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Saturday 1st May
Adjudicators: Peter Bassano, Jean-Francois Bobillier and Edgar Seipenbusch
Draw: c8.00hrs
Commence: c13.00hrs (BST +1)
Live
What do we think?
The first thing to say is that it has been a wonderful day of high class music making with a broad sweep of pieces that really showed the bands off.
As yesterday it’s a battle between Eikanger, Oberosterreich, Cory and Black Dyke, but the interloper could well be Buizingen, who for a second day in a row produced a wonderful performance.
Its Black Dyke today for us, after a stunning bit of musical theatre allied to brilliant playing that just pipped Cory’s magnificent effort on the Sparke work.
Eikanger were thrilling as were Oberosterreich, whilst Buizingen may well push their way through. Concord may just force their way into the top six today as the best of the rest.
4BR Own Choice Top Six
1. Black Dyke
2. Cory
3. Eikanger
4. Buizingen
5. Oberosterreich
6. Concord
Over the two days of our predictions that gives Dyke the title ahead of Cory with Oberosterreich and Eikanger glued together with Buizingen. De Waldsang may just creep into sixth.
Overall Top Six
1. Black Dyke
2. Cory
3. Oberosterreich
4. Eikanger
5. Buizingen
6. De Waldsang
The official results are out later tonight
Time: 16.30hrs
Brass Band Buizingen (Belgium), 10
Conductor: Luc Vertommen
Earthrise — Nigel Clarke
Fire up the Saturn! It’s all systems go after the dramatic start blasts off with power galore.
It’s dramatic, exciting writing this and played with real ensemble verve by the band. Great little individual motifs help keep the pace up but until we reach the weightlessness of orbit it’s been ensemble brilliance.
Now we get the four intrepid astronauts in space and the sense of adventure which is playful and technical, before we see the majesty of the earth rising into view in the Apollo spacecraft window, which is reflective and full of majesty.
These elements are so well brought to life and so atmospheric, before we fire up the Quattro rocket and head for home at one heck of a lick.
Hells bells – literally — before the big splash down and glory be, we’re home on the seafront of Belgium. Great stuff.
Overall: What a fabulously descriptive piece — from take off to splash down and everything in between. It was a million mile journey at a million miles an hour — but so exciting.
Time: 15.58hrs
Concord Brass Band (Denmark), 9
Conductor: Michael Howley
Music of the Spheres — Philip Sparke
Bravo solo horn – a start to be proud off. It sets the scene for an extended period of solid non nonsense playing too – detailed and effective, well led by the MD.
More of the same follows, with generally solid lead lines (especially solo cornet) and compact ensemble. Just strains in places, but there is a fizz and playful bounce to the asteroid belt, even if they few suffer a nasty clip or two and the detail is a touch unclear.
The quality returns after this with broad warmth to the tone, despite little clips due to tiredness creeping in. It becomes a little strained again but there is just enough in the tank to produce a rousing splash down.
Overall: A performance that smacked of hours of preparation – solid and compact, it was well led and just fell away when stamina waned in the final sections.
Time: 15.33hrs
Brass Band De Waldsang (Netherlands), 8
Conductor: Rieks van der Velde
Journey to the Centre of the Earth — Peter Graham
Confident opening as we start on the journey into the bowels of the earth.
There is a real solidity to the solo lines and the ensemble of big and bold as the subterranean story unfolds, but you feel that this is something of a comfortable ride for this band and the MD.
It’s atmospheric and evocative, but the piece has got a Disney family certificate rating – and lacks the real challenging moments to take the breath away. As whispers go, these could be heard in Rotterdam, but at least the big beastie battle is hard fought and dramatic.
All that is left is the ride for home and that famous blow out from the crater of Stromboli, which pops out like a champagne cork and leads to a fine finish.
Overall: A very well played performance, but on a piece that didn’t stretch the band. There was more to this band than this theme park ride.
Time: 15.05hrs
Brass Band Black Dyke (England, 7
Conductor: Dr Nicholas Childs
Red Priest — Philip Wilby
It’s a wickedly bravura opening, densely scored with the first echoes of Vivaldi coming through with razor sharp clarity.
We hear the Red Priest’s most famous bits played with that Wilby twist – some with simplicity and a dark edge, others with rapid filigree varnished finish.
There is a haunting beauty to the horn and flugel interlude that captures the breath. Sublime stuff this; and it continues with separated euph duet, added cornet. This is a quite stunning extended period of pianissimo magic. It really was breathtaking.
A complete playful change of style playful like a brass version of one of those 1970’s King Singers boppy songs.
All that is left is the turbo charged Vivaldi meets Wilby finish – and it’s a stunner.
Overall: An instant classic. Wilby produces a stunning work that is given a quite stunning performance.
Time: 14.39hrs
Valaisia Brass Band (Switzerland), 6
Conductor: Arsene Dec
Vienna Nights — Philip Wilby
Confident playing to open has all the Wilby technical detail and the simple Mozart magic, but it sounds a little nondescript in places.
