Brass Band Schoonhoven retained their Dutch National title in Groningen last weekend with a high class performance of Hermann Pallhuber’s demanding new test piece, ‘Variety of Skills’.

Challenge

Conducted by Erik Janssen, the defending champion beat off the strong challenge of Brass Band Rijnmond directed by Erik van der Kolk to take the first prize of a new Besson Prestige euphonium, with local favourite, Provinciale Brass Band Groningen in third under the baton of Russell Gray.

Hermann Pallhuber’s work certainly tested all the skill sets of the competing bands, with the adjudication team of Dr Robert Childs, Johan de Meij and Tijmen Botma having plenty of technical and musical issues to ponder over in the box.

Skill set

‘Variety of Skills’ is based on a theme by Dutch composer Jan Koetsier, and is written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth and to celebrate many of his wonderful compositions. The piece is also intended as a homage to Holland and Koetsier and was written especially for the 2011 National Championships.

The composer told 4BR: "Through ten connected musical montages the work presents a series of human and musical skills that are meant to spotlight aspects of our human musical existence.

The ‘Variety’ includes a tender lyrical ‘Ballade’, representing a life just beginning, the blues, recitatives and resonances, virtuosic passages and also a short intellectual 12-tone passage embedded into a little fancy waltz.

Surprising alternations and changes of characters and colours require the players to employ their own ‘Variety of Skills’, with all principal players being given the opportunity to showcase their talents in full.”

Europeans

With the victory, Schoonhoven will once again represent The Netherlands at the European Brass Band Championships in Rotterdam in May, confident of improving on their fourth place finish in Montreux earlier this year.

Worked hard

BBS Band Chairman Wolter Lommerde told 4BR that the band had worked exceptionally hard to retain the title they first won last year.

"The test piece was very difficult, but very enjoyable to perform," he said.

"We worked very hard and were inspired by our conductor to give a performance that was worthy of taking the Championship once more. We also thank Hermann Pallhuber for the kind words he said about the performance too.

He added: "We are very happy continuing the fine results of the last year from the All England Masters, European and Euro Brass. The band is in a fine flow and we will keep working hard to the European Championships where we hope to push towards winning the title if we can."

Composer

The composer Hermann Pallhuber was indeed delighted at the quality of the winning performance – and with those of the other seven contenders at the Martini Plaza.

"I must say that it was so amazing to see and hear how high the standard of the bands were at the contest," he said. "My test piece was a really hard task to deliver for all bands,” before adding with a laugh, “Johan de Meji found a new title for it — ‘A Variety of Kills!

I congratulate all the bands — all of them did a wonderful job with their broad symphonic approach to the music. It was a great pleasure to hear my music played by some very fine bands and skillful conductors."

Special winners

The winners though were very special he felt. "This was wonderful playing — especially the Movements, 4, 5 and 6, which tipped the scales. It felt like having a remote control for the band, as they performed the piece exactly as I intended. The MD was so energetic, gifted, tender, giocoso, furious, skilled and awesome!"

It felt like having a remote control for the band, as they performed the piece exactly as I intended. The MD was so energetic, gifted, tender, giocoso, furious, skilled and awesome!Composer, Hermann Pallhuber

Outstanding

Cory’s MD was also a very impressed man in the box – and very wary of the challenge the winners pose in Rotterdam next year.

"The winner’s produced an outstanding performance – with the runner up not far behind," he said.

"The quality of playing was excellent and so too was the direction from the middle. It was a very demanding and exciting new work and one I will look forward to working on in the future. The winners will be a band to watch out for in Rotterdam once again that’s for sure."

He added: "The overall standard was very good with the top two bands in particular of a real high class. There were two other quality performances from the bands that came third and fourth too."

First Division

In the First Division, the title went to Heman Zuidwolde conducted by Anne van der Berg thanks to a fine performance of the set work ‘Alhambra’ by Jan de Haan. They beat off the strong challenge of Oefening en Uitspanning and Kunst naar Kracht, with reigning champion Brassband Breukelen only managing fourth in defence of their title.

Robert Childs was also impressed by the standard of the competing bands, with the winners producing what he called a ‘compelling account’ of the set work.

