There were amazing scenes of celebration on the stage of the StravinskI Auditorium in Montreux on the weekend as Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan won their first Swiss National title in over a decade under the baton of Jean-Francois Bobillier.

Jacket flies

As the band’s name was announced as the 2011 champion, their representative flung his band jacket into the audience in an outpouring of delirious emotion as the news of their first National title since 1999 began to sink in.

Close

In one of the closest contests seen in the 37 year history of the event, their performances of Philip Sparke’s set work, ‘Harmony Music’ and their own choice selection of the intriguingly named ‘31342 feets’ by Swiss composer Ludovic Neurohr, gained the narrowest of victories over 2009 champion Valaisia Brass Band, with reigning champion Brass Band Treize Etoiles in third.

The band will now represent Switzerland at the 2012 European Championships in Rotterdam.

Historic win

And the jacket thrower Vincent Dumoulin later told 4BR just what it meant to claim the Swiss title for the second time in the band’s history.

"We are all very happy of course as we have worked very hard. We played very well on the test piece and again on our own choice, so we knew we were in with a good chance of winning. It was of course very close, because the standard was so high, but when the announcement came I couldn’t help myself!"

The image of Vincent’s delight was shown on Swiss television, although he had calmed down a little later to pay tribute to the band and the association and help give by composer Ludovic Neurohr and Tredegar’s MD, Ian Porthouse.

Connection

"We have a wonderful connection with Ludovic and his piece was brilliant. We have just released a CD which features many of his compositions. Ian came to help prepare us for the contest a couple of weeks ago and his work really improved the band. We have to thank them both – they are a real part of this historic win."

The foundation for the victory came with the performance of ‘Harmony Music’ which saw Valaisan gain top marks from judges David Bruchez, Ray Farr and Thomas Ludescher, thanks in no small part to ‘Best Euphonium’ Award winner Fabrice Sauthier’s fine individual contribution. They finished the first day holding a narrow lead over their main rivals.

We played very well on the test piece and again on our own choice, so we knew we were in with a good chance of winning. It was of course very close, because the standard was so highVincent Dumoulin

Crucial lead

It proved to be crucial as Treize Etoiles, Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern and Valaisia Brass Band delivered a trio of outstanding performances of ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’, ‘Audivi Media Nocte’ and ‘Masquerade’ respectively to push the eventual winners into fourth place on their selection of ‘31342 feets’.

David Read MBE, was joined in the box by Thomas Ruedi and Pascal Eicher and told 4BR that he was very impressed not only by the standard of the playing on show in the own choice section, but also by the quality of the compositions performed.

Quality

"I was amazed by the standard of the playing from the best bands, but equally impressed by the quality of the test pieces they chose to play," he said. "The top two performances were exceptional and the rest not far behind."

Euro honour

However, Valaisan’s exciting performance of a work inspired by the composer’s view of the altimeter on his flight home from Australia proved just enough to claim victory and send them to Rotterdam in 2012 as the Swiss representatives at the European Brass Band Championships – an event Vincent Dumoulin is already looking forward to.

"To play at the European contest is a great honour, as the standard of the bands is so high. We hope to do well and I may even throw my jacket into the crowd again if we are able to win!"

First Section

There was something of a surprise in the First Section, where Regional Brass Band Bern, conducted by Dani Haus claimed the title with a fine performance of Philip Sparke’s demanding set work composition, ‘Partita’. It was the band’s first National title since 2003.

David Read MBE was part of an adjudication team that found that the 14 bands struggled somewhat in overcoming the technical and musical hurdles of the work.

"The winners were very good, but not without their problems," David said. "Three or four others put in good performances too, but overall this proved to be a very difficult test."

After coming seventh last year, Bern’s performance proved just good enough to pip the pre-contest favourites of Brass Band MG Rickenbach, who had to be content with coming runner up for a second year in succession, whilst 2010 winner Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia, looking for their fourth win in five years, came third.

Second Section

In the Second Section there was a return to the top step of the prize podium for 2007 winners Liberty Brass Band Junior under the direction of Christopher Luchsinger.

After coming fifth last year, their performance of, ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud’, proved just good enough to stop last year’s winner BML Talent from retaining their title, with Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS coming third.

Third Section

Another band to spring a surprise was Ensemble de Cuivres Melodia Junior conducted by Stephane Doboux, who claimed their first ever National title by the narrowest of margins from Emotion Brass directed by Armin Bachmann, with Brass Band Abinchova in third.

The winner’s performance of Johan de Meij’s ‘Sinfonietta No 1’ pipped their rivals by less than a third of a point from the judges Manfred Obrecht, Pierre-Etienne Sagnol and Allan Withington, with the band’s flugel takig the ‘Best Flugel’ Award.

Fourth Section

The growing quality of the Fourth Section this year was shown by the performances from all seven competing bands on Philip Sparke’s ‘Saint-Saens Variations’.

In the end the adjudication panel of Ray Farr, Thomas Ludescher and Thomas Ruedi opted for Brass Band Zurich conducted by Werner Kubli as their clear winner, from Brass Band Harmine Nuenkirch B and Entlebucher Jugend Brass.

