Program No. 78 - 2013 European Brass Band Championships

Last week we played music from the 2012 European Brass Band Championships. Tonight we look at this year's Championships, held in Oslo, Norway on 3rd May 2013.

Of the 11 bands that played at the 2012 Championships, 6 bands - Cory Band (Wales), Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag (Norway), Brass Band Schoonhoven (Netherlands), Black Dyke Band (England), Brass Band Oberosterreich (Austria) and Lyngby-Taarbaek Brass Band (Denmark) have returned in 2013.

They have been joined by Brass Band Buizingen (Belgium), Windcorp Brass Band (Sweden), Brass Band Fribourg (Switzerland), Paris Brass Band (France) and Leyland Band (England).

The contest was won by Cory Band on countback (Cory scored more point in the Test Piece) after it and Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag both scored 191 in aggregate. Black Dyke Band came third on 186.

As per last week, all recordings on tonight's show have come from the officially released CDs of the event.

1. When Thunder Calls (Black Dyke Band)
We will be opening and closing the show tonight with music from the Gala Concert, held as a finale to the Championships. This first number is composed by Paul Lovatt-Cooper and performed by Black Dyke Band, with Robert Childs as conductor.

2. Myth Forest (Cory Band)
Myth Forest is composed by Norwegian composer Stig Nordhagen and is about a pond near the composer's home, called Hestefallstjonn. The work is split into various sections:

1. Sunburst: The sun rises and rays of light shatter the morning mist
2. Bugs and Birds: Insects, small and large, come to life; birds are seeking water
3. Black Water Abyss: The black and abysmal water holds many secrets
4. Water Lilies: Water lilies are rising from the murky water, stretching for light
5. Echo from the Other Side: The echo does not always send back the answer you want
6. The Creatures of the Forest are Dancing Into the Night

Cory's performance was the winning one of the Championships. They are conducted by Philip Harper.

3. Extreme Makeover (Brass Band Oberosterreich)
This major work was composed by Johan de Meij in 2004. It has been used a Test Piece in the 2005 European Band Championships, as well as the 2010 Australian National Band Championships in Hobart. The work is based on Tchaikovsky's String Quartet No. 1 - the second movement.

The performance by Brass Band Oberosterreich - with Hans Gansch as conductor, earned the band 89 points, which was ninth in the Own Choice Section.

4. Fragile Oasis (Leyland Band)
This work was commissioned by Leyland Band specifically for this Championships, and was composed by Peter Meechan. The work is based on observations from the International Space Station by American astronaut Ron Garan.

Michael Bach conducted Leyland Band. This performance was scored at 93, or fifth in the Own Choice Section.

5.  When Worlds Collide  (Brass Band Buizingen)
 The work was composed by Nigel Clarke and is a homage to the bizarre 1950s sci-fi B Grade movies. Reading from a 4barsrest review, the work has an alternate title - Little Green Men in Intergalactic Spaceships with Rayguns and Phasers.

Brass Band Buizingen was conducted by Luc Vertommen. This performance received a score of 95, making it third in the Own Choice Section.

6. Spiriti (Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag)
The publisher describes this work as follows:

A Bach chorale stands at the centre of this work (Für deinen Thron tret´ ich hiermit).
Anton Bruckner was one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s great admirers. His work is full of the spirit of that musical genius. For Thomas Doss, it was Bruckner’s spirit that always seemed to be with him while working on Spiriti. Bruckner’s spirit is captured in this composition by a quote from the chorale of his Fifth Symphony at the end of the piece.

The introduction, written in the style of a funeral march, already displays the first fragments of the chorale. Like splinters they are strewn throughout the first Allegro, combining and recombining in turbulent, powerful tutti passages. As the music becomes more rambunctious, the Bach-like fragments begin to swirl around each other, only to be scattered once more.

The middle-section is of a more pensive nature. The Religioso character gives the audience time to reflect. The music is meditative and the quarter-note (or crotchet) elements mimic a soul that is yearning and crying out.

The third part of the piece finally leads, by way of minimalist elements and the fragments mentioned earlier, to a magnificent presentation of the Bach chorale. As the church bells ring out, one can almost hear the great masters presiding at the organ.

Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag was conducted by Australian David King, and this performance earned the band first place in the Own Choice Section.

7. Finale from Symphony No. 3 - Organ (Massed Bands)
We close tonight's program with a massed bands performance of this famous work by Saint-Saens, and arranged by Willby.  It was performed at the Gala Concert and conducted by Dr Nicholas Childs.

