Provinciale Brassband Groningen claimed their third Dutch National title after a thrilling battle of interpretive musical wits in Utrecht.

In a Championship battle that pitted a host of high quality performances of Torstein Aagaard- Nilsen's 'Old Licks Bluesed Up' against each other, MD Richard Visser's darkly infused reading, delivered with polished confidence by his band secured a single point margin of victory over rivals Soli Brass, with pre-contest favourites Brassband Schoonhoven in third.

Groningen not only claimed the impressive National Trophy for the first time since 2015 and a prize package of Euro3500, but also gained the honour of representing The Netherlands at the 2019 European Championships in Montreux.

Amazing win

"It's amazing," Band Manager Wilbert Zwier told 4BR as he and friends toasted success in the late night bar of the TivoliVredenburg venue with the trophy at his feet and the prospect of an extra hour of celebration ahead thanks to the clocks going back an hour.

"It was such a hard piece, but Richard inspired us at rehearsal to improve and understand the music.

We loved playing it and to win is just incredible. Now we look forward to going to Montreux — but we will celebrate for a while yet!"

For the winning MD though, a more temperate night was in order, as Richard Visser made his way through the crowds modestly accepting the generous congratulations from supporters and rivals alike.

"I'm so happy, but also so tired," he said as yet another player offered their best wishes.

"I must thank my players for all their efforts, as they were incredible. I will leave them to celebrate tonight as they deserve it. I may just have one drink then go to bed!"

With the likes of Soli Brass, Brassband Schoonhoven and De Bazuin producing thoroughly engaging, but diversely contrasting accounts, there was plenty to talk about over a beer in the bar as the result was debated into the small hours of Sunday morning.

Appreciated appraisal

Earlier, Ray Farr (joined by Florent Didier and Arsene Duc) gave an honest, and much appreciated appraisal in his pre-results remarks of what the judges had, or had not, heard in the box.

"This is a very complex score, and the acoustic and the confines of the box meant we couldn't hear absolutely everything that was going on.

What we did hear was more than enough though, and was very good, with the best bands drawing drama and the right musical inflections from the score. There were some top class performances today."

Later, all three judges confirmed that the winner was clear, although there was some discussion over second and third, with Soli's languid bluesy approach to the central 'Ritornello' giving them the edge over Schoonhoven.

Although no band emerged unscathed from the intense technical demands, the minor error counts of the podium finishers in particular did not seriously detract from their musical intentions.

There was for instance an oily black richness to the tonality of the winners, which contrasted with the lighter dynamic approach of Soli Brass led by Anne van den Berg, and the polished suavity of Schoonhoven conducted by Ivan Meylemans, whose superb soloist, Thijs Visser took the special 'Best Bass Trombone' prize.

Merit and substance

Behind them came performances of substance and musical interest from a swaggering De Bazuin, exciting Brassband Rijnmond and a delighted Spijkerpakkenband.

And while the defending champion De Waldsang left with the old National trophy after it was presented to them in recognition of their record 14 wins at the event, on this occasion they could have few complaints at their eventual seventh place finish ahead of Amsterdam Brass.

High Peak troubles

Whilst there was rich praise for the musical accomplishments on a contemporary work in the Championship Section, there was little doubt a classic piece of Eric Ball caused all sorts of troubles in the First.

Holland's highest mountain stands at just over 400 meters, so perhaps it wasn't surprising that it appeared that some of the bands approached the prospect of climbing this 50 year old 'High Peak' kitted out with the musical equivalent of sandals and a bobble cap.

At times the apparent lack of musical understanding and misreading of the score would have sent shivers down the spine of Sherpa Tensing.

Clear style

Eventually the summit was topped in clear style by Pro Rege Heerenveen, with a bold ascent inspired by MD Anne van den Berg that stayed true to the composer's intentions (aided by their 'Best Trombone' section), with the more idiosyncratic approaches of defending champion Oefening en Uitspanning and Gloria Dei taking the podium places.

In what was a disappointing contest in the context of the overall quality on display throughout the weekend, the remaining top-six places went to an informed but inconsistent Excelsior, ahead of Brassband Breukelen and Brassband Amersfoort.

Ray Farr was once again forthright in his pre-results assessment of the performances — praising the bands for their "enthusiasm and energy", which had to be balanced he said against the need to find the "character of the music".

He went on to state that although "most were successful", it was also apparent that "the lyrical singing style of playing was in danger of becoming a lost art".

Eric Ball would surely have agreed.

At home under the cliff

Topographical quality was certainly in abundance in the Second Division, where the eight bands were clearly much more comfortable tackling Philip Sparke's 'Sinfonietta: The Town Beneath the Cliff'.

It also produced an outstanding winner in Excelsior Ferwert, conducted by the impressive Gijs Heusinkveld.

They displayed mature control, warm tonality and confident technical proficiency to defend their title in considerable style, aided by the excellent duet playing of their prize winning cornet and euphonium.

Close behind were excellent accounts from runner-up Martini Brassband, with Constantijn Huygens in third, whilst renditions of substance came from the top-six finishers, De Bazuin B, Schoonhoven B and De Lofklank.

Sheona White gave an excellent pre-results analysis, praising the bands for the way they sought out the "character of the music", to produce a "descriptive picture" to the audience, with the best showing, "musicality in the hymn section" and "control and detail" in the fast paced scherzo to close.

Impressive Viking winner

Perhaps the most impressive winner of the weekend came in the Third Division, where Looft den Heer claimed a hat-trick of National titles with a commanding performance of Thierry Deleruyelle's colourful 'Viking Age'.