The exposed lines are lacking security and also sound strained at times. This tarnished the picture created by the MD, which itself seems curiously bland. The louder stuff is very well handled, but these have been expensive errors.
It’s a different band from the Notturno though with superb euph and secure lead lines (great baritone) and a security in the ensemble. This is lovely music making – but why did we wait so long?
Honking start to the Turkish romp for home, but it starts to sound tired now and the quality o ensemble sound is lost. Brash ending is a biggie though.
Overall: A tale of two halves this – the first poor and the second very good, but with a overblown ending.
Time: 14.00hrs
Cory Band (Wales), 5
Conductor: Dr Robert Childs
A Tale as Yet Untold — Philip Sparke
Start builds with razor sharp precision and detail and this carries on throughout the first movement.
The clarity of the technique is stunning (horns and principal cornet especially) and sop sings above it all with demented brilliance. This has been a showcase for all the champion’s great technical strengths.
Now comes the flip side – and the heart on sleeve emotional stuff – led by imperious euphonium and stunning horn. The other leading lines are not far behind, and the Chorale is a thing of beauty, capped by such a delicate close.
The finale is an all guns blazing ripper played with detailed clarity and great xylo lead. We are in the land of superlatives here – and none are misplaced right to the massive close.
Overall: An absolute thumper of a performance on a piece that gave Cory all they could have wished for to showcase their brilliance – and they did just that.
Time: 13.37hrs
Brass Band Nord Pas-de-Calais (France), 4
Conductor: Russell Gray
Harmony Music — Philip Sparke
Bold opening is full confident playing and no mean amount of sound. Bravo euph – cracking effort on cadenza.
The quicker sections are played with real French flair and fancy free spirit at a great old pace.
Ravel interlude is just up their boulevard, whilst Monsieur Culross and his compatriot on horn are tip top performers. MD loves this stuff – and it shows. Luscious playing is so well shaped. Just closes with nasty blip and poor reprise of opening.
It’s lost a fair bit of focus for the moment and becomes increasingly scrappy despite high excitement levels. Just tires at the very close.
Overall: A fine effort on a wicked test piece. This was full of real French flair and bravura playing on a fine reading by the MD.
Time: 13.05hrs
Brass Band Oberoestereich (Austria), 3
Conductor: Hannes Buchegger
From Ancient Times — Jan van der Roost
Beautiful mysterious opening has a wonderfully authentic Baroque feel.
There is a tremendous sense of drive allied to some remarkable sectional playing – troms especially. It does get edgy in places, but the Baroque soon returns. Troms again lead with real brilliance. This is rocket fuel playing.
Sop is a mentalist – absolutely bonkers stunning.
There is truly great brass playing to follow, but it does sound on the brass ensemble side at times – powerful and straight. MD brings a touch of magic to the music as the emotion brims to bursting point. The backbone is realigned at the climax.
Finale is something else – as is the sop! The lad isn’t human… The ensemble is on the limit and just a touch above at times though.
Oh my giddy aunt – the close takes the roof off. What an ending.
Overall: This was some performance of Euro brass playing. It was edgy at times – right on the edge as they gave their all. It wasn’t error free, but by heck it thrilled your pants off..
Time: 12.35hrs
Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklaag (Norway), 2
Conductor: Professor David King
Concerto Grosso — Derek Bourgeois
Up and at ‘em start – right on the bell from the tent as the MD leads a powerful start that does have the odd scratchy moment. Tip top euph and tuba cadenzas.
It’s certainly emotive playing – hair raising at times from immense tubas. It’s on the limit in places, but it is such an engrossing and descriptive reading. Just the little blips, but these are minor. Bravo sop – bullseye stuff!
Lovely bluesy feel leads to artistic flugel horn and then we are off on a rollicking rumba played at a frightening pace, but with such clarity. Lordy Lord – we are in high octane territory here.
Reprise is immense – right to a breathtaking close. Wow!
Overall: The Norwegians and their MD pull a real stonker out of the bag here. A touch of Nordic/Australian magic this.
Time: 12.10hrs
Brass Bon Accord (Scotland), 1
Conductor: John Maines
St Magnus — Kenneth Downie
Solid start grows with confidence. Little clips and unforced errors but there is a warm flow to the music that is nicely done.
Fine euph and solo cornet show precision whilst MD directs with understanding. Solid no nonsense playing this and euph really does shine in cadenza. Cornet follows on good form too as do all the leading lines whilst the ensemble has the stamp of being well rehearsed.
Just a lack of precision in the quicker section starts to detract, but it is committed stuff.
Finale is taken at a steady tempo, but it doesn’t quite come off. It starts to sound a little tired in places, but they is something left in the tank for a real rousing finish.
Overall: A fine all round effort on a very difficult work. There were quality hallmarks here, but it just got tired and scrappy to close.
