Brass Band Treize Etoiles directed by James Gourlay recaptured the Swiss Open title following an exciting contest held at the superb KKL Konzertsaal in Luzern on the weekend.

Reclaimed title

The 23rd running of the Swiss ‘Brass in Concert’ event saw the most successful band in the contest’s history reclaim the title for the first time since 2008 by a narrow single point margin over Valaisia Brass Band conducted by Arsen Duc.

Current National champion Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan under Jean-Francois Bobillier was third, with title holders Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern, who were looking for a fourth consecutive success directed by Michael Bach, in fourth.

Ninth victory

It gave Treize Etoile their ninth victory since the event’s inception in 1990, whilst James Gourlay notched up his fifth success – his wins now spanning three decades back to1993.

The band carried away the championship trophy as well as the first prize of a Besson Prestige baritone and CHF1000 Francs for the separate ‘Best March’ performance.

Delight

Speaking to 4BR Jim expressed his delight at the victory and paid tribute to the band and its inspirational conductor Géo Pierre Moren.

"I was simply thrilled with the way the band performed on the test piece, ‘Terra Australis’, especially as it was written by my close friend Martin Ellerby. It really was outstanding. They also produced a wonderful performance of Derek Bourgeois' marvellous arrangement of ‘The Sorcerer's Apprentice."

He added: "Géo Pierre Moren's exemplary preparation makes my job easy, and full credit should go to him. He has won the Swiss Open five times leading Treize Etoiles, so it was a great honour to be asked to help them win a record ninth title at this contest."

Commanding

The band’s latest success was built on commanding performances of the test piece, which gained maximum points from the international adjudication panel, and their own choice orchestral transcription of the famous Paul Dukas work.

They also added the separate ‘Best March’ prize with a scintillating rendition of, ‘Pour la Patrie’ by Arthur Ney.

Maximum points

The maximum 180 point test piece score from judges Maurice Hamers, Philip Sparke, Robert Childs, Pascal Eicher and Howard Lorriman enabled Treize Etoile to just hold off the challenge of nearest rivals Valaisia Brass Band.

They almost clawed back a five point test piece deficit thanks to their own maximum point’s performance of their own choice selection of two movements from Respighi’s ‘Roman Festivals’, which won them a Besson Prestige cornet plus CHF 500 Francs for the ‘Best Own Choice’ performance.

Their separate own choice march was, ‘Salute to the Isle of Man’ by Hans Honegger.

Géo Pierre Moren's exemplary preparation makes my job easy, and full credit should go to him. He has won the Swiss Open five times leading Treize Etoiles, so it was a great honour to be asked to help them win a record ninth titleJim Gourlay

Wonderful judging system

The unique adjudication system saw the five judges independently required to score from 60 points down in each section of the contest; the highest and lowest scores for each performance disregarded and the three remaining scores added together to give the total.

Adjudicator Philip Sparke told 4BR: "The overall standard of playing was very high and the system used to rank the bands was wonderful. The judges were behind a screen but sat independently of each other.

The result was a reflection of how we ranked the bands, but interestingly showed that at last three or maybe more were in full agreement in each section of the contest."

Margin ahead

With the top two bands a considerable margin ahead of the rest according to the judges, there was an equally close battle for the final podium place, with Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan pipping title holder Bugermusik Luzern by a point.

Their own choice selection was music from ‘The Firebird’ Suite, whilst the reigning champion opted for ‘Le Corsair’.

The final top six places went to Brass Band Fribourg and Brass Band Michelsamt, with former winners Wallberg Band conducted by Garry Cutt in seventh. The post results entertainment was provided by the German Brass ensemble.

Result:

Test Piece: Terra Australis (Martin Ellerby) & Own Choice orchestral transcription

Adjudicators: Maurice Hamers, Philip Sparke, Robert Childs, Pascal Eicher, Howard Lorriman

Set Work/Own Choice = Total

1. Brass Band Treize Etoiles (James Gourlay) — 180/176 = 356
2. Valaisia Brass Band (Arsene Duc) — 175/180 = 355
3. Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan (Jean-Francois Bobillier) — 169/171 = 340
4. Brass Band Burgermusik Luzern (Michael Bach) — 165/174 = 339
5. Brass Band Fribourg (Frédéric Théodoloz) — 170/166 = 336
6. Brass Band Michelsamt (Carlo Balmelli) — 165/164 = 329
7. Wallberg Band (Garry Cutt) — 160/168 = 328
8. Brass Band Berner Oberland (Corsin Tuor) — 161/158 = 319
9. Oberaargauer Brass Band (Armin Bachmann) — 152/160 = 312
10. Brass Band Luzerner Hinterland (Susanne Rechsteiner) — 158/153 = 311
12. Entlebucher Brass Band (Patrick Ottiger) -155/154 = 309