As he was to show 24 hours later in leading Excelsior to the Second Division title, conductor Gijs Heusinkveld drew character, style and drama out of the score to secure victory by a three point margin — one that could have been more.

Behind them came worthy podium finishers in Immanuel and Backum Brass, who also brought an evocative sense of character to the music, whilst there were solid renditions from the top-six finishers of Kunst en Vriendschap, De Nije Bazun and Apollo and plenty of excellent solo contributions from all bands (including Blaast de Bazuin's, 'Best Flugel').

None though matched the "stand out winner", according to adjudicator John Doyle, as he told the audience that it had "been worth the long trip" to hear the winners and to confirm that he felt the overall standard on show "was much higher" than counterparts in the UK.

Holst's stern test

The contest weekend kicked off with a stern test of musical character in the Fourth Division, as nine bands found that Holst's 'Second Suite in F' posed testing questions of style.

And despite the obvious fragilities, nerves and the tendency to rush, it proved to be a work that will surely have benefited conductors and players alike, with a fine performance from defending champion Halleluja, conducted by Ido Gerard Kempemaar, eventually coming out on top.

Just behind came a number of well-directed efforts, led by podium finishers Soli Deo Gloria (who took the 'Best Baritone/Euphonium Section' prize) and Pro Rege B, whilst the remaining top-six places went to Euphonia, Concordia and UDI.

Adjudicator Luuk Tuinstra praised the bands for their efforts, but pointed out that many had indeed rushed in the opening movement, whilst only a few captured all the different styles required.

Excellent organisation

Following a successful European Championships in Utrecht, the Dutch NBK hosts and local partners once again presented an excellently organised event — one which worked constructively with the bands (including the revised choice of top section test piece) to produce a friendly atmosphere of keen rivalry.

And whilst the structure and regulation of banding in the country is very different to the UK, the evidence of the weekend continues to show that there is a vibrant brass band moment here that is keen to grow and develop further.

We loved playing it and to win is just incredible. Now we look forward to going to Montreux — but we will celebrate for a while yet!Provinciale Brassband Groningen Band Manager Wilbert Zwier

Results:

Championship Section:

Set-work: Old Licks Bluesed Up (Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen)
Adjudicators: Florent Didier; Arsene Duc; Ray Farr

1. Provinciale Brassband Groningen (Richard Visser) — 94*
2. Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg) — 93
3. Brassband Schoonhoven A (Ivan Meylemans) — 92
4. De Bazuin (Klaas van der Woude) — 91
5. Brassband Rijnmond (Erik van de Kolk) — 90
6. De Spijkerpakkenband (Erik Janssen) — 89
7. De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde) — 88
8. Amsterdam Brass (Paul van Gils) — 87

Best Bass Trombone: Brassband Schoonhoven
* Will represent The Netherlands at the 2019 European Championship in Montreux

First Section:

Set-work: High Peak (Eric Ball)
Adjudicators: Florent Didier; Arsene Duc; Ray Farr

1. Pro Rege Heerenveen (Anne van den Berg) — 92
2. Oefening en Uitspangning (Anno Appelo) — 90
3. Gloria Dei (Jaap Musschenga) — 89
4. Excelsior Zalk (Rieks van der Velde) — 87
5. Brassband Breukelen (Syde van der Ploeg) — 86
6. Brassband Amersfoort (Vincent Verhage) — 85
7. Kunst naar Kracht (Pieter Koster) — 83

Best Trombones: Pro Rege Heerenveen

Second Section:

Set-work: The Town Beneath the Cliff (Philip Sparke)
Adjudicators: Sheona White; John Doyle; Luuk Tuinstra

1. Excelsior (Gijs Heusinkveld) — 92
2. Martini Brassband (Rieks van der Velde) — 91
3. Constantijn Huygens (Richard Visser) — 89
4. De Bazuin B (Sietse Hamersma) — 88
5. Brassband Schoonhoven B (Paul van Dalen) — 87
6. De Lofklank (Gerk Huisma) — 85
7. Gereformeerde Brassband (Jan Werkman) — 84
8. Euphonia (Hendry van Loo) — 83

Best Euphonium/Cornet: Excelsior

Third Section:

Set-work: Viking Age (Thierry Deleruyelle)
Adjudicators: Sheona White; John Doyle; Luuk Tuinstra

1. Looft den Heer (Gijs Heusinkveld) — 94
2. Immanuel (Jan Werkman) — 91
3. Backum Brass (Vincent Verhage) — 89
4. Kunst en Vriendschap (Henk van Loon) — 88
5. De Nije Bazun (Jaap Wils) — 87
6. Apollo (Piet Visser) — 86
7. Blaast de Bazuin (Theun van Leijen) — 85
8. Greidebrass (Marco Middelberg) — 84

Best flugel horn: Blaast de Bazuin

Fourth Section:

Set-work: Second Suite in F (Gustav Holst)
Adjudicators: Sheona White; John Doyle; Luuk Tuinstra

1. Halleluja (Ido Gerard Kempenaar) — 93
2. Soli Deo Gloria (Titus van der Woude) — 92
3. Pro Rege B (Martine Reijenga) — 90
4. Euphonia (Chris van der Veen) — 88
5. Concordia (Gouke Gerben Wielenga) — 87
6. UDI (Johan Postma) — 86
7. De Bazuin (Hille van Hijum) — 84
8. Blaast de Bazuin (Piet Visser) — 83
9. Felison Brass (Alan Gibson) — 82

Best Baritone/Euphonium Section: Soli Deo Gloria