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Watch online at:
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What do we think?

An interesting day but not one truely outstanding performance. Four that stand out — Eikanger, Manger, Stavanger and Oslo. After that not too much high class playing.

Today then, we go for:

1. Eikanger
2. Oslo
3. Manger
4. Stavanger

Overall then, we think that just gives Eikanger the title.

1. Eikanger
2. Manger
3. Stavanger
4. Oslo

Tune in later for the official results.

Elite Section 

Own Choice: See below
Saturday 7th February (14.45hrs)
Adjudicators: Jan van der Roost, Maurice Hamers, Edward Gregson

Live coverage:

Time: 1920
Oslo Brass Band, Frode Amundsen, 10
The Night to Sing (Tovey)

Neat and tidy stuff — and we hear the wit and dry humour. There is plenty of good solo work heard too, especially euph. There is a lot to enjoy in this playing from soloists and ensemble. Real control and quality right through to the huge ending.

Overall: A very good one to round off the contest — and a performance that may feature highly. Very persuasive stuff.

Time: 1855
Jaren Hornmusikkforening, Helge Haukås, 9
Paganini Variations (Wilby)

Another HH special — so stylish and in intent but flawed in execution. You hear all the true character but it's a but od an errorfest! Well done euph — but elsewhere it hurts. Exposed playing is weak. Build to execiting finish rounds things off nicely.

Overall: Not a great one this — struggled too much with the basics to allow the music to flow.

Time: 1830
Molde Brass Band, Garry Cutt, 8
Lowry Sketchbook (Wilby)

Some of the lceanest most precise playing of the dy in the 1st movement — so well shaped and presented. More good stuff and the best sustained quiet playing too. Not always secure technically but is musical. Moments of real scrapiness but this is well played again right to the end when the were tired.

Overall: A real intelligent performance this. A choice that suited the strengths and minimized the weakness.

Time: 1805
Ila Brass Band, Thomas Rimul, 7
Exergy Re-Revisited (Egil Njaa)

An interesting one this. Make much more sense the second time of hearing. It's another out of the Norwegian left-field but Ila seem to really have the grasp of its ensemble writing. Just loses focus in solo lines but cornet is outstanding. Fine old fashioned finish — quiet.

Overall: An odd one maybe — but one that was fully committed and well played. Could spring a surprise.

Time: 1720
Stavanger Brass Band, Allan Withington, 6
Revelations (Wilby)

Certainly atmospheric but the foundation is not always seciure. Lots of great stuff but there are major moments that distract — even when there is real beauty on display. The real revelatio is full blooded and bravura, but it's too late now?

Overall: A classy effort nearly touching the heights, but not quite getting there.

Time: 1645
Krohnengen Brass Band, Ray Farr, 5
Concero for Brass Band (Downie)

A brave choice this especially as the 1st movement can kill off any chance of victory — and it does. Scherzo — Great recovery — back on form now. The slow stuff is so well shaped even if brittle in places. Ride for home is fine right to the bravura close.

Overall: Great to hear the full version but there were to many execution problems for this to really feature we feel.

Time: 1615
Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag, Dr Nicholas Childs, 4
Extreme Makeover (de Meij)

The initial progress is fine but we detect neat camoflage work in places. It's certainly very exciting but it's not always secure below the surface. Fantastic perc plaing and then it's fabulous stuff. Gets a little OTT to end but it's one heck of an effort.

Overall: Top notch stuff — but certainly not unbeatable. Crowd go bonkers.

Time: 1545
Sandefjord Brass Symposium, Michael Antrobus, 3
Tristan Encounters (Ellerby)

Lots of decent stuff in the main but there's encounters you don't want to experience on the contest stage. Plenty to enjoy but at this level we expect things to be more than just ok. Cadenzas are generally weak. Makes its way to a tired ending.

Overall: Not a great one this. Far too many basic flaws from start to finish

Time: 1515
Manger Musikklag, Peter Szilvay, 2
Troglodyte Transition (Farr)

One for the modern Norwegian school of music cave-dwellers this. Eric Ball it ain't! Very effective stuff laden with specific solo spots — great bass trom. You do ask what the transition was too? Sounded the same to us from start to finish. What can we say? Well played throughout. We're a little lost for words.

Overall: A difficult one to assess. Lots of great playing but was it a great choice today? The crowd loved it though.

Time: 1445
Oslofjord Brass, Armin Renggli, 1
Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Graham)

Plenty of atmosphere but te smoke adn mirrors can't hide the clips and slips. The story unfolds well but not so technically. The individual clips will surely cost. Not quite an X-rated monster fight and sounded tired end.

Overall: A decent account of a work that needed more than this to have made a mark today.