An immensely impressive warning shot of musical intent was fired 11,530 miles towards Symphony Hall on the weekend, as Wellington Brass won the New Zealand National Championship title in Napier for a fourth consecutive year.

Projectile

And it was certainly a projectile aimed from the barrel of their own-choice selection, 'The Triumph of Time' — the work that will be used at the British Open in September.

Under the lucid direction of MD David Bremner, Wellington also secured their place in the nation's banding history books by equally the quartet of successes achieved by Wellington Garrison (1897-1900), Wanganui Garrison (1904-1907) and Woolston Brass (2009 — 2012).

On this form they will be a rival to fear for the best UK and European bands in Birmingham on Peter Graham's colourful set-work — as well as one to savour for a packed audience. A target of a top six-finish is very much within their crosshair sights.

And with the 137th New Zealand National Championships being held in their home city in 2017, they could very well create their own unique piece of domestic contesting history in front of their own fans: On this form, few would bet against them making it 'five in a row'.

Looking for five in a row

The 5.5 point margin of victory was built on composed, high-class winning accounts of the set-work, 'From Distant Memories' and their own-choice selection, aided by a narrow second place finish on their sacred item 'Lavenham' — performances that revealed a supremely confident band, led by an outstanding conductor.

David Bremner's detailed readings, which benefited from balanced ensemble playing topped by artistic soloists (principal cornet Matt Stein and the baritone and euphonium section claiming individual awards) was a class apart over the two days — winning the famous Championship Gold Cup by a margin that did not flatter them.

Proud

"I feel immensely proud of the band and what they have achieved," David later told 4BR, as he once again held the KGL Smith Memorial Trophy as the conductor of the champion band.

"The commitment of the players, the work they have put in and the desire to keep improving is an amazing driving force. We don't take anything for granted and that means this victory is every bit as good as our first.

The British Open is going to be an amazing experience, but one we are thoroughly looking forward to. We know it will also be an incredible challenge, but we are determined to represent our country with pride."

Impressed

One conductor who will now know just how good that potential British Open title challenge will be is Dr Robert Childs, who was a very popular Chief Adjudicator for the Championships.

Although the Grimethorpe MD felt the playing of the own-choice selections from the five A Grade bands wasn't perhaps as good as their set-work performances the day before, he was still impressed by the overall standard — and in particular by the winners.

"They were a clear margin ahead on the major works," he told 4BR. "The top two bands were very good, with one middling one and two just off the pace overall, but I was impressed by Wellington's control of dynamics, the warmth of their ensemble and the MDs understanding of the contrasting requirements of the Gregson and the Graham compositions. They are a fine band."

Just how fine (and David Bremner acknowledged that his band still had six weeks of hard work on 'Triumph of Time' ahead of them) a packed Symphony Hall audience will find out on Saturday 10th September.

Admire

Although Wellington's victory was clear cut, there was still much to admire about the playing in the top section — with Woolston Brass showing that there are moving back towards their best form under the baton of Tyme Marsters.

Recovering from a rather error strewn sacred item and set-work, they produced a thrilling account of 'Triumph of Time' to regain lost ground over Waitakere. They in turn had pushed Wellington close on the first day by winning the sacred item discipline with a finely shaped rendition of Peter Graham's 'The Light' and a lyrical take on Gregson's homage that owed much to the intuitive musicality of MD Howard Taylor.

That proved crucial — as did the wonderful euphonium playing of the evergreen Riki McDonnell, who took the 'Best Soloist' award, as a rather underwhelming own-choice performance of 'Music of the Spheres' just held off a rejuvenated North Shore Brass to claim the final podium place, with a battling Marlborough Brass in fifth.

Sacred disappointment

If there was one slight disappointment for adjudicator Dr Robert Childs it was that he felt that the sacred item was perhaps now being 'over-thought' by MDs — suggesting that the increasingly complex arrangements (and lengthy forewords) may have actually worked against some bands.

"In reality, three contrasting verses from the old Red Hymn books, may have been better, he said, "It's really a means to get accustomed to the contest environment — so why place yourselves under needless pressure." It was an observation met with a murmur of agreement from a supportive audience packed into Napier's wonderful Art Deco Municipal Theatre.

However, that was a very small negative on an event which was run in a splendid manner by the local and national bodies in a wonderful city with a night life every bit as colourful as it's renowned architecture.

"This is a championship to cherish — so well run and welcoming," Bob Childs added. "And I hope it continues to flourish."