"This was a good contest, with some fine performances. The winners though gave a very compelling account of the test piece which set them apart."

Defence of titles

In the Second Division, Excelsior Brass Band conducted by Herman Sibma retained their National title with a well delivered performance of Gavin Higgins set work ‘Fanfare & Love Songs, ahead of rivals De Lofklank and Euphonia.

In the Third Division the honours were claimed by Constantijn Huygens conducted by Richard Visser. They beat off the strong challenge of Soli Deo Gloria and Gloria Dei.

There was another successful title defence in the Fourth Division, where Backum Brass conducted by Kees Kramer claimed a clear three point winning margin over Concordia, with Soli Deo Goria in third.

High standard

Hermann Pallhuber who adjudicated in each of the Second, Third and Fourth Sections told 4BR: "The standard of the playing in these contests was very high. It was encouraging to hear bands play so well under good conductors."

Results:

Championship Section:
Test Piece: Variety of Skills (Herman Pallhuber)
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Johan de Meij, Tijmen Botma

1. Brass Band Schoonhoven A (Erik Janssen) — 94
2. Brass Band Rijnmond (Erik van der Kolk) — 93
3. Provinciale Brass Band Groningen (Russell Gray) — 91
4. De Wâldsang (Rieks van der Velde) — 90
5. Amsterdam Brass (Pierre Volders) — 89
6. Van de Kreeke Brass Band Limburg (Renato Meli) — 85
7. Soli Brass (Siemen Hoekstra) — 83
8. Altena Brass (Jan-Gerrit Adema) — 81

First Division:
Test Piece: Alhambra (Jan der Haan)
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Johan de Meij, Tijmen Botma

1. Heman Zuidwolde (Anne van den Berg) — 92
2. Oefening en Uitspanning (Anno Appelo) — 90
3. Kunst naar Kracht (Erik Kluin) — 89
4. Brasssband Breukelen (Erik Janssen) — 88
5. Pro Rege (Siemen Hoekstra) — 87
6. De Spijkerpakkenband (Thijs Oud) — 86
7. Excelsior (Rieks van der Velde) — 83
8. Brassband Merum (Patrick Spelthaen) — 81

Second Division:
Test Piece: Fanfare and Love Songs (Gavin Higgins)
Adjudicators: Jan de Haan, Tom Brevik, Herman Pallhuber

1. Excelsior (Herman Sibma) — 93
2. De Lofklank (Jaap Musschenga) — 92
3. Euphonia (Syde van der Ploeg) — 90
4. Wâldbrass (John Blanken) — 88
5. De Bazuin B (Bienze Ijlstra) — 87
6. Martini Brassband (Rieks van der Velde) — 86
7. Brassband Gelderland (Hendry van Loo) — 85

Third Division:
Test Piece: Sinfonietta No 1 (Johan de Meij)
Adjudicators: Jan de Haan, Tom Brevik, Herman Pallhuber

1. Constantijn Huygens (Richard Visser) — 93
2. Soli Deo Gloria (Chris van der Veen) — 92
3. Gloria Deï (Piet van der Heide) — 91
4. Looft den Heer (Paulus de Jong) — 89
5. Excelsior (Piet Visser) — 88
6. Geref. Brassband Groningen (Jan Werkman) — 87
7. Blaast de Bazuin (Aline Schipper) — 86
8. Apollo (Piet Visser) — 85
9. De Bazuin (Hendrik de Boer) — 83
10. Brassband Middelburg (Bart Van Der Strieckt) — 82

Fourth Division:
Test Piece: Evolution (Philip Sparke)
Adjudicators: Jan de Haan, Tom Brevik, Herman Pallhuber

1. Backum Brass (Kees Kramer) — 94
2. Concordia (Richard Visser) — 91
3. Soli Deo Gloria (Guus Tomey) — 89
4. Euphonia (Gatse Hylkema) — 88
5. De Bazuin (Hille van Hijum) — 87
6. Immanuël (Wim Westerman) — 86
7. Soli Deo Gloria (Gatse Hylkema) — 85
8. Blaast de Bazuin (Paulus de Jong) — 84
9. Ere zij God (Gerben Huizinga) — 83