Lyngby Taarbaek has been crowned Danish National Champion for a 16th time following victory at the Aarhus Concert Hall last weekend.

The impressive home to the Danish National Opera, Royal Academy of Music and Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, hosted the event which saw the band successfully defend their title under the baton of David Childs (above), thanks to a brace of outstanding performances of the set-work, 'Diadem of Gold' and their own-choice selection of Oliver Waespi's 'Audivi Media Nocte'.

Top six

Despite fine performances from rivals Concord, Aarhus, Silkeborg Blaeserne and Christianshavn, Lyngby was awarded first place by all six independent adjudicators over the two days of competition.

Following the same format as the European Championship, the Elite bands first had to get to grips with Frank Wright's iconic arrangement of Guillaume Balay's rather mysterious overture, which was first used at the National Finals of Great Britain in 1953.

Rich musicality

With the MD drawing out the rich musicality from the score, the adjudicators were suitably impressed, with Andrew Duncan feeling that Lyngby's performance was, 'driven by a strong musical ethos towards the piece', whilst Carsten Svanberg picked out the 'stunning solo performances' and secure 'intonation' — an area of weakness for several others on the day.

Stephen Roberts was also impressed; stating that it had been a performance which had 'authorative tonal majesty, musical sense of line and carefully attentive detail', before concluding, '...this was a splendid performance with dazzling virtuosity, rich expressive lyricism and all so musically shaped. Congratulations!'

Not quite secure

However, the title was not quite secured as the following day Lyngby came under a high class assault, with Concord in particular delivering an impressive account of Kenneth Downie's 'St Magnus', which after an uncomfortable start grew in stature under the expert guidance of Michael Fowles.

Peter Meechan's 'Fragile Oasis' and Edward Gregson's 'Of Men and Mountains' and 'Of Distant Memories' also received admirable performances, although Lyngby's selection of Oliver Waespi's 'Audivi Media Nocte' ultimately bore the stamp of their contest winning authority.

Lyrical and dramatic

'An overwhelmingly good start' said adjudicator Mogens Andresen, who also felt the band 'mastered both the lyrical and dramatic' elements of the work and praised the 'excellent soloists' and 'high level chamber music playing'.

It also drew plaudits from Andrew Duncan who concluded his adjudication with, 'A very good performance of a very difficult piece.'
Lyngby Taarbaek will now represent Denmark at the European Championship in Lille in France in 2016.

First Division:

In the First Division there was a victory for Nordvestjysk Brass under Andras Olsen, who mastered Oliver Waespi's mountainous set-work, 'Travesada' before securing the title with their own-choice selection of 'The Bandsman's Challenge' by Bertrand Moren.

It meant that the band overturned the set-work lead of eventual runner-up Skanderborg Brass directed by Huw Thomas, who couldn't quite add repel their rivals with their performance of 'Journey into Freedom'. Third place went to Dania Brass Band directed by Dennis Aaberg Andersen.

Second Division:

There was a keen battle to enjoy in the Second Division where Frederiksberg Brass conducted by Rasmus Kaersgaard beat off the strong challenge of close rivals Svogerslev Brass directed by Susanne Vibaek, with Danfoss Orkestret in third.

Frederiksberg took the honours in both the set-work and own-choice disciplines with well directed performances of 'The Shipbuilders' and 'The Son of Light' by Bertrand Moren.

Third Division:

Although there were only two competitors in the Third Division there was plenty of good quality playing to enjoy as Sejs Blaeserne directed by Jan Norgaard beat off the close challenge of DaCapo Brass led by Peter Deichgraber.

The winner's performances of the set-work 'Voices of Youth' by Edward Gregson and 'Saint-Saens Variations' by Philip Sparke just proved good enough to repel the bold playing of their rivals, especially on 'A Northumbrian Suite'.

Despite fine performances from rivals Concord, Aarhus, Silkeborg Blaeserne and Christianshavn, Lyngby was awarded first place by all six independent adjudicators over the two days of competition4BR

Results:

Championship Division:
Adjudicators:
Set Work: Stephen Roberts/ Andrew Duncan/Carsten Svanberg
Own Choice: Andrew Duncan/Mogens Andressen/Valdemar Lonsted

1. Lyngby Taarbaek (David Childs)
Set Work: 94+95+94 = 94.3
Own Choice: 96+95+95 =95.3
Overall Total: 94.8

2. Concord Brass Band (Michael Fowles)
Set Work: 88+92+91 = 90.3
Own Choice: 95+94+94 = 94.3
Overall Total: 92.3

3. Aarhus Brass Band (Gert Skovlod Hattesen)
Set Work: 92+94+93 = 93.0
Own Choice: 93+92+89 = 91.3
Overall Total: 92.2

4. Silkeborg Blaeserne (Niels-Ole Bo Johansen)
Set Work: 87+88+89 = 88.0
Own Choice: 94+94+93 = 93.7
Overall Total: 90.9

5. FDF Christianshavn (Stig Maersk)
Set Work: 90+87+92 = 89.7
Own Choice: 92+91+91 = 91.3
Overall Total: 90.5

First Division:
Set Work/Own Choice = Total

1. Nordvestjysk Brass (Andras Olsen): 91.3/90 = 90.7
2. Skanderborg Brass (Huw Thomas): 93/87 = 90
3. Dania Brass (Dennis Aaberg Andersen): 89.7/88 = 88.9
4. Frederikshavn FDF Brass (Henrik Juul-Pedersen): 87.7/86 = 86.9

Second Division:
Set Work/Own Choice = Total

1. Frederiksberg Brass (Rasmus Kaersgaard): 92.3/96.3 = 94.3
2. Svogerslev Brass (Susanne Vibaek): 91.7/95 = 93.4
3. Danfoss Orkestret (John Frederiksen): 90.7/90.7 = 90.7
4. FDF Aarhus Musikkreds (Simon Kjaergaard): 87/86 = 86.5
5. Hinnerup Gardens Brass (Anne Mette Tilsted Hansen): 86/87 = 86.5

Third Division:
Set Work/Own Choice = Total

1. Sejs Blaeserne (Jan Norgaard): 88/90 = 89
2. DaCapo Brass (Peter Deichgraber): 86.3/87.7 = 87