French banding reached new 'Heights' in Lyon on the weekend as Hauts-de-France Brass Band was crowned 2017 National Champion. Formerly known as Brass Band Nord-Pas-de-Calais, they recently took on a new identity following government re-organisation which saw the merger of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy regions.

Under the direction of Belgian conductor Luc Vertommen, the band also lived up to its new name by producing a brace of high-class performances to claim the massive National Trophy and secure qualification as the nation's representatives at the 2018 European Championships in Utrecht.

Although five-time champion Paris Brass Band was unable to attend due to a busy calendar of artistic projects, former champions Hauts-de-France and Aeolus Brass Band provided ample evidence that the nation's petite 'Honnuer Division' still has an impressive depth of musical excellence.

A brace of contrasting interpretations — one free flowing and impressionistic from Aeolus, the other more compact and tempered by their rivals on Howard Snell's evocative arrangement of Ravel's 'Daphnis & Chloe', set the scene for the own-choice selections late on Sunday afternoon

Impressive standard

There, Hauts-de-France's thrilling account of Peter Graham's second incarnation of 'Angels & Demons' saw them pull clear of an engaging take on Philip Sparke's 'Raveling, Unraveling' from Aeolus to secure their fourth National success — and first since 2011.

"We were impressed by the standard of playing at all levels this weekend,"Le President du Jury, Russell Gray told 4BR following the announcement of the results. "The performances in the 'Honnuer Division' in particular were excellent — two fine bands led by perceptive musicians.

It was also interesting to listen to the different interpretations of the Ravel, especially with Oliver (Waespi) and Michel (Bequet) giving such insightful opinions as we compared performances. Both bands were composed and confident, but the winners had that extra level of contesting class that shone through."

Demon thriller

That was certainly seen as Hauts-de-France upped their game with a thrilling account of 'Angels & Demons' full of virtuosic individual contributions (including guest Swiss sop star Jeremy Coquez from Treize Etoiles) and richly balanced ensemble playing, as Luc Vertommen drew forensic detail and rich drama out of Peter Graham's filmatic score.

Little wonder the players of Hauts-de-France enjoyed their celebrations on the stage of the impressive Auditorium de Lyon concert hall — with a few even suggesting that they might fill up the huge bell of the trophy with celebratory champagne on their journey home.

Cognac celebration

For Luc Vertommen though it was a post-contest cognac in the bar of the nearby hotel as he spoke about his second National success in the last few months follow victory in Belgium late last year.

"I'm very happy for the players as they have worked so hard over the last few years,"he said. "I really enjoy working with them. The top level of French banding is now very good and this victory will be a further boost as they look forward to Utrecht next year."

He added: "The band was thrilled to work on Peter Graham's 'Angels & Demons' again. It's completely different from his first one though — and I think it's a fantastic contest piece — so exciting and demanding. The contrast with 'Daphnis & Chloe' made for such a challenge for the band, but they enjoyed playing them both so much."

Another Belgian first

Sunday also saw another Belgian lead a French band to a National title, as euphonium virtuoso Glenn Van Looy directed local favourites Brass Band de Lyon to victory in the Excellence Division (First Section).

A polished set-work, 'Orion' by Paul Lovett-Cooper was backed a little later by an exciting account of Peter Meechan's 'The Legend of King Arthur', as they edged out defending champion Brass Band du Conservatoire de Douai, with Brassage Brass Band little further back in third.

It was an impressive victory for a band that has made remarkable progress in recent years — something the Swiss based star who had been asked to conduct the band just a few weeks before the contest, was delighted to help further

"It was a real honour to be asked to conduct the band,"Glenn told 4BR. "They were so determined to do well, so to beat the three time defending champion is an amazing achievement. I've really enjoyed my time working with them and I'm sure they will continue to develop further. They certainly have the desire to keep improving."

Division wins

Saturday saw bands in the First, Second and Third Divisions take to the stage to provide enjoyable, if slightly variable, series of performances.