Results:
Championship Section:

Adjudicators:
Set Piece: Ray Farr, David Bruchez, Thomas Ludescher
Own Choice: David Read MBE, Pascal Eicher, Thomas Rüedi

Set Piece: Harmony Music (Philip Sparke)

Set Work + Own Choice = Total

1. Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan (Jean-Francois Bobiller): 96.67/95 = 191.67
2. Valaisia Brass Band (Arsene Duc): 95.33/96 = 191.33*
3. Brass Band Treize Etoiles (James Gourlay): 93.33/98 = 191.33*
4. Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern (Michael Bach): 90.33/97 = 187.33
5. Brass Band Berner Oberland (Corsin Tuor): 92.33/93 = 185.33
6. Ensemble de Cuivres Melodia (Yvan Lagger): 94.33/87 = 181.33*
7. Brass Band Fribourg (Garry E. Cutt): 89.33/92 = 181.33*
8. Musikgesellschaft Risch Rotkreuz (Rino Chiappori): 91.33/88 = 179.33
9. Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien (Blaise Heritier): 86.67/90 = 176.67
10. Oberaargauer Brass Band (Armin Renggli): 85.33/91 = 176.33

* Test piece mark takes precedent

Best Euphonium: Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan
Own Choice: Brass Band Treize Etoiles

First Section:
Set work: Partita (Philip Sparke)
Adjudicators: David Bruchez, Pascal Eicher, David Read MBE

1. Regional Brass Band Bern (Dani Haus) — 97
2. Brass Band MG Rickenbach (Corsin Tuor) — 96
3. Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia (Michael Bach) — 95
4. Brass Band Kirchenmusik Flühli (Herve Grelat) — 94
5. Brass Band Emmental (Heinz Heiniger) — 93
6. Oberwalliser Brass Band (David Lochmatter) — 92
7. AEW Brass Band Fricktal (Roland Froscher) — 91
8. Brass Band Sursilvana (Roman Caprez) — 90
9. Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg (Rafael Camartin) – 89
10. Liberty Brass Band Ostschweiz (Andreas Koller) — 88
11. Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch (Christoph Bangerter) — 87
12. Brass Band MG Reiden (Reto Naf) — 86
13= Brass Band Schotz (Peter Stadelmann) — 85
13= Brass Band Treize Etoiles B (Geo Piere Moren) — 85

Best Principal Cornet: Brass Band MG Rickenbach

Second Section:
Set Work: Land of the Long White Cloud (Philip Sparke)
Adjudicators: Ray Farr, Thomas Ludescher, Thomas Ruedi

1. Liberty Brass Band Junior (Christoph Luchsinger) — 95
2. BML Talents (Patrick Ottiger) — 94
3. Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS (Francois Roh) – 93
4. Oberaargauer Brass Band B-Band (Christoph Liechti) – 91
5. Brass Band Harmonie Rickenbach (Lukas Scherrer) – 90
6. Brass Band Cazis (Michael Zoppas) – 89
7. Sté de Musique l'Avenir Lignières (Vincent Baroni) – 88
8. Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior (Gian Stecher) — 87
9. Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt (Jonathan Kowszun) — 86
10. Brass Band Fribourg B (Marc Oberson) – 84
11. Brass Band Junior Valaisan (Julien Roh) – 83
12. Brass Band Posaunenchor Flaach (Christian Bachmann) — 82
13. Brass Band Rhodan (Christian Pfammatter) — 81
14. Ensemble de Cuivres Juassien B (Florian Lab) — 80

Best Soprano Cornet: BML Talents

Third Section:
Set Work: Sinfonietta No 1 (Johan de Meij)
Adjudicators: Manfred Obrecht, Pierre-Etienne Sagnol, Allan Withington

1. Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia Junior (Stephane Duboux) — 94
2. Emotion Brass (Armin Bachmann) – 93.67
3. Brass Band Abinchova (Gian Walker) – 93
4. Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt (Corsin Tuor) — 90
5. Oberwalliser Brass Band Junior (David Lochmatter) – 89
6. Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg B (Lorenz Stockli) – 87.67
7. Brass Band Solothurn (Martin Butikofer) – 87
8. Brass Band Lommiswil (Anton Helscher) – 85
9. Societe de musique l’Avenir Lignieres B (Vincent Baroni) – 84.33
10. Musikgesellschaft Muhlau (Martin Aregger) – 84
11. Brass Band Gürbetal (Urs Stahli) – 82.33
12. Brass Band Maur (Martin Aregger) – 81.33

Best Flugel: Ensemble de Cuivres Melodia Junior

Fourth Section:
Set Work: Saint-Saens Variations Philip Sparke)
Adjudicators: Ray Farr, Thomas Ludescher, Thomas Ruedi

1. Brass Band Zürich (Werner Kubli) — 94
2. Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch B (Albert Benz) – 92
3. Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band (Mario Schubiger) — 91
4. Brass Band Frohsinn Laupersdorf (Heinz Sinniger) – 90
5. MG Brunisried (Manfred Schaller) — 89
6. Thunerseebrass (Peter Michael) — 88
7. Brass Band Rhodan (Christian Pfammatter) — 87

Best Principal Cornet: Brass Band Zurich