It proved to be something of a 'double-Dutch' triumph in Utrecht for Brass Band Schoonhoven, as their rather aptly named conductor Paul Holland led them to a sixth Netherlands national title success.

After an engaging but somewhat variable quality contest, their superbly constructed account of Philip Wilby's 'Vienna Nights' left few listeners in the geometric surrounds of the Tivolivredenburg in any doubt of the imposing nature of their victory.

Class apart

Schoonhoven was a class apart on the day in securing their sixth National success since 2010, but their first since 2016.

The two-point margin over defending champion Provinciale Brassband Groningen was a slightly anaemic measure of their success, with third placed Brassband Rijnmond two-points further back.

In addition to lifting the huge National Trophy in triumph and filling their coffers with a prize package worth 3500 euros, the band will now start preparations to represent the Netherlands at the 2020 European Championships in Palanga.

Huge boost

And despite facing the prospect of filling the enormous cup with celebratory beer into the small hours of Sunday morning, their delighted Band Manager Leon Monteny told 4BR that the success was well worth the financial hit.

"We have undergone a lot of changes in the last year and have welcomed a number of new players,"he said. "They have all fitted in so well and Paul gave us a huge boost of confidence with his encouragement in working towards the contest this week.

He made us believe that we were capable of giving a performance of this quality, so our thanks go to him for all his efforts, he was superb. Now we look forward to Brass in Concert in a few weeks time and to working towards the trip to Palanga."

Memorable

In response Paul offered his thanks to the players for their efforts. "Schoonhoven is a band very much like Flowers with their commitment and collective spirit. They also showed what a fine band they are on stage. It was a pleasure to conduct them and to be part of such a memorable winning performance."

It was certainly one that drew the plaudits from the judges in the box, with Steven Mead (joined by Arsene Duc and Tijmen Botma) telling the audience before the announcement of the results that one band had "delivered a near perfect performance from beginning to end."

Others he said (albeit with a touch of dry humour), fell short, despite showing the promise that they could have possibly claimed the title themselves after giving solid openings.

"Four bands could have won the contest, but after about seven or minutes they perhaps showed that they didn't want to win it after all,"he said.

He wasn't wrong, as a litany of unforced errors, clumsy ensemble cohesion and soloist fragility undermined accounts from Schoonhoven's main rivals.

Elegance and restraint

In contrast, their 'Vienna Nights' combined refined musical character with bravura technique as they displayed the "elegance and restraint"of Mozart as Steven Mead said, with the "brutal and austere"of Scheonberg and Wilby.

It was a performance that had a hallmark of high class excellence about it from start to finish, with Paul Holland bringing a distinctive sense of character from the linked variations, themes and operatic scenes based on forensic detail and musical flow.

The ensemble sound was rich, warm and balanced (aided by the neat use of a contra bass trombone), whilst the stable of soloists each played with security and mature artistry — led by 17 year old tuba player Pelle van Esch who took the 'Best Soloist' award.

No Groningen repeat

It meant that there was to be no repeat triumph for defending champion Provinciale Brassband Groningen.

Their exciting, vibrantly coloured account under MD Richard Visser was blighted by too many individual errors — ones that eventually took the gloss finish off a persuasive interpretation to end a well beaten runner-up.

Third placed Rijnmond's solid marker off the number 1 draw contained just enough overall consistent qualities to set the standard for the contest and to eventually pip a determined De Waldsang to the final podium spot.

Uneven execution and solo fragilities accounted for the final positions of De Bazuin and Soli Brass in fifth and sixth, whilst the engaging if inconsistent renditions from Amsterdam Brass and Altena Brass were seventh and eighth.

First Division:

Earlier on Saturday there was an equally impressive victory in the First Division for Pro Rege conducted by Anne van den Berg.

Their bold but dynamically controlled rendition of Jan van der Roost's testing 'Alpina Brass' set-work saw them retain the title and claim the 1500 euro prize package from rivals Excelsior, with Oefening en Uitspanning two points further back in third.

Pro Rege master

Pro Rege was perhaps the only band to fully master a work that caused all sorts of problems with its well defined rhythmic and dynamic structures that had evocative hints of the sounds of Alpine vistas as well as the composer's trademark rich harmonies, percussion colour and emphatic drive.

The band's excellent soprano cornet took the 'Best Soloist' award, whilst the remaining places in a disappointing contest went to Brassband Breukelen, Kunst naar Kracht and Brassband Amersfoort.

Second Division:

A test-piece inspired by political instability, turmoil and European intervention in domestic affairs provided a contemporary template for the 10 impressive bands to showcase their talents in the Second Division.

Jan de Haan's 'The Patriots' recalled the circumstances that befell the nation in the late 1780's — a historical tale expertly brought to life with a mix of modern and ancient musical flavours which inspired each of the bands to deliver performances of high quality.

The best came from Gereformeerde Brassband conducted by Jan Werkman, who enjoyed a memorable weekend of personal success — also leading Immanuel to the Third Division title.

His wife was not to be outdone though, Aline Werkman-Schipper, conducting the impressive Heman to the Fourth Division title to give the duo something of a 'triple-Dutch' success.

Adjudicator Kevin Houben (joined by Sheona White and Patrik Randfalk for the Second, Third and Fourth Division contests) said the winner had been "excellent"as they claimed the honours by a point from Looft den Heer (with their cornet team taking the 'Best Section' award), with Gloria Dei a point further back.

