The Dark Side of the Moon (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)

The young German band opt for just one piece in addition to 'Turning Torso' and it's a bold, ambitious choice in the form of Paul Lovatt-Cooper's 'The Dark Side of the Moon'.

It's the set test that comes first though and although the opening is initially a little hesitant, the confidence starts to build quickly. What we hear is playing that really goes for the energy and brio of the outer movements.

That drive is contrasted effectively with the calmness at the work's centre, with great support from a particularly young back row cornet section that do terrific work here.

'Dark Side of the Moon' gives the band plenty of opportunity to explore its 'dark side', in music that the young players imbue with a strong sense of drama, subtle muted effects and a bass section that underpins everything with a solidity that gives the band a rock like foundation.

It has been great to listen to PotzBlech's first appearance at the European Championships and we hope to hear you again very soon!

Christopher Thomas