Manger Musikklag will return home to Norway as newly crowned World Champion, after winning the 2013 World Music Championship title in thrilling fashion in Kerkrade on the weekend.

Sore throats and headaches

They will also make the long journey back to the Hordaland area near Bergen nursing headaches and sore throats of world championship winning proportions, after celebrating their victory long into the warm Dutch night with the accompaniment of numerous well deserved beers and a plethora of joyous Norwegian songs.

Titanic battle

Under the baton of Allan Withington, Manger claimed the quadrennial title and the 3,500 Euro first prize following a titanic two day battle against defending champion Cory and Swiss challengers, Brass Band Treize Etoiles.

The impressive Brass Band Heist from Belgium was fourth, with their exceptional euphonium player Glenn Van Looy claiming the ‘Best Soloist’ Award. The powerful duo of Chicago Brass Band and Atlantic Brass Band showed further proof of emerging American top flight contesting credentials by finishing close behind.

In the end just one point separated the top three bands, after each delivered performances of the set work, ‘Goldberg 2012’ and their 40 minute own choice programmes worthy of claiming the World Championship banner.

Desire

Manger’s desire to add the world title to a CV that includes their European success of 2011, saw them make the journey to the contest via twin concert appearances with their MD at his Conductor Summer School in Leewaurden earlier in the week.

"It was so important to us to be totally prepared," tuba player Nils-Arne Traeland told 4BR.

"We decided to travel to Leewaurden to enjoy performing on Allan’s course and also to work hard with him in rehearsals. We even added in extra practices on the Saturday evening and on the Sunday morning."

Close knit

The title success also meant a great deal to the closely knit members of the band.

"We are all friends as well as playing colleges," trombonist Birgitte Bruget added.

"We are all totally committed to Manger with everyone paying over 500 Euros each towards the cost of coming here. The win makes it all worthwhile though. I’m sure we will celebrate all the way home!"

Deserved

Conductor Allan Withington was equally delighted. "It has been great to work with Manger on both my course and this contest. They are such wonderful people and so professional.

They did everything and more of what I asked of them, and now they can enjoy being called World Champions. They deserve it."

Gracious

Although there was disappointment for current European champion Cory, the Welsh band was gracious in defeat.

Band Manager Austin Davies told 4BR: "Our congratulations go to Manger. They are a very fine band and we have had a great time meeting and playing with them in the Gala Concert.

We couldn’t have done anymore to retain our title, so although disappointed we knew we gave everything we could."

Epic homage

The Norwegians led the standings on the Saturday evening, producing a superbly evocative account of Svein Henrik Giske’s epic homage to Bach via Sting and the funkmeister Brekker Brothers, that found favour with the international judging panel of Philip Sparke, Jan de Hann and Danny Oosterman.

With James Gourlay on inspired form in leading Treize Etoiles into second and Philip Harper drawing startling playing from Cory to end third, the battle lines were set for the own choice showdown on Sunday afternoon.

Every ounce

Cory drew on every ounce of musical energy to try and retain their title, producing a 40 minute programme that included a superb rendition of Philip Sparke’s ‘Perihelion’, whilst Manger’s balanced set included a wonderful ‘Daphnis & Chloe’ to crucially end just a point behind.

Treize Etoiles meanwhile gave it everything and more in a powerhouse account that included a rousing ‘On the Shoulders of Giants’ that very nearly took the roof of the Rodahal.

Superb

The adjudication panel was certainly presented with a trio of programmes of the very highest quality, with Ian Porthouse later telling 4BR. "The top three was superb – and gave us all individually so much to think about.

All the judges agreed – there was very little to choose between Manger, Cory and Treize Etoiles over the two days."

Ian also said there was much to admire about the contributions of the other competitors too, with a special mention to ‘Best Soloist’ winner Glenn Van Looy.

"Heist, Chicago and Atlantic should be very proud of their performances – especially against bands of this quality on this type of form. Glenn Van Looy was simply stunning, and was the unanimous choice of all the judges on the Sunday."

Remarkable

For the winners though, the future as 2013 World Champion looks very good indeed.

"It is a remarkable achievement for our band," Nils-Arne Traeland added. "We have so much to work towards again this year, but first we have to try and find somewhere where we can display the new World Champion banner!"

