There was plenty of high quality contesting to enjoy in Norway less than a week before the European Championships take place in Oslo, as Garry Cutt led Oslofjord Brass to the Grenland Festival title.

With defending champion Eikanger Bjorsvik concentrating their efforts on their Euro assault, and with previous winners Manger and Stavanger not entering this year, just three rivals battled it out for the Elite Division honours over the trio of church service, test piece and own choice disciplines.

Oslo connection

There was however a musical connection with the European contest, with the atmospheric set work, ‘Searching for Light’ written by Stig Nordhagen, whose ‘Myth Forest’ will provide the test for Europe’s best bands at the Oslo Konserthus this coming weekend.

The winning conductor will also be heading back across the North Sea in a few days time to adjudicate at the event, although for the time being Garry Cutt was still enjoying the feeling of adding yet another title to his career CV.

"I judged here last year and had a wonderful time, so it was great to be able to come back again and win with Oslofjord," he said.

"I last worked with them about eight years ago, and they are now a very good band. I was delighted at the way they performed on such a wide variety of musical genres. Eric Ball’s ‘Kingdom Triumphant’ in the superb acoustic of the Grenland Cathedral was something to cherish."

Triumphant

The Friday Church Service discipline saw Oslofjord open with ‘Fest Musik der Stadt Wien’, followed by cornet soloist Ragnhild Mork delivering a tender rendition of ‘Rusalka’s Song to the Moon’. ‘I’ll Walk with God’ and ‘Kingdom Triumphant’ rounded off their programme.

The following day, the band produced a finely shaped reading of the set work, before changing moods with an own chocie set that included ‘Four French Dances’, ‘The Great Revival’, ‘The Holy Well’ played by ‘Best Soloist’ prize winner Marie Jännesjø on euphonium, ‘The Melody Shop’ march, ‘I Dreamed A Dream’ and the ‘Finale’ from ‘Faust’.

Odd aid

Garry also revealed that the victory was aided by a quite unusual piece of percussion equipment too. "It’s the only time I’ve had a percussionist use a drum with a skin that has been made out of a deer’s womb! That really was a first!"

With Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen leading Oster Brass into second place, the final podium spot was taken by Montebello Brass – although they did not register a points total as they chose not to perform the set work.

First Division:

In the First Division, Hasle Brass successfully defended their title under the baton of Robert Solberg Nilsen, with soprano player Thorbjorn Refn winning the ‘Best Soloist’ prize for his performance of ‘Flowerdale’.

Although the band didn’t top the set work discipline on Torstein Aagaard — Nilsen’s ‘Abstractions’, their overall consistency in the church service and own choice sections saw them retain their title from rivals, Rong Brass, with Radoy Brass in third.

Second Division:

In the Second Division, the talented young players of Manger Folkehøgskules Brassband, who made such an impression on the banding public on their recent visit to Wales, secured the title thanks in part to the fine contribution of ‘Best Soloist’ winner, solo cornet player Rinat Arzumov.

Fagernes Musikkorps claimed the honours on the set work, ‘Arctic Funk’ to just pip rivals Salen Hornorkester to end runner-up.

Third Division:

The Third Division title went Indre Torungen Brass Ensemble, who delivered a brace of outstanding performances to claim a clear victory over second placed Eidsberg Brassband with Brassica in third.

Eidsberg’s horn player Aleksander H. Strøm won the ‘Best Soloist’ award.

High quality

The experienced quartet of Mike Kilroy, Jacob Larsen, Bert van Thienen and Svein Henrik Giske shared out the adjudication duties over the weekend, with both Mike and Jacob telling 4BR that they were impressed by the overall standard of playing on show.

"It was very good indeed," Mike said. "Every band engaged so much of themselves in their performances – showing us just how much they enjoyed playing. The acoustics in the church were simply wonderful for brass band playing – and the bands certainly made the most of it."

Jacob agreed: "It was a very enjoyable weekend, with plenty of excellent playing. It was good to hear such a variety of music performed."

I was delighted at the way they performed on such a wide variety of musical genres. Eric Ball’s ‘Kingdom Triumphant’ in the superb acoustic of the Grenland Cathedral was something to cherishGarry Cutt

Results:

Elite Division:
Adjudicators: Mike Kilroy, Jacob Larsen, Bert van Thienen, Svein Henrik Giske
Church Concert/Set Test/Own Choice programme = Total

1. Oslofjord Brass (Garry Cutt): 94.0/89.0/92.0 = 275.0
2. Oster Brass (Torstein Aagaard Nilsen): 90.0/87.0/94.0 = 270.50*
3. Montebello Brass (N/K)**

Solo Prize: Marie Jännesjø (euphonium) — Oslofjord Brass

*incurred 0.5 time penalty
** Competed but did not perform set test

First Division:
Adjudicators: Mike Kilroy, Jacob Larsen, Bert van Thienen, Svein Henrik Giske
Church Concert/Set Test/Own Choice programme = Total

1. Hasle Brass (Robert Solberg Nilsen): 90.0/88.0/92.0 = 270.0
2. Rong Brass: (Eirik Gjerdevik): 88.0/90.0/88.0 = 266.0
3. Radøy Brass (Gareth Pritchard): 86.0/92.0/86.0 = 264.0
4. Sørum Musikklag (N/K): 87.0/91.0/85.0 = 263.0

Solo Prize: Thorbjorn Refn (soprano) — Hasle Brass

Second Division:
Adjudicators: Mike Kilroy, Jacob Larsen, Bert van Thienen, Svein Henrik Giske
Set Work/Own Choice = Total

1. Manger Folkehøgskules Brassband (N/K): 89.0/92.0 = 181.0
2. Fagernes Musikkorps (N/K): 90.0/87.0 = 177.0
3. Salen Hornorkester (N/K): 88.0/89.0 = 177.0
4. Krapfoss Hornorkester (N/K): 87.0/86.0 = 173.0
5. Grenland Brass (N/K): 84.0/88.0 = 172.0
6. Langhus Brass (N/K): 86.0/84.0 = 170.0
7. AXxoN Brassband (N/K): 83.0/83.0 = 166.0

Solo Prize: Rinat Arzumov (cornet) — Manger Folkehøgskules Brassband

Third Division:
Adjudicators: Mike Kilroy, Jacob Larsen, Bert van Thienen, Svein Henrik Giske
Set Work/Own Choice = Total

1. Indre Torungen Brass Ensemble (N/K): 90.0/92.0 = 182.0
2. Eidsberg Brassband (N/K): 88.0/87.0 = 175.0
3. Brassica (N/K): 85.0/89.0 = 174.0
4. Rudsbygd Brass (N/K): 87.0/86.0 = 173.0
5. Spydeberg Ungdomskorps (N/K): 86.0/84.0 = 170.0

Solo Prize: Aleksander H. Strøm (horn) – Eidsberg Brassband