4BR will be heading back to Holland this weekend to enjoy the action at the 2017 World Music Championships in Kerkrade.
The brass band contests take place on Saturday and Sunday, with defending Championship Division champion Manger Musikklag y hoping to retain their title for another four year span under the direction of Allan Withington.
Defending champion
The Norwegians are faced by a small, but highly class field of rivals, with Carlton Main Frickley making an emotional return to the event that was formed following their visits to Kerkrade in the immediate post- Second World War years, and the National Band of New Zealand making the mammoth trip hoping to emulate the rugby playing counterparts by also becoming World Champions.
Also competing are Brass Band Treize Etoiles from Switzerland, as well as the Belgian contingent of Brass Band Buizingen, Brass Band Heist and Brass Band Willebroek. Home hopes rest with Amsterdam Brass, De Waldsang and Brass Band Schoonhoven.
Set work
The top section set-work on the Saturday will feature a new commission from the pen of Oliver Waespi, entitled 'Tracing Time', whilst the bands must also perform a concert set on the Sunday.
WMC organisation, Jappie Dijkstra told 4BR that there will be no less than 37 premieres of new works including other major new works by Peter Graham and Ed de Boer.
The top section set-work on the Saturday will feature a new commission from the pen of Oliver Waespi, entitled 'Tracing Time', whilst the bands must also perform a concert set on the Sunday4BR
Championship Division:
Set Test: Tracing Time (Oliver Waespi)
Adjudicators:
Set Work: Edward Gregson, Rob Goorhuis, Michael Bach
Concert Programme: Edward Gregson, Jan de Haan, Karl Ole Midtbo
Amsterdam Brass
Brass Band Buizingen
Brass Band Heist
Brass Band Schoonhoven
Brass Band Treize Etoiles
Brass Band De Waldsang
Brass Band Willebroek
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
Manger Musikklag
National Band of New Zealand
First Division:
Set Work: Dances and Arias (Edward Gregson)
Adjudicators: Jan de Haan, Oliver Waespi (CH), Karl Ole Midtbo
Brass Band Bacchus
Brass Band Emmental
Brass Band Excelsior Kloetinge
Brass Band Kunst naar Kracht
Brass Band Merum
Brass Band Oefening en Uitspanning
Brass Band Pro Rege
Brass Band Sachsen
Cologne Concert Brass
Ensemble de Cuivres Ambitus
Spijkerpakkenband
Second Division:
Set Work: Purcell Variations (Kenneth Downie)
Adjudicators: Kevin Houben (BE), Hannes Buchegger (A), Ray Farr (UK)
Badische Brass Band
Brass Band Konkordia Busserach
Brass Band Hombeek
Brass Band Gent
Christelijke Brass Band Gloria Dei
CMV Euphonia
Martini Brass Band Groningen
Schoonhoven B
Third Division:
Set Work: Introduction and Variations on Dies Irae (Jan de Haan)
Adjudicators: Kevin Houben, Hannes Buchegger, Ray Farr
Brass Band Aukstyn
Christelijke Brass Band De Nije Bazún
Gereformeerde Brass Band Groningen
Greidebrass
KMFL Brass Band Lembeek