Third Division:

There was also a super test-piece that brought the best out of the eight competitors in the Third Division, with Stan Nieuwenhuis' inventive 'A Buoy' allowing the MDs and players to showcase different musical styles, textures and effects — from sad reflection to vibrant optimism, lyrical melody to cool jazz.

In the end it was Immanuel led by Jan Werkman that caught the ears of the impressed trio in the box (Sheona White saying the the winners had "painted such a great musical portrait") as they secured their fourth National title in six years (winning the Fourth Division in 2014, 2016 and 2017).

Their excellent percussion team took the 'Best Section' award. Second place went to Backum Brass with Greidebrass in third.

Meanwhile, the composer was certainly left impressed by what he heard and in a lovely touch congratulated the efforts of the youngest players on stage with a special mention to the outstanding 12 year old kit player of De Nije Bazun.

Fourth Division:

The opening contest of the weekend saw seven evenly matched and well directed bands display their impressive credentials in the Fourth Division on another intelligently chosen set-work.

Etienne Crausaz's 'Sinfonietta No.4' enabled them all to add an extra layer or two to the basic building blocks of solid contest playing by emphasising the subtle balances and textures, rhythmic pulse and detail of their ensemble work.

In the end it was the outstanding Heman, led by Aline Werkman-Schipper who delivered a cracking account to claim the title by a clear two-point margin from the solid Blaast de Bazuin, with Euphonia in third.

Heman's fine euphonium player took the 'Best soloist' award.

Impressive Utrecht

With the Tivolivredenburg providing an ideal venue to host the Championships, the hard working NBK organisers will have been delighted by the musical response from the competing bands to their well chosen set-works, whilst also encouraged that the event now attracts a large, supportive audience.

It was also revealed that the 2020 event will use Edward Gregson's latest work, 'The World Rejoicing' (Variations on a Lutheran Chorale) as the Championship Division set-work, with four new works by Dutch composers to be premiered in the other sections.

Iwan Fox

Schoonhoven is a band very much like Flowers with their commitment and collective spirit. They also showed what a fine band they are on stage. It was a pleasure to conduct them and to be part of such a memorable winning performancePaul Holland

Results:

Championship Division:

Adjudicators: Arsene Duc, Steven Mead, Tijmen Botma

1. Brass Band Schoonhoven A (Paul Holland) — 97
2. Provincial Brass Band Groningen (Richard Visser) — 95
3. Brass band Rijnmond (Chris Derickx) — 93
4. De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde) — 92
5. De Bazuin Oenkerk (Klaas van der Woude) — 90
6. Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg) — 88
7. Amsterdam Brass (Paul van Gils) — 86
8. Altena Brass (Ward de Ketelaere) — 84

Best Soloist: Eb tuba (Brass Band Schoonhoven)

First Division:

Adjudicators: Arsene Duc, Steven Mead, Tijmen Botma

1. Pro-Rege (Anne van den Berg) — 93
2. Chr. Brass band Excelsior (Rieks van der Velde) — 92
3. Oefening en Uitspanning (Anno Appelo) — 90
4. Brass band Breukelen (Syde van der Ploeg) — 87
5. Kunst naar Kracht (Pieter Koster) — 86
6. Brass band Amersfoort (Vincent Verhage) — 85

Best Section: Cornets of Pro-Rege

Second Division:

Adjudicators: Sheona White, Patrik Randefalk, Kevin Houben

1. Gereformeerde Brass band (Jan Werkman) — 95
2. Looft den Heer (Gijs Heusinkveld) — 94
3. Gloria Dei (Jaap Musschenga) — 93
4. Brass band Constantijn Huygens (Richard Visser) — 92
5. Der Lofklank (Gerk Huisma) — 90
6. Excelsior Ferwert (Gijs Heusinkveld) — 89
7= De Bazuin Oenkerk B (Sietse Hamersma) — 88
7= Martini Brass band (Rieks van der Velde) — 88
9= Brass band David (Wilbert Zwier) — 86
9= Brass band Schoonhoven B (Paul van Dalen) — 86

Best Soloist: Cornet (Looft den Heer)

Third Division:

Adjudicators: Sheona White, Patrik Randefalk, Kevin Houben

1. Immanuel (Jan Werkman) — 93
2. Backum Brass (Vincent Verhage) — 91
3. Chr. Brass band Greidebrass (Marco Middelberg) — 90
4. De Nije Bazun (Jaap Wils) — 89
5. Apollo (Piet Visser) — 88
6. Chr. Brass band Hosannah (Jappie Kuipers) — 87
7. Kunst en Vriendschap (Henk van Loon) — 86
8. Halleluja (Ido Gerard Kempenaar) — 85

Best Section: Percussion (Immanuel)

Fourth Division:

Adjudicators: Sheona White, Patrik Randefalk, Kevin Houben

1. Brass band Heman (Aline Werkman-Schipper) — 92
2. Blaast de Bazuin (Piet Visser) — 90
3. Chr. Brass band Euphonia (Paulus de Jong) — 89
4. Chr. brass band Westersweach (Reimer Jan Rondaan) — 87
5. Brass band Wilhelmina (Jaap Hoekstra) — 85
6. Euregio Brass band (Ronny Buurink) — 84
7. UDI (Johan Postma) — 83

Best Soloist: Euphonium (Brass band Heman)