2006 European Championships - Farewell Concert

John James was on hand to enjoy a remarkable Farewell Concert by the Eikanger Bjorsvik and European Youth Bands - despite some blearly eyes and a few sore heads!

Farewell Concert
Sunday 30th April
The Studio,
Waterfront Hall

Eikanger Bjorsvik Band
Conductor: Reid Gilje

European Youth Brass Band
Conductor: Alan Morrison

Some farewell concerts for this event have starred fine artists playing only as you can imagine them in your mind's ear, whilst others have been somewhat of an anti-climax. It depends really on the participants themselves and the mood (and physical condition) they find themselves in after a heavy weekend of playing and possibly, celebrating.

This year was definitely a concert of the former (although we did see few bleary eyes) as Eikanger Bjorsvik led a quite stunning Farewell Concert with the European Youth Brass Band in tow.

Talented youth: The European Youth Band make their mark

There were remarkable effects of colour and of soloistic genius – Martin Winter delivering a free jazz cornet solo in 'Sing, Sing, Sing' with as commanding a tone and presence as any of the jazz greats. The band produced tone colours of kaleidoscopic hues that was more than just a re-creation of the real dazzling arrangements of Billy May's Big Fat Brass - this was very nearly archetypal Billy May's Big Fat Brass itself.

We know Eikanger are an exceptionally talented outfit, and benefit from some very talented arrangers in their midst, bu this was something else. The music had wit with the rather tongue in cheek and highly camp 'Seaside Rendevous' whilst they really pulled the stops out with 'Cossack Dance'. There were also some brilliant solo contributions from Tormod Flaten on the oldest of old warhorses, ‘Napoli' and Greth Tonheim on trombone on ‘Bird of Passage' whilst he ensemble didn't ever fall below the exceptional when they strutted their stuff on such diverse items as ‘The Incredibles' and ‘Autumn Leaves'.

This was thrilling music making as enjoyable as it was possible to hear: Rhythmic, forceful, accented, beguiling – and undeniably mightily impressive. It was a barn storming virtuosi performance that closed out the 2006 EBBC in a style that the organisers could only have dreamt for.

The concert opened with the European Youth Brass Band who entertained to their best with Alan Morrison at the helm.

A fanfare and prelude from the pen of Black Dyke percussionist Paul Lovatt-Cooper whose writing must surely earn a commission for a test piece before too long started things off nicely, before a rhythmic and purposeful rendition of 'Gaelforce' made appropriate connections to the host country, who had really put on a fine event this year.

It was however a very open and transparent reading of 'Paganini Variations' (Philip Wilby) that was the most serious challenge of the whole concert, and possibly the whole week for the band, and it was a challenge that was met with a true determination and youthful spirit. It was a fair old performance too.
It seems only fair to mention the names of the players of this band and give them credit for the invaluable contribution they gave to the whole EBBC event.

All in all it was a wonderful way to end a wonderful weekend. Congratulations to one and all.

Instrument: County: Name
Cornet, soprano: Scotland  - Scott Forrest
Cornet:  Belgium - Stijn Aertgeerts
Cornet: Denmark - Ida Nielsen
Cornet, Principal: England - Tom Poulson
Cornet: Germany - Nico Fuchs
Cornet: Italy - Martin Rottensteiner
Cornet: Netherlands - Wendelina de Boer
Cornet: Netherlands - Henryk Reurich
Cornet: Netherlands - Janna van der Steege
Cornet: Northern Ireland - Ruth Montgomery
Cornet: Norway - Lisa Svendson
Cornet: Scotland - Alex Ramsey
Cornet: Sweden - Joel Engstrom
Cornet: Switzerland - Berthold Flavien
Cornet: Wales - Jemma Evans
Flugel: England - Elizabeth Sawyer
Tenor Horn: Lithuania - Alimantas Jucius
Solo Tenor Horn: Switzerland - Ludovic Koller
Baritone: Italy - Michael Fischnaller
Solo Baritone: Scotland - Lucy Forbes
Baritone: Sweden - Andreas Lundin
Euphonium: Belgium - Glenn Van Looy
Euphonium: Switzerland - Benoit Krummenacher
Solo Euphonium: Wales - Matthew Jenkins
Tenor Trombone: Scotland - Jonathan Young
Solo Tenor Trombone: Latvia - Maija Maculevica
Tenor Trombone: Norway - Kristine Sivertsen
Bass Trombone: England - Sam Haigh
Eb Bass: Lithuania - Laimonas Saudargas
Eb Bass: Northern Ireland - Laura Farling
F Bass, Principal: Italy - Wolfgang Rabensteiner
Bb Bass, Principal: Scotland - David Hamilton
Bb Bass: Wales  - Steffan Jones
Percussion, Principal: Denmark - Morten Teglhus Anderson
Percussion: Italy - Martin Fischnaller
Percussion: Germany - Benedikt Holker

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