Hamilton claim B Grade honours

In a keenly fought B Grade contest, it was Hamilton Brass directed by Glenn Richards that eventually secured victory — and by the narrowest of margins over defending champion Eastern Bay of Plenty, with Brass Wanganui and The Devon Hotel New Plymouth Brass in joint third.

Hamilton secured the ornate Challenge Shield by topping the sacred item and set-work disciplines with confident performances of 'Peace' by Kenneth Downie and Philip Wilby's 'A Lowry Sketchbook' — which proved a very hard challenge for all nine competitors.

And although they may have left the door open on their own-choice of 'The New Jerusalem', Eastern Bay of Plenty could not quite force their way through despite a confident performance of 'Fragile Oasis'.

C & D Grade victories

The C & D Grade events took place in the MTG Century Theatre, where Nelson City Brass showed that they could be a rising force by claiming the C Grade NZBBA Challenge Cup with a comprehensive clean sweep of all three disciplines under the baton of Nigel Weeks.

Fine renditions of the set-work, 'A Canadian Folk Song Suite', their sacred item, 'Crimond' and their own-choice of 'The Plantagenets', saw them end seven points ahead of joint runners-up, Howick Brass and Rotorua Brass.

It was a much closer battle in the D Grade contest, where Kumeu Brass retained their title with a single point margin of victory over Masterton Brass and Matamata Brass thanks to a sensitive rendition of David Chaulk's 'He Cares for Me', their own-choice of 'Partita' and a slightly misfiring stage march, 'Arnhem'.

Great event

Although the overall number of competing bands was down this year (domestic flights in New Zealand are expensive), the event once again proved to be a fine success — especially with the excellent contest organisation backed by local sponsors and audiences, who came in numbers to the keenly fought solo events, the great spectacle of the street march through the centre of Napier (won by Woolston Brass), and the closing 'Brass Extravaganza' solo showcase on the Sunday morning.

The British Open is going to be an amazing experience, but one we are thoroughly looking forward to. We know it will also be an incredible challenge, but we are determined to represent our country with prideWellington MD, David Bremner

Results:
A Grade:
Adjudicator: Dr Robert Childs

Sacred item: Set Work: Own Choice = Total

1. Wellington Brass (David Bremner): 47+96+96 = 239
2. Woolston Brass (Tyme Marsters): 46.5+93+94 = 233.5
3. Waitakere Auckland Brass (Howard Taylor): 47.5+94+89 = 230.5
4. North Shore Brass (Colin Clark): 46+91+93 = 230
5. Marlborough District Brass (Kevin Moseley): 45.5+92+91 = 228.5

Best Soloist in Set Work: Riki McDonnell (Euphonium) — Waitakere Auckland Brass
Best Soloist in Own Choice: Solo Cornet, Wellington Brass
Best Section: Euphonium & Baritones (Wellington Brass)

B Grade:
Sacred item: Set Work: Own Choice = Total

1. Hamilton City Brass (Glenn Richards): 47+96+94 = 237
2. Eastern Bay of Plenty (Alan Spence): 46.5+94+96 = 236.5
=3. The Devon Hotel New Plymouth Brass (Leigh Martin): 45.5+92+91 = 228.5
=3. Brass Wanganui (Bruce Jellyman): 44.5+91+93 = 228.5
=5. Deco Bay Brass (Robbie Cargill): 46+89+90 = 225
=5. Palmerston North Brass (David Mass): 45+88+92 = 225
7. Addington Brass (David Fui): 43+90+88 = 221
8. Hutt City Brass (Mark Davey): 44+86+89 = 219
9. Trust Porirua City Brass (Kerry Garrett): 43.5+87+87 = 217.5

Best Soloist in Set Work: Ben Burnell (Solo Cornet) — Hamilton Brass
Best Principal Cornet in Own Choice: Chris Larence (Eastern Bay of Plenty)

C Grade:
Sacred item: Set Work: Own Choice = Total

1. Nelson City Brass (Nigel Weeks): 40.5+82+84 = 206.5
=2. Howick Brass (Luke Christiansen): 39.5+79+81 = 199.5
=2. Rotorua Brass (Jim McGregor): 38.5+80+81 = 199.5
4. Te Awamutu (Glen Parr): 39+78+82 = 199
5. Levin & Districts Brass (Colin Honey): 38.5+77+80 = 195.5

D Grade:

Sacred item: Own Choice: Stage March = Total

1. Kumeu Brass (Mark Close): 78+77+75 = 230
2. Masterton Brass (Robert Proday): 76+76+77 = 229
3. Matamata Brass (Memorie Brooky): 75+75+76 = 226