Elite division

Saturday 9 February, 14.45 Grieghallen

Adjudicators:
Andrew Berryman, Torgny Hansson, Jan Fredrik Christiansen

Official results

The official results will be announced later this evening following the Gala Concert.

What do we think?

For the second time in a week we thin its going to be a Welsh victory against the Norwegians – although which of the two Childs’ brothers scores the winner on this occasion is too close to call.

Eikanger were superb today, simply stunning, whilst Manger delivered a performance a real stature too. Stavanger saw their lead destroyed and will do well to gain a podium place. Krohnengen, Oslofjord, Ila and Sandefjord delivered the goods too so could be in the top six come the results.

Overall then it’s Eikanger by the narrowest of margins from Manger but it will be very close indeed.

4BR Prediction:
1. Eikanger
2. Manger
3. Stavanger
4. Krohnengen
5. Oslofjord
6. Sandefjord

Dark horse: Ila

Live comments:

Ila Brass Band, Thomas Rimul, 10
Titan’s Progress (Alliston)

A sterling effort on a brilliant piece. Never quite in total control and the wit and pathos was a little strained at times – but lots to admire from all concerned. Grew in musical stature even if stamina just maned to end – understandably given the effort put in.

Overall: A brave choice and one that very nearly came off big style. Enjoyable stuff.

Manger Musikklag, Dr. Robert Childs, 9
Vienna Nights (Wilby)

Solid and secure and very detailed. This is good stuff – both Wilby and Mozart. There are blips here and there but this is persuasive all through recitative and notturno. Turkish romp is just that. Just tires to end but super stuff.

Overall: A quality performance – some edgy moments but overall a performance of some stature.

Molde Brass Band, Nigel Boddice, 8
Montage (Graham)

Well set out maintained if just lacking sense of drive at times. Lots of neat playing though. Fine second movement features solid soloists – as does the start of the third movement. Just runs out of steam and not always accurate, but it ends with a flourish.

Overall: A performance that benefited from fine direction and was pretty much played under control from start to finish.

Tertnes Brass, Bjørn Breistein, 7
Tallis Variations (Sparke)

Decent effort on a pretty lightweight choice. Nicely laid out – it does suffer some nasty moments in ensemble and solo lines though and the flugel camouflage doesn’t come off. Stamina suffers towards the end but it fades away nicely.

Overall: Only ok this in comparison. Not the ideal choice?

Oslofjord Brass, Selmer Simonsen, 6
Music of the Spheres (Sparke)

A well maintained account. Neutral in approach and perhaps lacking drama and colour, but neatly packaged. It’s all there but it’s a Chinese firework rather than a Saturn V. No frills re-entry rounds things off a safe trip into space.

Overall: Enjoyable but not quite the stuff of the final frontier. Another well maintained account from the bands and MD this weekend.

Stavanger Brass Band, Allan Withington, 5
Concerto Grosso (Bourgeois)

Immensely powerful but not always 100 per cent secure – especially in solo lines. The quality is self evident but so too the nasty clips. Blues section has superb feel but the insecurities are once more quite acute. Now its lost focus and accuracy – at times ragged, Huge ending is too little too late.

Overall: Too varied in execution this. At times it was breathtaking – but too often it was simply ragged.

Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag, Nicholas J. Childs, 4
Riffs and Interludes (Aagaard-Nilsen)

Tremendous technical playing and you hear the Heaton motifs so clearly. So detailed, clear and precise this. What a magic mountain – superbly effective in style and execution. Hard to find any faults – contemporary brass playing of the very highest class.

Overall: A performance of immense stature this – so well conceived and brought off. Fantastic stuff.

Jaren Hornmusikkforening, Helge Haukås, 3
Elgar Variations (Ellerby)

A bit of a romp through this. Very enjoyable but not very English. Lacks substance though. Elgar after a few snorters – the reserve is missing. Musically it’s been Disneyfied too much – saccharine coated sweetness is misplaced surely?

Overall: A very different take on Elgar – enjoyable but it’s an odd interpretation.

Sandefjord Brass Symposium, Garry Cutt, 2
Extreme Makeover (de Meij)

A fine effort on an exceptionally difficult work! All changes were well handled and percussion feature was excellent. Occasionally lost focus and accuracy but that’s to be expected. OTT timp spoils too often for us! Just gets tired in the final makeover but a brave account this.

Overall: Lots to enjoy, but some problems were evident too – a fine effort though.

Krohnengen Brass Band, Ray Farr, 1
Eden (Pickard)

A well constructed account of a very difficult work to pull off. The power and mechanical descent into the abyss was balanced with the hopefulness at the end. Not everything technically came off though – but there were lots of positives to enjoy.

Overall: A fine marker to add to their Odin performance of yesterday. They should be pleased.