Back tomorrow...

That's it from us for tonight. Join us back for a 10.00am start (CET) for the second leg of the Concert Division.

Steven Mead's thoughts and halfway placings...

A fine work by Jan de Haan given a series of outstanding performances from the bands — and making it difficult to separate them out for me and the judges I'm sure.

1. Brass Band Willebroek
2. Flowers
3. Cory
4= Treize Etoiles
4= Wellington Brass
6. Australia Brass

First Division:

9. Brassband Pro Rege Heerenveen

Conductor: Jan Werkman

Pro Musica (Jan de Haan)
Ghosts of Industry (Lucy Pankhurst)
Essence of Time (Peter Graham)

Pro Rege immediately demonstrates how detailed, transparent and dynamic a brass band can sound. A confident and convincing opening on Jan de Haan's work.

Pro Rege opens the Pankhurst work with a dark foundation from percussion and basses, setting the atmosphere immediately. The band’s clear sound enhances and Jan Werkman shapes the work with a distinctive musical vision throughout.

Pro Rege closes its programme with the classic Peter Graham work.

The Adagio espressivo features excellent solo playing and a beautifully unfolding musical narrative. As the work progresses, the band grows in confidence to make its full impact. A powerful conclusion to an impressive performance, rewarded with a standing ovation from the audience.

Henk Van Loon

Concert Division:

10. Wellington Brass (David Bremner)

Photograph: Jochen Mettlen

Once again David Bremner finds the essential threads to weave his absorbing interpretation from a score packed with ephemeral illusions and ghostly apparitions of structure.

His band responded too in playing with tasteful musicality — led by a glorious sounding euph. Elsewhere little moments of unease and more artisan presentations were heard, but in general they were as solid as an All Black prop's neck.

The central section had a passionate life blood, emotive but not over-wrought.

The finale was heralded by a Bren gun side drum, but the playing also cut through as the music pulsated with acidic clarity. The build to the close grew organically — reaching an almost perfect arc of satisfying triumph to close a very impressive account.

Iwan Fox

Photograph: Jochen Mettlen

Technical accuracy: 19
Rhythmic precision and clarity: 19
Control of full dynamic range: 19.5
Tonal contrasts: 19
Tuning/intonation: 19.5
Quality of band sound: 19.5
Quality of soloists (high/middle brass): 19.5
Quality of soloists (low brass/percussion): 20
Musicianship: 19.5
Musicality/vision: 20

Total: 194.5

A stunning performance that was all about the story and about the music. If I was the composer, I would be absolutely thrilled with that reading. All aspects of the story were told brilliantly; we had mystery, suspense, passion, extreme calm, drama and much more.

They may not have been a band here that was expected to scale the heights, but in my opinion they've played fantastically today.

Starting with terrific euphonium solo who continue to impress throughout the work. Superb solo horn displaying real musicianship, superb depth of understanding about the performance.

There was a vibrancy of expression. It sounded fresh and engaging even at the end of this long day.

Congratulations Wellington Band, what a wonderful way to close the day.

Good luck to you tomorrow!

Steven Mead

Concert Division:

9. Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Frederic Theodoloz)

Photograph: Jochen Mettlen

The Swiss may be a land locked country, but this was playing redolent of the high seas — sumptuous in scope and staggering dynamic range.

There were moments though when a little fragility was apparent and lines didn't quite feel shaped with artistic ease. So many were though and the ensemble was razor sharp in clarity and balance in both reflection and rip-snorting fusion.

The central section was becalmed with a sense of tranquillity, and the final section was tour-de-force playing — organ-like sounds emanating from the stage with a blockbuster ending of triumphalism as the ship sets for new horizons at full steam.

The crowd went feral.

Iwan Fox

Technical accuracy: 19.5
Rhythmic precision and clarity: 20
Control of full dynamic range: 19
Tonal contrasts: 19
Tuning/intonation: 19.5
Quality of band sound: 20
Quality of soloists (high/middle brass): 20
Quality of soloists (low brass/percussion): 19
Musicianship: 19.5
Musicality/vision: 19

Total: 194.5

Well, this was a very different reading by this superb band from Switzerland.

