Additional comments and pictures at: http://twitter.com/4barsrest
Saturday 12th February
2.30am
The celebrations went on long into the night at the Grieg Hall – and they were led by the supporters of Eikanger Bjorsvik, who led the way after claiming their 12th National title.
The Norwegians like to let their hair down now and again – and that was certainly the case as they revelled in a wonderful post contest atmosphere.
The centre of attention was David King – the undisputed ‘King’ — at what he calls ‘my favourite European venue’. No kidding. He has now notched up seven titles – directing all three of the traditional ‘heavyweights’ of Norwegian banding to victory.
First he did it with Manger, then Stavanger and now Eikanger. His record of achievement here is nothing short of phenomenal. No wonder his partner Rosie made the long haul trip from Australia to see him in action.
As she said a little later as the happy couple enjoyed looking at the names on the great old Norwegian Nationals Trophy – it was well worth the seven hour wait at Amsterdam airport!
The announcement of Eikanger’s round dozen win was greeted with almost unanimous approval by everyone – they are a band that perhaps not everyone supports, but everyone certainly respects and admires here. There is a touch of arrogance about them that can be easily misunderstood.
They are a great band – and they know it. They were an even greater band on the weekend with David King at the helm. They will be one heck of a handful in Rotterdam in 2012.
Before the announcement of the results there was a timely reminder that despite Eikanger’s pre-eminent position as the leading banding in Norway, they still have some way to go before they can challenge Black Dyke to the title of pre-eminent band in the world.
Under Nicholas Childs, and with the news of the untimely death of Major Peter Parkes casting a sombre sense of loss over their appearance, they still wowed the packed hall, with Richard Marshall in particular on inspired form and the band giving a very moving rendition of ‘Deep Harmony’ as a mark of respect to one their own title winning greats.
That may have put all things banding into perspective, but even on a night tinged with sadness there was no doubting the sense of celebration around this wonderful venue. David King ruled here last night – as he has done on six previous occasions, and one suspects – many more to come.
PS.
Thanks to Bjorsvik Brass for winning the Second Division title — it saved me from being arrested for running naked down the main Bergen high street if they didn't.
That's what you get when you think you know better than the judges — the possibility of frostbite...
Thanks to Bjorsvik Brass for winning the Second Division title — it saved me from being arrested for running naked down the main Bergen high street4BR Editor
Friday 11th February
11.00pm:
What an end to an intriguing day in Bergen.
Walking back to the hotel and all hell broke loose between two sets of drunk young lads all hell bent on kicking the you know what out of each other. Not everything is chocolate box beauty and good manners here in Norway – this was nasty and unprovoked stuff.
The 4BR Editor made a sharp exit I can tell you.
It set the seal on a day of ups and downs at the Grieg Hall.
The Second Division bands delivered their ambitious choices with aplomb, but the real highlight was without doubt Bjorsvik Brass playing ‘Essence of Time’ under Russell Gary. It was playing that would win 9 out of 10 top section contests in the UK.
A bit unfair on the other bands when you see Martin Winter on sop and Tormod Flaten on euph at this level, but it was quite stunning musicianship nonetheless, that everyone enjoyed. You just wonder how good they could be if they took the whole thing really seriously.
As for the top section bands here – a bit hit and miss (a bit like those lads on the Bergen waterfront). The hits were very good ones but no knockout blow by the big three of Manger, Stavanger or Eikanger. The contest is very much up for grabs today.
What was odd though was the lack of any truly memorable horn playing.
The standard of tuba, percussion and trombone playing out here is phenomenal (with some of the best bass troms you will ever hear) but horns and flugels seem to be in short supply – especially at the beginning of Maurice Hamer’s trip into the Freudian mind with his enjoyable test piece.
There was a one heck of a lot of fairly nondescript solo work coming out of those parts all day.
Still – it means that the contest is well and truly in the melting pot with some great choices to look forward to today – from Spiriti to Old Blues and much, much more.
Apologies of course for the 4BR site going down – perhaps the Egyptians had something to do with it, or just that our American hosts are so useless at times.
2.55pm
Well this what the Elite test piece is all about....
The Power of the Soul (Maurice Hamers)
'From caterpillar to butterfly,
from death to rebirth:
Something dies.
What dies is the old self,
the old way of being,
the old way of relating as being in the world.
And what is then reborn after a period of turmoil
and confusion,
longer or shorter,
is a new way of being,
a new self.'
...so if you know what that is all about about them you either have a degree in existentialism or Pam Ayres is writing new poems...
Hells Bells. This could be interesting this afternoon.
12.05:
Just back from hearing Bjorsvik play 'Essence of Time' under Russell Gary in the Second Division — absolutley bloody stunning.
It would have won 95% of Championship Section contests anywhere in the world. Martin Winter sop, Henrik Giske on top man, Tormod Flaten on euph, Eirik Gjerdevik on tuba. It was something else.
If this doesn't win I may run naked in the snow through Bergen high street...
9.30am:
Made it to the hall and its all go.
Some things have got bigger here — the hall itself is undergoing a refit, whilst they have added more chairs in the main auditorium — it will be packed for own choice Elite Section on Saturday and Black Dyke then.
Unfortunatley the 2011 Nationals programme is the size of a CD insert — great to fit into your pocket but useless for those with myopia.
As we said yesterday — its a small world..
Thursday 10th February:
It’s a small banding world.
Four hours in the car up to Gatwick airport, another hour to get through all the security, and the bloke who is a couple of seats down from you in the plane to Bergen is no other than Maurice Hamers – composer of the set work for the Norwegian Championships here in Bergen this weekend.
He just happens to have spent the last few days in Wales teaching some of his conducting students at the Royal Welsh College of Music in Cardiff, and his journey to Bergen was even more tortuous than the 4BR Editor – a mix of train, plane and automobile.
A fine man and one who gives no secrets of how he wants his test piece played either. 'From Caterpiller to Butterfly' it is then...
Even John Candy didn’t have this much of a problem getting to his destination.
A small world indeed.
Now that we have finally got to Bergen all the talk is about his test piece anyway. Changes to parts, players brought in by the fancied bands, talk of intrigue and rumour in the bars around the vibrant town centre.
By all accounts (and these rumours are unconfirmed) Eikanger have brought in a bit of Welsh help as they seek to reclaim their domestic supremacy – the two lads who play those ceremonial trumpets at the Eisteddfod no less – Dewi Griffiths and Paul Hughes.
The last time we saw them wearing a foreign kit was when they played for the Italians at the Europeans a few years back – perhaps their father’s came from Sicily and their mother’s from Stavanger.
A small world as we said.
Still – with less than 24 hours to go before the Elite bands take to the stage, there is plenty of time for the rumours to increase in intensity. Has Stavanger brought in Wynton Marsalis, or have Manger opted for a new unfound brass band work from Edvard Greig as their own choice?
We will find out on the weekend.
A few pints of the amber nectar and time for bed....
