Allan Withington’s reputation for producing some of the most imaginative brass band entertainment in the world was certainly on show at the SIDDIS Entertainment Championship in Stavanger.

He led the home town favourites in a successful defence of their title with a remarkable programme inspired by the possibilities, as well as problems that could have occurred on 17th century royal life by the untimely invention of the internet!

17th century internet

Entitled, ‘In the Court of Trevor IV’, his musical fantasy explored the music, manners and general mayhem that may well have taken place if the usual courtly exchanges of ideas, views and cultural misunderstandings between visiting dignitaries and ambassadors had been subject to the same degree of immediacy found in today’s digital age of technology.

In a contest that once again showed that Norwegian brass band entertainment embraces a huge range of musical genres and styles, it narrowly beat off the ‘American Songbook’ challenge of Norwegian National champion Eikanger Bjorsvik, with a Ray Farr inspired Jaren Hornmusikkforening pipping World champion Manger Musikklag to the final podium place.

Imagination

The winning MD was especially pleased that his latest idea (which follows on from musical projects inspired by fashion shows and even jail) also caught the imagination of both the audience and the judges, Paul Cosh, Jan Fr. Christiansen and Jens T. Larsen.

"It was an idea that really appealed to me," Allan told 4BR. "We think we know about royal life in those times, but not everything was as prim and proper as we are told in the history books.

I don’t think it would have been so much different from today — so behind the facade of nobility and artifice I think if they had got their hands on all the information about each other as we do today through the internet, royal court life would have been even more colourful and dangerous!"

Free rein

The idea gave the Stavanger MD free rein to use his kaleidoscopic imagination, and alongside long time collaborator Robin Dewhurst he intertwined the music of Handel, Bach and Scarlatti to an imaginary visit from a rather prickly Turkish Calipha.

"It enabled us to explore great baroque music in a much different way, so we used our own version of a flash mob of about 20 singers to help us with the opening of ‘Zadok the Priest’ to create something totally unexpected, as well as utilising the soprano and tenor horn in a duet to provide a new take on ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’."

Enjoyed

He added: "That exploration of a clash of cultures with the visit of the rather unimpressed Calipha also gave us so many opportunities as the court tried to sell her their perfect idea of western music!

It was fun to do and I know the band enjoyed it. Luckily, it seems the audience and judges did too."

Polished

With Eikanger’s polished songbook mix of Quincy Jones, Maynard Ferguson, Jimmy Webb and Jerry Herman also wowing the packed audience (and plenty of people watching at home through the live internet feed) the destination of the 18,000 Krone first prize lay in the balance right to the end of the contest.

Meanwhile, an inspired Jaren also gained plaudits for their inventive set that encompassed original and arranged music directed by Ray Farr.

Their programme included musical sources such as diverse as Pat Methany, Peter Graham, Pernambucan singer Frevo and even the internet sensation ‘What does the Fox say’ by the Norwegian pop group Ylvis, whilst Manger’s inventive ‘sea’ set written by Martin Winter gained widespread support, but could only win the individual entertainment prize.

Kleppe Musikklag’s soprano player Jon Vegar Sole Sundal took the ‘Best Soloist’ prize.

There was however no denying Stavanger as they claimed their seventh premier entertainment title.

Alexander the great

In the First Division there was a commanding victory for Alexander Brass as they claimed the honours under the direction of MD, Clive Zwanswiniski by a huge five point margin from rivals Oster Brass with Radoy Brass in third.

The band opened with Simon Dobson’s ‘Mysterious Voices of Bulgaria’ before moving through the euphonium solo ‘Carnival of Venice’ featuring ‘Best Soloist’ winner Mats Urdal-Aasen, ‘Ila est bel et bon’ and the closing Celtic inspired ‘Sospan Fach’.

Band spokesperson Hugo Hertmann Hansen told 4BR: "We are delighted with the success and very happy we won in such great style. The band played very well under our MD Clive Zwanswiniski."

Hasle victory

Hasle Brass directed by Robert Solberg Nilsen claimed victory in a closely contested Second Division contest, with the band gaining plaudits from the judges Mike Kilroy and Morten E Hansen for the overall quality of their playing.

That was especially with the contribution of their euphonium soloist, whose performance of ‘Little Prayer’ was described as ‘lovely – great shape and well delivered’.

Second place went to Laksevåg Musikkforening with Fjell Brass in third.

Queen crowned

A set inspired by the legendary pop group Queen helped Follesø Musiklag take the Third Division title ahead of Salhus Musikklag and Tysnes Musikklag.

Speaking to 4BR, adjudicator Kenneth Crookston said that he was very impressed by the overall standard on show from the thirteen competing bands, with the top four rivals very closely matched.

"It was a very good standard, with plenty of excellent playing to enjoy. The winners produced a well balanced programme, but there was very little to choose between the top four bands on the day."

Narrow victory

In an enjoyable Fourth Division contest victory went to Jørpeland Musikkorps conducted by the experienced Paul Farr who narrowly claimed the title ahead of Musikkorpset Heimdal, who lost a point due to a time penalty. Third place went to Hetlevik Musikklag.