I have commented on this band for many years but often I find myself saying the same thing! Technically brilliant with some magical solo playing but overall some sections for me were too aggressive and too prolonged, so we remove colours when we play so loud for so long.

For sure, they are going to be in the top three or four today and could still win tomorrow!

I keep going back to the title of this test piece, a 'Symphonic' Portrait.

For me, only Willebroek really captured the implication with a truly symphonic performance from beginning to end.

Much of this performance was really sensational from a purely band perspective, but I was missing other stuff!!

Well done everyone, spectacular performance and I look forward to your concert tomorrow.

Steven Mead

First Division:

8. BrassBand Oefening en Uitspanning

Conductor: Yves Wuyts

Alba (Alan Fernie)
Ghosts of Industry (Lucy Pankhurst)
The Irish Blessing (Joyce Eilers Bacak)
The Year of the Dragon (Philip Sparke)

The 2017 First Division champions open with confidence with 'Alba'. The introduction is solid from the outset and the band’s bright, energetic performance earns warm applause.

Ghosts of Industry is a compelling interpretation full of dynamic contrasts and refined articulation. 'Settling Dust' to close fades away in an exceptionally soft ending, making for a convincing and thoughtful performance.

A beautifully shaped performance of 'Irish Blessing' provides a welcome moment of calm within the programme before The Year of the Dragon.

The Toccata begins with tremendous drive and confidence. The trombone solo in the Interlude is beautifully introduced and performed with remarkable warmth and control, and the technically demanding Finale is played with conviction, excellent ensemble playing and impressive energy.

Henk Van Loon

Concert Division:

8. Brass Band Schoonhoven A (Glenn Van Looy)

So much to enjoy with the musical intentions of the MD here — such a lucid, tempered approach of subtle nuances and shapings of the score. A pity then that the minor blemishes just accumulated to detract at times.

The opening had mystery and a real ephemeral texture of ghostliness — a ship of gossamer rigging, whilst the central section had an understated, cultured musicality — led by a superb solo cornet.

The final section built in intensity, structure and passion — a growing sense of driven purposefulness that was fully justified when it came to the triumphant, sails full blown ending.

Iwan Fox

Technical accuracy: 19
Rhythmic precision and clarity: 19
Control of full dynamic range: 19.5
Tonal contrasts: 19.5
Tuning/intonation: 18
Quality of band sound: 19
Quality of soloists (high/middle brass): 19.5
Quality of soloists (low brass/percussion): 19.5
Musicianship: 18.5
Musicality/vision: 19

Total: 190.5

Some super playing here from Schoonhoven, directed with authority by Glenn van Looy.

At first it gave the impression of quite a restrained performance, but one that really opened up to display the full array of sounds of this superb Dutch band.

It seems to be a performance that gained in stature as it went. One or two slightly timid moments early on and players almost afraid to use the full range of dynamics, but they learned to enjoy the performance!

Some outstanding technical playing with crystal clear runs and razor-sharp articulation.

Real drama to close and a hugely triumphant feeling.

Bravo to all soloist especially flugel, euph, trombone and solo cornet.

Thank you.

Steven Mead

Concert Division:

7. Cory Band (Philip Harper)

A wonderfully projected characterisation this — literal in feel but still having page turning elements of mystery, pathos, drama and becalmed reflection built in by the MD.

He didn't overplay his hand either — allowing scope for the music to flow in the central section without needless meander. It was poised in elegiac shape and illusory musicality from the soloists — the odd momentary unease not affecting things.

The final section was energised but never over-cooked — layered in dynamic and tempi to draw itself to a triumphant conclusion that was underpinned by a thrilling fusion of colour and sense of purpose.

