Elite Division:
Saturday 11th February

Own Choice Selections:

Starts: 2.45pm (local time) (1.45pm GMT)

Adjudicators: Andrew Berryman, Nigel Boddice, Tijmen Botma

Comments: Iwan Fox

Follow live streaming at:
http://www.spilleglede.no/Live+streaming+from+Nationals+in+Norway.b7C_wRvQZt.ips

What do we think?

An immense day if high class contest playing – the very best bands were delivering performances that would win just about any contest in the world.

Great choices from all the bands too – with the real contemporary stuff sticking in the mind.

The two heavyweights slugged it out like Ali versus Frasier – with Eikanger perhaps just getting the narrowest nod of all from the judges for their superb performance. Manger thrilled you to the bone, but had an error count that may just cost them a pot or two today – but not perhaps the overall title.

Stavanger impressed once more but maybe just got over excited at the close, whilst Ila was a band to really make a mark with their rendition of Klang. Oslo and Sola should make the top six with Molde leading Jaren, Krohnengen and Kleppe.

4BR Own Choice Prediction:

1. Eikanger
2. Manger
3. Stavanger
4. Ila
5. Oslo
6. Sola
7. Molde
8. Jaren
9. Krohnengen
10. Kleppe

Overall then over the two days of our predictions we go for:

Overall:

1. Manger
2. Eikanger
3. Stavanger
4. Ila
5. Molde
6. Sola
7. Oslo
8. Krohnengen
9. Jaren
10. Kleppe

10. Krohnengen (Gary Blake Peterson)
Revelation (Philip Wilby)

A slightly uneven opening has a bit of a growling foundation at times — sounds like a rescue helicopter over head in one place.

This has taken some time to find its security, but when it does there is plenty to admire although some of the solo leads are scrappy. Euphs do very well though — two fine counter balances but this has been a long time coming.

Reprise is huge — including great elephant calls on euphs! All of a sudden the whole piece has been brought to life — a real vision from the awaiting abyss. Sop excels himself.

Mammoth sounds to close a rip roaring ending.

Overall:
This took one heck of a long time to get the message across — a late revelations indeed. Too little too late today but maybe just enough to keep them in the hunt for a top six place — but only just.

9. Ila Brass (Thomas Rimul))
Klang! (Orjan Matre)

It's klang from the word go with the startling bells to open.

MD draws dark timbres and colours as black as pitch from the ensemble. This is engrossing to listen to — it really draws you in, and the MD is at its centre in full control.

Amazing buzzing effect with electronics — like a crash helmet full of angry bees — billions of 'em, as Michael Caine said in 'The Swarm'....

The bleakness of the writing is very atmospheric — tubas sound like a rumbling glacier. Solo lines intertwine and the music becomes intensely depressive... Just what is required though — like a Norwegian Leonard Cohen.

Reprise leads to more wonderful effects — startling — espcially the final ringing klang that ends things spookily...

Overall:
What a brave choice — and one that came off. Great stuff. Made you think and made you listen from first note to last. Music to be enjoyably suicidal by.

8. Manger Musikklag (Peter Sebastian Szilvay)
Audivi Media Nocte (Oliver Waespi)

A wicked start startles the audience! MD is determined to make an immediate impression — and he does — by heck he does! Bubbles along with such menace.

1st trio (bongo/trom/tuba) just takes its time to find its feet — its edgy, clippy, but very exciting.

MD is chucking everything at this (only the kitchen sink is missing) in an all guns blazing approach. It's like Butch and Sundance...

2nd trio (euph/s-drum/cornet) is more the same — such high octane that its almost flammable due to the little clips.

Flippin' heck... nows it thumping. This is pinning the internal organs back. Now comes the Arabian Nights with such an intensity it's a musical jihad...

The climax takes the roof off — and the Norwegians go mental.

Overall:
An absolute tour de force of nature. Not without its cracks, blips and clips though, but for sheer excitement it thrilled your pants off.

MD stands there as smug as a robber who can't be caught...He may be wrong today though...

7. Kleppe Musikklag (Rune Hannisdal)
Brass Blot (Hakon Berge)

What a cracking start — real dark edges and bold sounds. The piece really comes to life and the young players revel in the chance to shine.

The ensemble work is tight, precise and balanced — from bottom to top and we get to hear the dislocated stuctures take shape. The recurring motifs are always disaplyed with clarity too — never overpowering the subtle little details that emerge from tight corners.

MD has a real understanding of this complex work and the drive and energy is maintained. Lovely sweet contrasts from leading lines and them back to the hammer blow finish.

Overall:
MD and band made real sense of this. Played with spirit and verve which brought the music thrillingly to life. Left field stuff but very enjoyable.

