2009 Norwegian Brass Band Championships

From troglodytes to rococo variants and extreme makeovers - the Norwegians certainly know how to contest...and play.

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Bands: Eikanger Bjorsvik; Kleppe Musikklag; Manger Musikklag; Oslo Brass Band; Tertnes Brass; Tromso Brass; Bjorsvik Brass
Conductors: Nicholas Childs; Russell Gray; Peter Szilvay; Frode Amundsen; Gary Peterson; Tor Kristian Innbor
Doyen Recordings: CD258 (Double CD)
Total Playing Time: 66.24 & 59.16

One of the real delights of the banding calendar takes place each February in Bergen, where the vibrant Norwegian banding movement showcases its competitiveness at their National Championship.

For two days the magnificent Grieg Hall bursts into musical life, as the growing number of bands from all over the country (72 this year) bring a sense of zestful, and invariably, originality to each of the five sections.

Odd eyebrow

There are times when the odd eyebrow is raised at some of the overtly ambitious choices made by bands in the lower sections, but the desire to improve is one of Norwegian bandings great strengths.

These well presented highlights showcase the Norwegian banding mentality to the full.

To take the major ‘Elite’ title 10 high class bands first had to get to grips with Edward Gregson’s ‘Rococo Variations’ – a well chosen work, that combined mature traditionality to the composer’s desire to explore the more edgier aspects of the new age of brass playing.

Superb

Eikanger’s superb performance to head the contest on the Friday night combined both aspects with a remarkable clarity of thought and execution under Nicholas Childs.

By the time they produced one of the most colourful and effective renditions of ‘Extreme Make-Over’ on the Saturday the contest was theirs (helped by some stunning percussion work). When you hear them on this form you realise just how good a band they are.

Something different

The Norwegians are always liable to try something a little bit different in the own choice section of the contest, and this year it came in the form of ‘Troglodyte Transition!’ by Craig Farr, played with a sense of dramatic purposefulness by Manger Musikklag.

Despite the title, the work isn’t too embedded in the obscure transitory realms of Norwegian cave dwellers. In fact, we have heard much of this type of liberal aleatoric music before, (invariably at this contest) so despite the occasional interesting idea (and some wonderful individual contributions), the work never quite captures the imagination.

Sterling performance

What does however is Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen’s, ‘Myte’, a demanding test for a 3rd Division band anywhere in the world, let alone here – although it is given a sterling performance by the eventual winners, Tromso Brass. 

Written with a clearer sense of purpose and with a sparse but balanced ensemble structure, it immediately engages the musical senses.  

Lyrical

Elsewhere on this double CD release we get to hear a typically lyrical interpretation by Russell Gray of ‘Tallis Variations’ with Kleppe Musikklag to win the 2nd Division title, whilst Oslo Brass produce a finely constructed performance of ‘The Night to Sing’ under Frode Amundsen that brought them second place to Eikanger in the Elite Section own choice discipline (and features a stunning bit of euphonium work).

Meanwhile, Tertnes Brass, directed by Gary Peterson show that there is real strength in depth in the Norwegian equivalent of the First Section with a well rounded performance of ‘Dances and Ariras’ that won the 1st Division.  

Oddball

The undoubted ‘oddball’ highlight of the weekend however came with the cracking performance from the grey headed brigade of Bjorsvik Brass, also under Russell Gray, on ‘Journey into Freedom’ to take the 4th Division title at a canter.

Carlsberg lager

Don’t raise too many eyebrows though on this one (this is the equivalent of the Carlsberg Lager advert – ‘…probably the best 4th section band in the world’) – the band is made up of former players of the Eikanger –Bjorsvik Band (and we are talking the likes of Tormod Flaten and Martin Winter here), so even with just a couple of rehearsals under their belt they were always likely to be in a class of their own.

It was certainly great to listen too, but a 4th Division band they were not – and by a very long way.

Ambition

Although listeners and rivals alike generously received their performance, the feeling was that the usually impeccable organisers did the contest a bit of a disservice in allowing them to compete at the foundation level of competitive banding.

It’s all about ambition in Norwegian banding though – and sometimes, as we have observed in the years we have been making the trip to Bergen, it is ambition can get the better of them at times.

The good news though, is that as shown on this release, it won’t stop them all trying.

Iwan Fox

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