The 38th Swiss National Championship will take place later this month at the magnificent Montreux Convention Centre.
Record
A record entry of 64 bands will compete in the five sections to decide who can lay claim to be crowned the various Swiss National Champions for 2012 on the weekend of 24th/25th November.
Rush Hour
The 11 Championship contenders will have to get to grips with a new set work on the Sunday morning from young Swiss composer Etienne Crausaz, entitled, ‘Rush Hour’.
The contest takes place amid the superb surroundings of the Stravinski Hall, with the band’s own choice selections to follow in the afternoon.
Own choices
These include, ‘Between the Moon and Mexico’, ‘Beyond the Horizon’, ‘Cambridge Variations’, ‘Earthquake’, ‘From Ancient Times’, ‘Music for Battle Creek’, ‘Red Priest’, ‘Spiriti’ and ‘When World’s Collide’, as they hope to catch the ear of the international team of adjudicators.
The panel for the championships is headed by Dr Robert Childs, Frank Renton, David Horsfield, Reid Gilje, Benny Wiame, Jan van der Roost, Christopher Jeanbourquin, Daniel Bichsel and Remo Capra, although the identity of who is in the box in each section has not been revealed as yet.
Championship
Defending champion Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan, who won the title in spectacular fashion last year is up against a strong field of rivals, including traditional heavyweight favourites such as 2012 runner-up, Valaisia Brass Band, Treize Etoiles, Burgermusik Luzern and Berner Oberland, all of whom will be looking to claim the huge National Trophy and their place at the 2013 European Championships in Oslo.
Other sections
A large field of 18 First Section bands will battle it out in the Stravinski Concert Hall on Saturday afternoon following the completion of the Third Section, whilst the Miles Davis Hall will host the Fourth and Second Section events.
The First Section bands will have to get to grips with Gareth Wood’s ‘Salome’ as their set work, whilst the 16 Second Section contenders are faced with ‘Cross Patonce’ by Goff Richards. The 15 Third Section challengers will perform ‘Clouds’ by Bertrand Moren, whilst the four bands in the Fourth Section will tackle ‘Fanfare Diversion’ by John Golland.
Gala Concert
The results will be announced on Sunday evening after a Gala Concert featuring tuba star Les Neish, some Swiss musical humour from the ‘Full House’ duo, and reigning champions Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisen under the baton of Jean-Francois Bobillier.
More information:
For further information go to: http://www.sbbv.ch/
The 11 Championship contenders will have to get to grips with a new set work on the Sunday morning from young Swiss composer Etienne Crausaz, entitled, ‘Rush Hour’4BR
Championship Section:
Set Work: Rush Hour (Etienne Crausaz)
& Own Choice
Sunday 25th November: 9.00am
Stravinski Concert Hall
Brass Band Berner Oberland
Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern
Brass Band Fribourg
Brass Band Treize Etoiles
Constellation Brass Band
Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien
Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia
Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan
Musikgesellschaft Risch-Rotkreuz
Oberaargauer Brass Band
Valaisia Brass Band
First Section:
Set Work: Salome (Gareth Wood)
Saturday 24th November: 12.15pm
Stravinski Concert Hall
Brass Band Breitenbach
Brass Band Eglisau
Brass Band Emmental
Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch
Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg
Brass Band Kirchenmusik Flühli
Brass Band MG Reiden
Brass Band MG Rickenbach
Brass Band Schötz
Brass Band Seetal
Brass Band Sursilvana
Brass Band Treize Etoiles B
Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS
Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia
Liberty Brass Band Ostschweiz
Oberwalliser Brass Band
Regional Brass Band Bern
Universal Brass Band
Second Section:
Set Work: Cross Patonce (Goff Richards)
Saturday 24th November: 12.45pm
Miles Davis Hall
BML Talents
Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior
Brass Band Cazis
Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt
Brass Band Fribourg
Brass Band Harmonie Rickenbach
Brass Band Junior Valaisan
Brass Band Konkordia Büsserach
Brass Band l’Avenir Lignières
Brass Band Rapperswil-Wierezwil
Brass Band Rhodan
Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien
Ensemble de Cuivres Mélodia Junior
Liberty Brass Band Junior
MG Konkordia Aedermannsdorf
Musikverein Brass Band Henggart
Third Section:
Set Work: Clouds (Bertand Moren)
Saturday 24th November: 8.30am
Stravinski Concert Hall
Brass Band 43
Brass Band Abinchova
Brass Band Gürbetal
Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg
Brass Band l’Avenir Lignières
Brass Band Solothurn
Brass Band Zürich
Brass Band Zurzibiet
Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt
Musikgesellschaft Risch-Rotkreuz
MG Brass Band Münsigen
Musikgesellschaft Jenaz
Musikgesellschaft Winznau
Musikverein Brass Band Buckten
Oberwalliser Brass Band Junior
Fourth Section:
Set Work: Fanfare Diversion (John Golland)
Saturday 24th November: 10.00am
Miles Davis Hall
Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch
Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band
Musikgesellschaft Viktoria Turtmann
Thunerseebrass