6. Eikanger Bjorsvik (Prof David King)
From Ancient Times (Jan van der Roost)

Solid opening with bell player perched on high leads to stunning ensemble work.

There is so shape and style to this — led by bristling troms and tubas. Cornets play their part too — we hear the inner detail and the MD brings the tiniest of motifs to the ear.

Tour de force playing — and the contrasts are so well defined too. Bravo soloists — shaped with real artistry — esp flug. The duet work on cornets is a perfect fit. MD is revelling in the chance to draw the music out. Fabulous sounds are heard.

Reprise and drive for home is notched up to new levels — again the ensemble playing is so defined and balanced. Wowee tubas — now the turbo is hit and the finale is stunning in its execution.

Breathtaking.

Overall:
A quite brilliant performance from the band — inspired by the MD's complete control and understanding of the score. The all made such wonderful musical sense. Hard to beat and a rare treat to listen to.

5. Jaren Hornmusikkforening (Dr Howard Evans)
...Dove Descending (Philip Wilby)

Bold start with well balanced fanfares that really ring out.

More good ensemble work follows — MD giving the music room to let detail come through. Odd little clips but this is clearly defined playing — with some huge ensemble sounds topped by pinging sop.

The intro to the Nativity doesn't quite gell (nice bird song though). Young euph player does so well — a fine effort. The following ensemble work is uneven though — and a little forced. Never quite the magic this.

Huge perc intro to final recapitulation — and it just gets a touch harsh in tone now as the band strives to produce the powerful finish. Perc obliterates the final few bars. A pity.

Overall
Didn't quite come off. A massive effort was put in on this huge work though and a performance of substance resulted. Just didn't quite manage to tame the leviathan though.

4. Oslo Brass (Andreas Hanson)
Red Priest (Philip Wilby)

Razor sharp start sees Oslo head for Venice with real intent. So much detail on show in the ensemble — and some of the solo playing is so classy. Take a bow tubas — four artists of the rennaisance.

MD has really caught the style so well — balanced and refined without losing the drive and pulse.

Well handled quartet of soloists play with finesse and then comes the boppy King Singers bit that is delivered with a touch of elan.

Just loses a bit of form as the pace increases and has a scrappy edge at times, but the return flight home is full of huge sounds, balance and detail.

There is also some juice in the reserve tanks for a sumptious ending too.

Overall:
A very classy account this — a touch of refined appreciation of the composer's intentions. Bravo MD and the performers. This has put them back in the top six mix.

3. Molde Brass (Russell Gray)
On the Shoulders of Giants (Peter Graham)

Bomper Bruckner start but there is a nasty moment on an unresolved chord — MD has to make a quick fix. The bold stuff is fine and filigree work fizzes. It's made its mark this.

Warmly coloured middle section just meanders slightly and doesn't feel comfortable in some exposed lines. Recovers with suave flugel and flexible trom. Again — the odd ensemble moment? Lovely close makes up for it though.

Back to high paced finale — pulse and energy drive this one, but it has its little clips and uneasy moments. Trom again shines as does euph (Matthew White in Molde disguise). Builds to crashing Checkmate coda that really rattles the foundations.

Overall:
A bold one this and full of verve. Not without its errors and mistakes, but the musicality shone through to keep it in the hunt for a top six finish.

2. Stavanger (Allan Withington)
Vienna Nights (Philip Wilby)

A bit of a lumpy start but it soon recovers with tasteful Mozart balanced by precise Wilby.

There is a great deal of detail on show as well as finesse (esp sop) — this real tour de force playing. Bravo tuba. The galop after this is messy though.

Duets that follow are very stylised — including dainty tubas. The growl that follows heralds the Turkish romp — and its a goes quicker through the system than a dodgy kebab. It wickedly paced but not always clean.

Huge chords bring a bomper of a finish to huge close.

Overall:
Crowd goes feral, but despite the energy and excitement there were moments when not everything came off here. High class no doubt — and thrilling, but scrappy at times too.

1. Sola Brass (Ian Porthouse)
Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke)

Fine horn leads to power packed opening full of exciting sounds and real whizz bang vibrancy.

There is some cracking stuff going on here — led by classy principal cornet. Little ensemble clips chip the polish, but the drive and fizz in the asteroid belt is tip top. More quality ensemble work is full of colour and balance.

Lovely contrast follows and then with troms standing it full pelt re-entry mode. This is flying — and with great effects too. Blamming finish!

Overall:
A high quality marker to start the contest off. Lots of fine playing to note in solo and ensemble lines. One to be proud of for the Sola fnas in the audience.