2008 European Brass Band Championships

All the highlights from Stavanger with the best performances from Cory, Grimethorpe, Willebroek as well as that dream of a show from the Austrians of Oberosterreich too...

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Cory, Willebroek, Stavanger, Grimethorpe, European Youth Band, Lyngby Taarbaek, Brass Band Pfeffersberg, Oberosterreich
Various conductors
Doyen Recordings: CD253
Total Playing Time: Double CD 2hrs 24 mins 

There would be few people who would argue that the 2008 European Brass Band Championships held in Stavanger in May this year were not the best organised and most professionally produced championships in the history of the event.

Outstanding

From the high profile marketing to the precise timetable of events, the integration of the championships to the local community and the sense of cultural importance that the Norwegians themselves placed upon it, Stavanger 2008 was an outstanding success. The performances from the competing bands wasn’t too bad either.

This extensive release covers just about all the playing highlights of the week, from the startling winning performance of the set work, ‘Brass Blot’ by the eventual champions Cory and the quite stunning own choice performance of ‘Dreams’ by Brass Band Oberosterreich, to the fine concert playing of the European Youth Brass Band, Grimethorpe, Stavanger and Willebroek at the Farewell and Gala Concerts.

Test pieces

For the aficionados it is the test piece performances that will hold greatest interest. Cory ,produced the most complete understanding and execution of the enjoyable ‘Brass Blot’ on the Friday evening that deservedly gave them the edge going into the own choice section of the contest the following day.

It was perhaps their finest European performance in their history and provided the backbone to end their 28 year wait for a second European title.

That they were pushed hard all the way there says a great deal of the standard of playing that was on show in the Championship Section all weekend and although Willebroek’s mature and lyrical performance of ‘Music for Battle Creek’ was very much out of the top most drawer, it was still not enough to secure them a hat trick of titles.

Dreams

Neither was the quite startling performance of ‘Dreams’ by the Austrians either – although you will still be left scratching your head in disbelief to why the three judges on the day felt it worthy of only 10th place. 

This was playing of the rarest class and execution of purpose, and the only bonus Hannes Buchegger and his band can draw from it now is that this recording gives you the opportunity to revel in it too. The judges were on a different planet.

Strangely the inclusion of Lyngby Taarbaek’s ‘Apocalypse’ (which incidentally came 8th in the own choice section) is puzzling too. Why its here, and not perhaps Grimethorpe’s ‘Vienna Nights’ which did come 2nd on the day is a decision that perhaps reflects the need to try and show that the contest was not over dominated by just a select handful of bands. The problem was, that it was.

Extensive highlights

Elsewhere the B section contest also produced a fine winning performance from the Italian’s of Frener-Reifer Pfeffersberg on the cleverly realised ‘Cornucopia’ by Craig Farr – a piece that deserves to be heard on a much wider stage.

That leaves extensive highlights from the Farewell and Gala Concerts, where the European Youth Band, Willebroek, Stavanger and Grimethorpe were all on very good form. The youngsters produced some fine moments under the baton of Reid Gilje, whilst Willebroek let their collective hair down (which this year was a bit longer than usual giving they didn’t have the chance to shave it off as they have done in the past).

Their soloists in particular were on tip top form, whilst the same also went for the trick trombone player Nils Landgren in his solo spot.

Thumping

Grimethorpe meanwhile was the model of professionalism too at the Gala Concert with some authentic traditional brass band playing that made the English supporters (and many a Brit it must be said) swell with pride. Their thumping rendition of ‘MacArthur Park’ brings two hours of fine playing from all concerned to a cracking end.

Norway once more showed the way forward for the European Championships and this CD (despite the rather odd way in which the various pieces are not chronologically laid out) plays an integral part with high production values that reflect the standards set by the hosts.

Iwan Fox

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