We think we know about royal life in those times, but not everything was as prim and proper as we are told in the history booksAllan Withington

Full results:

Elite Division:
Adjudicators: Paul Cosh & Jan Fr. Christiansen
Jens T. Larsen (Entertainment)

1. Stavanger (Allan Withington): 98
2. Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Reid Gilje): 97
3. Jaren Hornmusikkforening (Ray Farr): 95
4. Manger Musikklag (Martin Philip Winter): 94
5. Oslo Brass (Frode Rydland): 92
6. Kleppe Musikklag (Rune Hannisdal): 90
7. Ila Brass (John-Philip Hannevik): 88
8. Bjørsvik Brass (Bengt Florvåg): 86
9. Oslofjord Brass (Garry Cutt): 83
10. Krohnengen Brass (Harald Eikaas): 82
11. Montebello Brass (Tarjei Gilbrant & Preben N. K-Riesling): 78*

Best Soloist: Jon Vegar Sole Sundal (soprano cornet) — Kleppe Musikklag

Entertainment Prize: Manger Musikklag

*Time penalty — deducted 2 points

First Division:
Adjudicators: Graham Jones, Irene Anda
Programme/Music = Total

1. Alexander Brass (Clive Zwanswiniski): 9/96 = 105
2. Oster Brass (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen): 7/93 = 100
3. Radøy Brass (Magnus Brandseth): 8/92 = 100
4. Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn (Espen Westbye): 7/92 = 99
5. Sørum Musikklag (Martin Olsen): 7/91 = 98
6. Flesland Musikklag (Patrik Randefalk): 7/90 = 97
7. Tertnes Amatørkorps (Magnus Brandseth): 7/89 = 96
8. Askøy Brass (Svein Henrik Giske): 6/89 = 95

Best Soloist: Mats Urdal-Aasen (euphonium) — Alexander Brass

Second Division:
Adjudicators: Mike Kilroy, Morten E. Hansen
Programme/Music = Total

1. Hasle Brass (Robert Solberg Nilsen): 8/96 = 104
2. Laksevåg Musikkforening (Øyvind Nikolaisen): 8/94 = 102
3. Fjell Brass (Henrik Juul-Pedersen): 8/92 = 100
4. IMI Brass (Per-Erik Petersen): 8/90 = 98
5. Agder Brass (Åsmund Gjære): 7/90 = 97
6. Rong Brass (Eirik Gjerdevik): 7/89 = 96
7. Brøttum Brass (Thorbjørn Lunde): 6/89 = 95
8= Bergen Brass (Simon Wood): 6/88 = 94
8= Sagvåg Musikklag (Jan Magne Olsen): 6/88 = 94
10. Manger Old Star Brass (Knut Emil Mjøs): 7/86 = 93
11= Gjesdal Brass (Jonas Skartveit Rogne): 6/86 = 92
11= Haukås Musikklag (Jan Egil Jørgensen): 6/86 = 92
13= Lindås Brass (Henrik Juul-Pedersen): 6/85 = 91
13= Tysvær Brass (Martin Kinn): 6/85 = 91
15. Stangaland Brass (Mats Urdahl-Aasen): 6/84 = 90

Best Soloist: Unni Hodne (flugel horn) — IMI Brass

Third Division:
Adjudicators: Kenneth Crookston, P.K.Svendsen
Programme/Music = Total

1. Follesø Musiklag (Bjørn Breistein): 8/95 = 103
2. Salhus Musikklag (Sindre Dalhaug): 9/94 = 103
3. Tysnes Musikklag (Yngve Nikolaisen): 8/93 = 101
4. Randaberg Musikkorps (Pål Magne Austnes-Underhaug): 9/92 = 101
5. Eidsberg Brass (Hans Petter Ringstad): 9/90 = 99
6. Lyshornet Brass (Karl Ole Midtbø): 7/88 = 95
7. Seim Musikklag (Asbjørn Hauge): 8/87 = 95
8. Hordvik Muskklag (Patrik Randefalk): 6/88 = 94
9. Stavanger Kommunes Korps (Morten Øvrebekk): 7/86 = 93
10= Langhus Brass (Tarjei Gilbrant): 7/85 = 92
10= Skeie Brass (Nigel Fielding): 7/85 = 92
12. Rosendal Musikklag (Yngve Nikolaisen): 6/84 = 90
13. Indre Torungen Brass Ensemble (Lars-Bjørnar Strengenes): 5/82 = 87

Best Soloist: Guttorm Langstøyl (soprano cornet)- Eidsberg Brass

Fourth Division:
Adjudicators: Graham Jones, Irene Anda
Programme/Music = Total

1. Jørpeland Musikkorps (Paul Farr): 8/93 = 101
2. Musikkorpset Heimdal (Per Olav Paulsen): 9/92 = 100*
3. Hetlevik Musikklag (Einar Gjeldsvik): 7/90 = 96*

*Time penalty — deducted 1 point

Best Soloist: Bjørn Paulsen (euphonium) — Hetlevik Musikklag

Highest Score regardless of Division Prize: Stavanger