We are all totally committed to Manger with everyone paying over 500 Euros each towards the cost of coming here. The win makes it all worthwhile though. I’m sure we will celebrate all the way homeBirgitte Bruget

First Section:

There was plenty of high quality playing on show in the other three sections of the WMC event, with local favourites Regional Brass Band Spijkerpakkenband taking the First Section title under the baton of Eric Janssen.

Their excellent performances of the set work, ‘Far Horizons: Sailing West’ by Philip Wilby and their own choice selection of ‘Psyche’ by Ludovic Neurohr saw them claim a clear three point winning margin over German rivals, 3BA Concert Brass, with Brass Band Bacchus in third.

The former European B Section champion certainly gave it their all in trying to carry the title back over the nearby German border, with their powerful own choice selection of ‘From Ancient Times’ – complete with inventive use of what looked like massive flower pots turned into tuba mutes.

Brass Band Bacchus from Belgium also showed great ambition with their own choice selection of ‘Whitun Wakes’.

Second Section:

Tom Davoren’s ‘VIVAT!’ was given a number of fine renditions in the Second Section contest that took place at the Parkstad Limburg Theatre, with Ensemble de Cuivres Ambitus claiming the honours.

With the addition of Philip Sparke’s ‘A London Overture’ as their own choice selection they took the title back to Switzerland by the narrowest of 0.50 point margin over local favourites Brass Band Schoonhoven B.

They had led the contest on their set work performance, but could only end joint second with ‘Cross Patonce’ by Goff Richards, whilst third placed Brass Band Hombeek for Belgium came third thanks to the addition of ‘King’s Lie’ by Stan Nieuwenhuis and ‘Abide with Me’.

Third Section:

Six bands lined up to battle for the glory in the Third Section where the eventual honours went to the delighted Dutch representative Brass Band Gloria Dei, with a commanding victory over second placed Brass Band Looft den Heer with St Cecilia Leest from Belgium in third.

Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Philip Sparke, Danny Oosterman, Steve Sykes, Ian Porthouse, Jan Van der Roost, Jan de Haan

Test Piece: Goldberg 2012 (Svein Henrik Giske)
Test piece/Own Choice programme = Average

1. Manger Musikklag: (Allan Withington): 96.00/94.40 = 95.20
2. Cory: (Philip Harper): 94.00/95.40 = 94.70
3. Treize Etoiles: (James Gourlay): 95.00/93.40 = 94.20
4. Brass Band Heist: (Bert van Theinen): 89.00/92.60 = 90.80
5. Chicago Brass Band: (Colin Holman): 90.00/88.40 = 89.20
6. Atlantic Brass Band: (Salvatore Scarpa): 87.00/87.20 = 87.10

Best Soloist: Glenn Van Looy (euphonium) — Brass Band Heist

First Section:
Test Piece/Own Choice = Average

1. Regionale Brass Band De Spijkerpakkenband: 94.00/92.00 = 93.00
2. 3BA Concert Brass: 88.00/93.00 = 90.50
3. Brass Band Bacchus: 90.00/87.00 = 88.50
4. Kunst naar Kracht: 86.00/88.00 = 87.00
5. Brass Band Leieland: 87.00/85.00 = 86.00
6. Brass Band Merum: 84.00/84.00 = 84.00
7. Delta Brass Zeeland: 83.00/84.00 = 83.50

Second Section:
Test Piece/Own Choice = Average

1. Ensemble de Cuivres Ambitus: 92.00/92.00 = 92.00
2. Brass Band Schoonhoven B: 93.00/90.00 = 91.50
3. Brass Band Hombeek: 92.00/90.00 = 91.00
4. Brass Band Gent: 91.00/88.00 = 89.50
5. CMV Euphonia: 85.00/87.00 = 86.00
6. Mercator Brass Band: 85.00/85.00 = 85.00
7. Brass Band Schotz: 81.00/82.00 = 81.50

Third Section:
Test Piece/Own Choice = Average

1. Brass Band Gloria Dei: 93.00/90.00 = 91.50
2. Brass Band Looft den Heer: 87.00/89.00 = 88.00
3. St Cecilia Leest: 86.00/86.00 = 86.00
4. Koninklijke Brass Band De Grensbewoners Smeermaas: 86.00/84.00 = 85.00
5. Brass Band Middleburg: 85.00/83.00 = 84.00
6. Brass Band Looft den Heere: 84.00/83.00 = 83.50