Brass Band Treize Etoiles conducted by James Gourlay has won the 36th Swiss National Championships in Montreux in Switzerland.

Record

Their twin performances of the set work, ‘Waiting for the Pain Hit!??!!?’ and their own choice selection of ‘Genesis’ by Martin Ellerby gave them the title for a record 12th time.

The band will now have the honour of representing the host country at the European Championships at the splendid Stravinski Hall in Montreux in 2011.

Old friend

A delighted James Gourlay told 4BR that winning the title was like ‘being reunited with an old friend’ as he clutched the most prestigious prize in Swiss banding for a record 6th time.

Given that the Scot had teamed up with an ‘old friend’ in Martin Ellerby to give the world premiere of the Englishman’s new work, also gave his remark a much more personal meaning.

In what proved to be a desperately close run contest, Treize Etoile produced a stunning performance of Martin Ellerby’s latest composition to overcome the narrow single point lead held by Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern after the morning set work to claim the 13,000 CHF first prize.

A delighted James Gourlay told 4BR that winning the title was like ‘being reunited with an old friend’ as he clutched the most prestigious prize in Swiss banding for a record 6th time4BR

Legend

Led by the exciting Michael Bach, Luzern couldn’t quite do enough in the afternoon on their own choice selection of Peter Meechan’s ‘The Legend of King Arthur’ to take the title, despite their performance gaining an impromptu standing ovation from the packed audience in the hall.

The band left the contest with the satisfaction of gaining the ‘Best Interpretation’ Award of the test piece from adjudicators Simon Dobson, Nigel Boddice and Jean Claude-Kolly.

Title defence

Dr Robert Childs led Fribourg into the final podium spot with a detailed account of ‘A Tale As Yet Untold’, whilst fourth place went to Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan, with reigning champion Valaisia only managing 7th place in defence of their title.

First Section

There was a full day of contesting to enjoy on the Saturday with Michael Bach once again playing a starring role by leading Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia to the First Section title, narrowly beating Brass Band MG Rickenbach into second place by the narrowest of margins, with Brass Band Kirchenmusik Fluhi in third.

The winner’s performance of Thomas Trachsel’s wonderfully dark and menacing set work, ‘Macabre’ sent a shiver down the spine, whilst the runner up wasn’t too far behind in bringing its more sinister elements to life.

Second Section

There was more fine playing on display in the Second Section, where 16 bands battled it out on Simon Dobson’s wonderfully evocative ‘Penlee’.

With the composer in the box as one of the three adjudicators, it was BML Talents directed by Patrick Ottiger who took the title with a performance described by Simon as ‘really special’. Second place went to Ste de Musique l’Avenir Lignieres, with Brass Band Cazis in third.

Third Section

There was a highly competitive atmosphere in the Third Section to enjoy as 11 bands tackled Michael Ball’s ‘A Cambrian Suite’.

In the end it was Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt directed by Corsin Tuor (who also directed Brass Band MG Rickenbach to the runner up sport in the First Section) who claimed the title by the narrowest of margins from Brass Band Abinchova, with Musique Militaire de Rougemont in third.

Fourth Section

If a band contest organiser is looking out for a great test piece for bands at this level to play then they should get on the phone to Mario Burki and get his composition ‘Flight’ sent over as quick as possible.

The highly enjoyable piece of descriptive writing brought the best out of the seven competing bands at the Miles Davis Hall (many packed with real young players), with Vincent Baroni leading Ste de Musique l’Avenir Lignieres B to the title (he later directed the A outfit to second place in the Second Section).

Just behind them came Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch B, with Brass Band Zurich in third.

Great event

With the whole two days running precisely to time and with wonderful organisation to back up the event, the 36th Swiss Nationals were hailed as a total success not just by the competitors, supporters and banding guests, but also by the members of the EBBA Committee who witnessed the event first hand.

4BR Coverage

To read Iwan Fox’s Swiss National blog go to:
http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=12603

To read the 4BR review of the Swiss National Gala Concert go to:
http://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/concerts/con691.asp

A full retrospective, postcard, interviews and images from the weekend will appear on the site in the next couple of days.