The impressive Brass Band Cotes et Cuivres took the First Division honours with a brace of colourful accounts of the set-work, 'Chaucer's Tunes' by Michael Ball and Philip Harper's 'Kingdom of Dragons'. They ended up three points clear of nearest rival Burgundy Brass (who premiered 'La Patrone de Cascia' by Pierre-Antonine Savoyat, played by the European Youth Band in 2016), with Brass Band Accords in third.

Meanwhile, in the Second Division it was the equally impressive Brass Band du Hinault who secured a second successive National title (after winning the Third Division in 2016) with excellent renditions of the set-work, 'Partita for Band' (Postcards from Home) by Philip Wilby and conductor Thibaut Bruniaux's own work, 'Babylon'.

It gave a commanding four-point margin of victory over rivals Brass Band Occitania (who premiered Benoit Barrail's 'Saint Guilhem et Le Geant') and third-placed Brassaventure.

In the Third Division there was a keenly fought battle between eventually winners Brass Band du Grand Chalon and Musicalis Algrange — both giving solid accounts on the set-work, 'Prelude, Song and Dance' and their own-choice selections of 'The Dark Side of the Moon' and 'Lord Tullamore' respectively.

Well run event

Hauts-de-France's victory provided the climax to a spaciously timed, well run two day event in Lyon — one backed by excellent support from the national Confederation Musicale de France (CMF), regional organisers and a host of volunteers from local Lyon music societies — including players from wind bands, many of who told 4BR that they were now brass band converts.

French regional television also took an interest, recording interviews for broadcast each evening, whilst the food provided at the post-results party wouldn't have been out of place in a Michelin star restaurant.

Civic pride

The degree of communal civic pride on show was also noticeable — with Swiss guests Brass Band Treize Etoiles and the local L'OJD CMF Rhone Grand Lyon youth wind orchestra giving well attended concerts each evening, whilst Russell Gray and Oliver Waespi also made to the point to 4BR that it was encouraging to hear no less than three new works from French composers being premiered.

A senior CMF official later told 4BR, next year's event will be held in Nantes, as the CMF continues to promote brass banding in different areas of the country with the hope of generating further long term development in 'Le movement Brass Band' — one they see is fast becoming an increasingly popular form of amateur music making.

Iwan Fox

I'm very happy for the players as they have worked so hard over the last few years. I really enjoy working with them. The top level of French banding is now very good and this victory will be a further boostLuc Vertommen

Results:

Honnuer Division:

Adjudicators Russell Gray, Oliver Waespi, Michel Becquet

1. Hauts-de-France Brass Band (Luc Vertommen) — 95
2. Aeolus Brass Band (Benoit Fourreau) — 92

Hauts-de-France Brass Band will represent France at the 2018 European Brass Championships in Utrecht.

Excellence Division:

Adjudicators All Sections: Russell Gray, Oliver Waespi, Michel Becquet

1. Brass Band de Lyon (Glenn Van Looy) — 90
2. Brass Band du Conservatoire de Douai (Olivier Degardin) — 89
3. Brassage Brass Band (Laurent Douvre) — 86

First Division:

Adjudicators All Sections: Russell Gray, Oliver Waespi, Michel Becquet

1. Brass Band Cotes et Cuivres (Jerome Carre) — 94
2. Burgundy Brass (Maxime Pitois) — 91
3. Brass Band Accords (Cedric Rossero) — 89

Second Division:

Adjudicators All Sections: Russell Gray, Oliver Waespi, Michel Becquet

1. Brass Band du Hinault (Thibaut Bruniaux) — 93
2. Brass Band Occitania (Lucas Mazeres) — 89
3. Brass Band Gottes de Cuivre (Jerome Blanc) — 84
4. Brassaventure (Serge Desautels) — 79
5. Brass Band Loire Forez (Andre Guillaume) — 78

Third Division:

Adjudicators All Sections: Russell Gray, Oliver Waespi, Michel Becquet

1. Brass Band du Grand Chalon (Eric Plante) — 84
2. Musicalis Algrange (Mathieu Reinhart) — 83