The Concert Theatre in Coesfeld, Westphalia, was the chosen venue for the 4th bi-annual German National Brass Band Championships, and the superb concert hall provided the backdrop for an interesting two days of contesting.

Wide variety

Adjudicators Tom Brevik (Norway), Rob Goorhuis (Netherlands), Steve Sykes (United Kingdom) and Britta Adams (Germany) certainly enjoyed a wide variety of music performed by the competing bands in the four senior competitions.

The contest weekend commenced with a high quality and very entertaining afternoon programme given by Youth Brass Band Nordrheinwestfalen, which included music from the pen of Paul Lovatt-Cooper with his ‘Enter the Galaxies’ and Peter Graham’s ‘The Dawning’.

Entertainment Contest

This was followed by the International Entertainment Contest, with bands from Holland and Germany competing against each other.

The 1000 Euro top prize was eventually won by Brass Band Looft den Heer from the Netherlands, conducted by Paulus de Jong, who took the honours from Ferwert Exceksior and Brass Band Düren.

The programmes provided by the competitors varied greatly, with plenty of quality playing evident, although there was a particular emphasis on the non-musical elements being shown, which seemed to detract at times from the music and overall performance.

Universal problems

As always there were the universal problems with ensemble volume, with little attention given to dynamic contrast and more given to the proviso of ‘entertainment’ – although a well satisfied audience ensured their preference was known through the innovative ‘Audience Award’ which was claimed by a massive margin by local favourites Brass Band Düren.

Mittelstufe Section:

The Sunday began with the five competitors in the Mittelstufe (Medium) Section, who had to perform a set work and an own choice piece which were played consecutively.

The set test was Philip Sparke’s colourful ‘Tameside Overture’, whilst the ambitious own choice selections included ‘Variations on Laudate Dominum’, ‘La Danse Reve’ and ‘Prelude to a Festival’, ‘English Triptych’ and ‘Call of the Clans’.

Although there was a great deal of untidy playing on show from the enthusiastic contenders, with noticeable intonation difficulties, there was also a great deal of good technical playing too, with the title and 1000 Euro first prize won by Baden Brass Band directed by Dominik Koch, ahead of Brass Band Westphalia and Brass IN.

Oberstufe Section:

The Advanced (Oberstufe) Section followed, with four bands having to tackle Gareth Wood’s ‘This Happy Island’, as well as an own choice selection.

The quartet of contenders all produced solid performances of the set work, although the own choice selections which encompassed, ‘Shine as the Light’, ‘Quintessence’, ‘Spectrum’ and ‘Elegy No.1’ produced quite a number of technical challenges and intonation difficulties.

The section also highlighted the range of quality between the bands battling for the 1000 Euro first prize, with the destination of the title eventually being secured by a fine overall performance by Cologne Concert Brass under conductor Heinrich Schmitt, which beat off the challenge of Brass Band Schwaben with Brass Band Düren in third.

Hochststufe Section:

The final category of the day, the Hochststufe (Highest) Section, had only two entrants with former B Section European champions Bavarian Brass Band Academy, conducted by Franz Matysiak, and Brass Band A7.

This was a contest much the equivalent of a good quality championship section event in the UK, with the set work, George Lloyd’s demanding, ‘Diversions on a Bass Theme’.

The duo gave very commendable performances of the deceptively difficult composition, followed by a brace of contrasting own choice selections with, ‘Journey to the Centre of the Earth’ and ‘Die Alpen’ respectively.

Both bands produced good overall sounds in confident performances, although understandably, some tiredness did creep in towards the end of their own choice selections.

In the end it was the impressive Bavarians who deservedly took the honours and 1000 Euro first prize.

This was a contest much the equivalent of a good quality championship section event in the UK, with the set work, George Lloyd’s demanding, ‘Diversions on a Bass Theme'4BR

Gala Concert:

After six hours of competition, the competitors had time to reflect before the announcement of the results as they listened to the final musical event of the weekend, and a concert given by Soli Brass from the Netherlands, the winners of the International Entertainment Contest 2010 in Duisburg.

The band gave a varied and well played programme which featured guest trumpet soloist, the wonderfully talented Professor Uwe Koller from the German Brass Ensemble, who earlier in the year led his Austria Brass Band of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, to the B Section European title in Rotterdam.

At the conclusion, the results for all categories were announced with the usual vocal delight for the winners.

Memorable

One general contesting observation was noted in that it would be perhaps fairer in future on all competitors if there were a restriction on the maximum number of players permitted in each band so that all competitors start from a level playing field.

For this writer, to experience and enjoy German banding hospitality, the enthusiasm for brass playing and the willingness to learn about the brass band movement in the UK, made the whole weekend a very rewarding and memorable occasion.

Dave Lea

Results:

Hochststufe (Highest) Section:
1. Bavarian Brass Band Academy — 90
2. Brass Band A7 — 88

Best Soloist: Bass Trombone (Bavarian BB Academy)
Best Percussion: Brass Band A7

Oberstufe (Advanced) Section:
1. Cologne Concert Brass — 97
2. Brass Band Schwaben — 94
3. Brass band Düren — 92
4. Brass Band Regensburg — 87

Best Soloist: Principal Cornet (Cologne Concert Brass)
Best Section: Cornets Section (Cologne Concert Brass)

Mittelstufe (Medium) Section:
1. Baden Brass Band — 94
2. Brass Band Westphalia — 87
3. Brass IN — 86
4. Big Breath Brass Band — 85
5. CCB Academy — 84

Best Soloist: Flugel horn (Big Breath Brass Band)
Best Section: Trombones (Badische Brass Band)

Entertainment Section:
1. Brass Band Looft den Heer(NL) — 92.75
2. Ferwert Excelsior — 87.75
3. Brass Band Duren — 87.50

Audience Award:
Brass Band Duren — 116 votes
Brass Band Looft — 55 votes
Ferwert Excelsior — 29 votes

Prizes:

All sections: 1000, 500 and 250 Euro
Best Soloist: 300 Euro
Audience Prize: 300 Euro