Championship Section:
Set Work/Own Choice

Adjudicators:
Set Work: Simon Dobson; Nigel Boddice; Jean-Claude Kolly
Own Choice: Hannes Buchegger; Garry Cutt; Ben Haemhouts

1. Brass Band Treize Etoiles (James Gourlay) – 96/95.33 = 191.33
2. Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern (Michael Bach) — 97/92.33 = 189.33
3. Brass Band Fribourg (Dr Robert Childs) – 94/93 = 187
4. Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan (Jean Francois Bobillier) — 95/91.33 = 186.33
5. Musikgesellschaft Risch-Rotkreuz (Rino Chiappori) – 93/92 = 185
6. Oberaargauer Brass Band (Armin Renggli) – 92/91 = 183
7. Valaisia Brass Band (Arsene Duc) – 90/91 = 181
8. Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia (Yvan Lagger) – 89/89.66 = 178.66

Best Soloist: Euphonium – Oberaargauer Brass Band
Set Work Interpretation Award: Brass Band Bürgermusik

First Section:
Adjudicators: Hannes Buchegger; Garry Cutt; Ben Haemhouts

1. Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia (Michael Bach) – 94.66
2. Brass Band MG Rickenbach (Corsin Tuor) – 94.33
3. Brass Band Kirchenmusik Flühli (Herve Grelat) — 93
4. Brass Band Sursilvana (Roman Caprez) – 92.33
5. Brass Band MG Reiden (Reto Naf) – 91.33
6. Universal Brass Band Wil (Sabine Hasler-Egli) – 89.66
7= Regional Brass Band Bern (Olivier Neuhaus) – 89.33
7= Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch (Christoph Bangerter) – 89.33
9. Brass Band Emmental (Heinz Heiniger) – 88.33
10. Oberwalliser Brass Band (David Lochmatter) — 88
11. Liberty Brass Band Ostschweiz (Andreas Koller) – 87.33
12. Alp & Brass (Christophe Jeanbourquin) — 86
13. AEW Brass Band Fricktal (Roland Froscher) – 85.33
14= Brass Band Breitenbach (Enrico Calzaferri) – 83.33
14= Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg (Christian Siegmann) – 83.33
16. Brass Band Treize Etoiles B (Geo Piere Moren) — 82

Best Flugel Horn: Universal Brass Band Wil

Second Section:
Adjudicators: Simon Dobson; Nigel Boddice; Jean-Claude Kolly

1. BML Talents (Patrick Ottiger) — 97
2. Sté de Musique l'Avenir Lignières (Vincent Baroni) — 96
3. Brass Band Cazis (Michael Zoppas) — 94
4. Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior (Gian Stecher) — 93
5. Liberty Brass Band Junior (Christoph Luchsinger) — 92
6. Brass Band Harmonie Rickenbach (Lukas Scherrer) — 91
7. Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt (Jonathan Kowszun) — 90
8. Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS (Francois Roh) — 88
9. Oberaargauer Brass Band B-Band (Christoph Liechti) — 87
10. Brass Band Rhodan (Christian Pfammatter) — 86
11. Brass Band Fribourg B (Marc Oberson) — 85
12. Brass Band Junior Valaisan (Julien Roh) — 84
13. Musikverein Brass Band Henggart (Christian Bachmann) — 83
14. Brass Band Rapperswil-Wierezwil (Roland Froscher) — 82
15. Musik Frohsinn Oberburg (Jan Muller) — 81
16. Brass Band Lommiswil (Anton Helscher) — 80

Best Principal Cornet: Sté de Musique l'Avenir Lignières

Third Section:
Adjudicators: Carlo Balmelli; Ueli Kipfer; Rolf Schumacher

1. Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt (Corsin Tuor) — 96
2. Brass Band Abinchova (Gian Walker) — 95
3. Musique Militaire de Rougemont (Michael Zoppas) — 94
4. Brass Band Zurzibiet (Markus Hauenstein) — 93
5. Musikverein Brass Band Buckten (Roland Schaub) — 92
6. Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien (Florian Lab) — 91
7. Oberwalliser Brass Band Junior (David Lochmatter) — 90
8. Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia Junior (Stephane Duboux) — 89
9. Brass Band Gürbetal (Urs Stahli) — 88
10. Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg B ( Christoph Bolliger) — 87
11. Brass Band Brienzersee (Christian Schonenberger) – 85

Best Tuba Section: Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt

Fourth Section:
Adjudicators: Simon Dobson; Nigel Boddice; Jean-Claude Kolly

1. Sté de Musique l'Avenir Lignières (Vincent Baroni) — 94
2. Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch (Albert Benz) — 93
3. Brass Band Zürich (Werner Kubli) — 91
4. Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band ( Ueli Wigger) — 90
5. Seeländer Jugend Brass Band (Marc Fuhrer) — 88
6. Thunerseebrass (Peter Michael) — 87
7. Brass Band Rhodan (Christian Pfammatter) — 85

Best Principal Cornet: Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch