2011 Norwegian National Championships
Elite Division:
Friday 11th February
Starts: 16.30 (Norway)
Set Work: The Power of the Soul (Maurice Hamers)
Adjudicators: Cathrine Winnes Trevino, Ian Porthouse, Karl Ole Midtbo
Additional comments at: http://twitter.com/4barsrest
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.'
What do we think?
What an interesting day (and apologies for the site going AWOL).
Maurice Hamer’s set work was a dark edged delight – full of troubled emotions and occasional trips to the edges of manic depression, but all underpinned with a lovely sense of lyricism – as well as those familiar little mind games of flashbacks to musical motifs such as ‘Sailing By’ on Radio 4 and even the Godfather music.
The opening and end caused all sorts of problems with its deceptive quiet lyrical intent and not one band came away unscathed. The overall quality was very good, but not spectacularly so.
The best bands showed their class, but also showed glimpses of their backsides too.
In fact not one band really produced a performance that saw them command the contest as they go into the second leg – its all up for grabs.
For us though its Manger who lead the way after a thriller if edgy show, from Eikanger’s more restrained outing that at times thrilled but on others had you raising the odd eyebrow or two.
Stavanger put their hearts on their sleeves and it nearly paid off whilst Ila may be the surprise for us with a rendition that certainly had you intrigued.
Oslo’s opening touch of academia should feature, whilst Sandefjord’s blood and guts approach may also feature highly. After that it’s all a mix and match for the rest.
4BR Prediction:
1. Manger Musikklag
2. Eikanger Bjorsvik
3. Stavanger
4. Ila
5. Oslo
6. Sandefjord
7. Kronhengen
8. Molde
9. Oslofjord
10. Sola
Draw
Oslofjord Brass (Simon Dobson), 10
A fine start, but there are questions that arise – perc seems in a time zone all themselves.
It settles with dark purpose and lyrical intent, but some nervousness means that it doesn’t all sit as comfortably as it should even in the dark. Bass trombone is a superstar though – what a sound.
When it comes together we heard the darker elements of the geography trip of the mind but it doesn’t quite add up to the sum of all its parts. A pity as there are times when you are really drawn into the lyrical, slightly dislocated feel of the interpretation by the MD.
Overall: A different one for certain, but one that didn’t really come off in terms of execution. Not disappointing – but just one that failed to fire the imagination, despite the excellent intentions.
Molde Brass Band (Russell Gray), 9
A superb opening sees all the led lines hit their boot straps and the MD rewarded for a brave lyrical approach.
Never quite maintains the same vein of form thereafter but the MD has deliberately opted for a less severe approach to the mind games – not quite the manic depressive darkness of some rivals for sure.
The approach is persuasive and the shape of the music is so well portrayed, but the execution is clumsy and messy and it tarnishes the intent. Never quite captures you around the throat in the manic bug eyed way it should in places, but there is a wonderful sense of flow to the ‘Sailing By’ interlude.
The final section comes and go and it all peters out somewhat to close.
Overall: A maybe one from Molde. The MD worked his magic in places but the band just didn’t have the depth of sound or the confidence after a such a fine start to really nail their darker feelings of despair.
Manger Musikklag (Peter Sebastian Szilvay), 8
Now we are in dark and troubled territory – and it is fantastically portrayed. This ia a mind of someone with a lot to think about! Great start is followed by such a purposeful sense of dark drive – emotion by the bucketful.
It is in the central sections when the passion really bubbles to the top though – all coming from an inspired MD at the helm. No doubting it – this is superb playing. Great depth of sound, drama and sheer terror is induced. This really is a study of a mind on the brink of melt down.
There are times when it does get a little out of hand and there are fragilities on display in certain lead lines, but this has been one heck of a trip to the funny farm. Final repose has the feel of total emotional burn out.
Overall: One heck of trip this – darker than the Black hole of Calcutta at times that it made you shift uneasily in your seat – just as it should. Top drawer no mistake.
Stavanger Brass Band (Allan Withington), 7
Now then. A cracking start was nearly bob on perfect and there is a lovely subtle sense of dark style about all of this.
Real drama is created as we take the trip through the Arabian nights, Russian steppes and backwards glance to the Godfather and a flowing reminder of Radio 4’s light music, but when he gets the bit between his teeth the MD whips a real dark frenzy about the music. This moves you to the pit of your guts – no lying.
Gets a little overwrought in places, but my word it is heart on sleeve playing. Chips and cracks in the black edged veneer but a confident return to repose to close is a fine way to end.
Overall: A tour de force of emotions this one – not all comfortable, but certainly memorable in places. It teetered on the edge of potential disaster in places but was saved by the MDs knack of just allowing a peep and no more over the precipice. Impressive if a little wayward.
Ila Brass Band (Thomas Rimul), 6
Best start of the day holds rich promise from a spacious reading of the score by the man in tails at the helm. There is a lovely feel to this, but not without errors and slips and the occasional idiosyncrasy or two.
Not the darkest of dark trios to the geographic outposts, but a lyrical feel instead with a bitter edge that carries you into the music making. The overall quality of the ensemble suffers when they try to open their lungs, but there is always something of note that keeps you intrigued.
Atmospheric, persuasive and at times a little too knowing with its effects, but you still find yourselves being drawn into the picture created – not as dark and troubled as an Hieronymus Bosch painting, more the Chapman Brothers with a smile.
Overall: One that intrigued us this. Don’t quite know why, but the MD drew something more than a little different from the score and it may pay off.
Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag (David King), 5
Not quite 100% to start but sop is a star – the first today to sound as if walking on air (and sits on bottom 3rd cornet out of the way too)
The good stuff is at times quite stunning, but there are clear moments when not all sits as easily in the ensemble and solo lines. Some David King ‘specials’ in places make the hairs stand on end, with a sense of drive, passion and purpose about the trips to the dark spots of Arabia, Russia and Radio 4’s ‘Sailing By’.
Delicious bitter sweet playing does have a scruffy edge though in paces – and some of the ensemble entries rather fall into place. A loving sense of release permeates the close but even then it just ends with a little untidiness.
Overall: Some brilliant playing and some not nearly as good in places too. There were occasions when you sat back and revelled in the glory – and others when you gritted your teeth. Top drawer but beatable.
Sandefjord Brass Symposium (David Roberts), 4
Wowee – straight between the eyes and no messing about. This is confident playing, if a little scrappy in places.
Bold, big and a touch brash in places, this is a trip into the darker recesses of the mind. Tight and precise, but very loud in places you get a real heavy duty set of Russians, an Arian night of passion and emotion, a lyrical treatment of the Godfather tune and just a few too many stiffs by the roadside. It just yearns for a few moments when the retrospection isn’t so darkly depressive.
Less comfortable in the final closing moments when stamina wanes.
Overall: You can’t say they didn’t out all their cards on the table with this one – but for us it just needed a little respite from the darker elements, which at times overpowered the sense of musicality required. A real heavyweight rendition though.
Sola Brass Band (Benjamin Wiame), 3
A bold old opening sees the top man take the flugel line to help the cause and it works well. This is powerful stuff with plenty of dark emotion on show. There are the odd problems here and there though but my word they are laying it out thick.
The trips to Arabia, Russia, Radio 4 and the Godfather are al giving the full hog, but we do yearn for something a little lighter in places. A troubled few moments give rise for concern and the quieter dynamics are less impressive than the loud ones. The final closing repose is well handled if a little on the healthy side.
Overall: Mr Wiame and his band certainly laid out a strong case for the dark side of life, but it did need a little more happy go lucky moments to have really thrilled.
Krohnengen Brass Band (Gary B. Petersen), 2
Another decent start with fine horn, but other lines are not so secure. The darker episodes are well balanced and maintained and you sense menace in the Russian steppes from the tuba under current.
Doesn't quite have that lyrical flow in places, but effective sounds bring a sense of mystery and retrospection. Not quite as it should be in places though and some fragile monments in lead lines. Slightly tentative to close.
Overall: Another decent show on a piece that is asking questions. Just too many little fragile moments took the dark veneer off in places, but a worthy showing nonetheless.
Oslo Brass Band (Frode Amundsen), 1
A fine start with a confident horn leads us into the dark recesses of the mind. Lots of effective playing and you sense dark styles hints of Arabia, the Russian steppes and even Mahler?
All the solo ists do well, but there is some uneveness about the ensemble, despite a lyrical flow. Some great sounds from the troms and tubas (the solo tuba isn an artist).
The music resolves neatly but there is a hint of discomfort in places.
Overall: A pretty good marker this from Oslofjord. Capyured the dark moods and introspective as well as the more vivid episodes too.
Sola Brass Band (Benjamin Wiame), 3
Sandefjord Brass Symposium (David Roberts), 4
Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag (David King), 5
Interval
Ila Brass Band (Thomas Rimul), 6
Stavanger Brass Band (Allan Withington), 7
Manger Musikklag (Peter Sebastian Szilvay), 8
Molde Brass Band (Russell Gray), 9
Oslofjord Brass (Simon Dobson), 10