Iwan Fox

Technical accuracy: 19.5
Rhythmic precision and clarity: 20
Control of full dynamic range: 19.5
Tonal contrasts: 19
Tuning/intonation: 20
Quality of band sound: 20
Quality of soloists (high/middle brass): 19.5
Quality of soloists (low brass/percussion): 19.5
Musicianship: 19.5
Musicality/vision: 19

Total: 195.5

A thoroughly satisfying performance and if this were a movie, this is definitely the wide-screen version with full technicolour and surround sound.

So many of the famous and classic Cory sonic blueprints were here. Absolutely amazing full band sound, fantastic articulation, and great bravery from all soloists.

The fast tempos were well controlled, allowing the music to speak with all the runs sounding crystal clear.

So my one concern with this performance is that in the slower tempi, bpm 46 and 68, seemed under tempo at times and lost a little bit of flow despite the beauty of the solo playing, but also in the second instance caused the first signs of fatigue to appear. What a pity. That essential flow in the middle section just seemed to me to be missing.

That said, the judges may have loved it, and I will be deemed to be an idiot!

What we can be sure of is that the audience absolutely loved this performance, and they'll be up there in the mix come tomorrow evening!

Steven Mead

First Division:

7. Brassband Gloria Dei

Conductor: Gerk Huisma

Euroflash (Damien Lagger)
Grant Us Peace (Etienne Crausaz)
Ghosts of Industry (Lucy Pankhurst)
Insecurity (Thibaut Bruniau)

Gloria Dei gets off to a confident and stylish start. The technical challenges are handled with assurance, after which the soloists are given every opportunity to shine, superbly supported by the band.

From the opening bars of Dona nobis pacem, the band immediately establishes the right atmosphere. Musical phrases flow naturally into one another, while the longing for peace is conveyed with almost pleading intensity. A beautiful moment of reflection, performed with great sensitivity and conviction.

The introduction of the Pankhurst emerges from an almost whispered silence, with the industrial character gradually taking shape. Gloria Dei delivers an impressive and highly complete performance.

From the very first notes of the final item, a feeling of unease and reflection takes hold of the listener. Once again, it becomes clear how much attention Gloria Dei has devoted to shaping the dynamics, colours and special effects of the score.

A few minor imperfections do little to diminish the overall impression. The grand conclusion provides a fitting end to a performance that leaves a lasting impression.

Henk Van Loon

Concert Division:

6. Flowers Band (Paul Holland)

Photograph: Jochen Mettlen

Very nearly a stunning rendition, but not quite by the standards we have come to expect from Flowers of late. Not far off though, but there were little moments of unease throughout.

It was superbly structured by the MD — the opening mysterious and ephemeral despite the tiny blemishes. There was an underlying passion about the central section that just bubbled to the surface in places although it didn't hamper the musical liquidity.

Lovely multi-layered balances were heard as the music found a spectral sense of illusion, before the final drive for home so the ghost ship powered with such verve and passion.

This was playing of high class — hugely imposing and impressive as the ship sailed in triumph back to the never ending high seas.

Iwan Fox

Technical accuracy: 19
Rhythmic precision and clarity: 20
Control of full dynamic range: 20
Tonal contrasts: 19.5
Tuning/intonation: 20
Quality of band sound: 20
Quality of soloists (high/middle brass): 19.5
Quality of soloists (low brass/percussion): 19.5
Musicianship: 19.5
Musicality/vision: 20

Total: 197

An exciting and brilliant performance by Flowers. In the last couple of years we've come to expect so much from this band, not only musical features but technical perfection. It was a superb performance, but it wasn't perfect, and they'll know it!

Let's get the negatives out the way, just too many tiny clips and bumps, which I'm sure they'll all be regretting.

But what we could enjoy is the magnificent band sound, the extraordinary articulation and the incredible attention to detail in terms of dynamics and textures. It simply was spine-tingling at times.

Such a homogenous sound with quality at every seat. Being a favourite to win is a hard place to be in, but this band still has a chance to pick up the top spot come tomorrow evening.

An outstanding performance. Thank you.

Steven Mead

Photograph: Jochen Mettlen