I hope you enjoyed our two part program on the 2012 and 2013 European Brass Band Championships.

We'll be looking at something completely different next week, as in honour of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5th November, we feature movie music about horses and horse racing.

See you then.

Program No. 77 - 2012 European Brass Band Championships

The first European Brass Band Championships were held in the Royal Albert Hall, in London, in 1978. In the early years it lacked a sense of legitimacy and gravitas, and it wasn't until 1983, where the Championships left London to be hosted by various cities around continental Europe, did it develop into the premier contest that it now is.

Bands from UK have tended to dominate the Championships title over the years,  with Cory Band winning 5 times, Black Dyke 12 times, and Yorkshire Building Society Band 8 times, over its 37 year history.

The contest consists of two major works, a set test piece and an own choice. The points awarded are out of a maximum of 100 per work and the winner is decided on aggregate.

The 2012 Championships were held in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where 11 bands competed. The winning band was Black Dyke, under the baton of Dr Nicholas Childs.A full list of the results can be found here.

All recordings played on the show tonight have come from the official recordings of the championships.

1. Vita Aeterna Variations (Black Dyke Band)
We start the show with the test piece for the championships. Vita Aeterna Variations, composed by Alexander Comitas.  This piece was commissioned by the European Brass Band Association especially for the Championships. The title is in Latin and its English translation is "Eternal Life". It's structured as a Theme and Variations and runs for about 19 minutes.

Black Dyke came first in the Test Piece, with a score of 98.

2.  Within Blue Empires (Brass Band Oberosterreich)
Brass Band Oberosterreich, conducted by Hannes Buchegger,  play this wonderful test piece by Paul-Lovatt-Cooper. The Blue Empires is a reference to oceans, as essentially this is music about whales, including recordings of whales midway through the piece. It is interesting to note that this piece was judged last in the Own Choice section, with a score of 88, indicating the quality of the bands participating at this level.

3. Vienna Nights (Lyngby-Taarbaek Brass Band)
Philip Wilby pieces were popular as Own Choice works, with Revelation, Masquerade and Vienna Nights played. I have chosen Vienna Nights, a take on the works of Mozart. This piece was used as the Test Piece in the 2011 Australian Brass Band Championships in Adelaide.

The Lyngby-Taarbaek Brass Band is conducted by Selmer Simonsen. The points awarded to this performance was 89.

4. 31342 Feet (Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan)
This work was composed by Ludovic Neurohr and was written for this band for the Swiss National Championships in 2011. I cannot definitely work out what the title actually refers to, and the only additional information I can find is that the piece is "Willy Wonker inspired".

The Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan was under the baton of Jean-Francois Bobillier, and received 95 points for their performance.

5. Audivi Media Nocte (Brass Band Schoonhoven)
This piece, by Oliver Waespi, was played by two bands at the Championships. Whilst critics seem divided about which band played this better, the judged awarded Brass Band Schoonhoven 99 points, to win the Own Choice section.

This piece was originally commissioned for the Swiss Brass Band Association for the 2011 European Brass Band Championships.

Google Translate has translated the title to mean I Heard at Midnight, and the piece was originally inspired by a motet by 16th Century composer Thomas Tallis sung primarily on All Saints Day.

Erik Janssen conducted Brass Band Schoonhoven.  The near perfect score it received for this work could only get it to third place, after scoring 91 in the Test Piece.

Next week, we will go straight on to the 2013 European Brass Band Championships, held in Oslo, Norway.

Program No. 76 - Steven Mead

Steven Mead is Mr. Euphonium.

It's really hard to say any more about him. What he hasn't achieved with this instrument isn't worth achieving.

Our play list tonight can only scratch the surface of his many recordings and performances.

1. Fly Me To The Moon
2. Scarborough Fair
    - Euphonium Magic (2006)

3. The Simpsons
4. Take Five
5. Finale of 5th Symphony (by Beethoven)
   - Euphonium Magic Vol 2 (2006)

6. Canzon XVII
7. Funk Theory
   - Euphonium Magic Vol 3: Earth Voices (2009)

8. The Dance of the Goblins
   - Fandango (2011) - with Tomoko Sawano on piano

9. The Holy Well
10. Slavische Fantasie
11. Locomotion
   - Locomotion (2006)

12.  Pavane
   - Croatian Euphonic Brass (2010)  - with Brass and Percussion of the Croatian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra

13. Gypsy Airs (Pablo Sarasate)
14. Nessun Dorma (Puccini)
15. Rondo (Claude T. Smith)
   - Steven Mead: Rondo (1990) - with Rigid Containers Group Brass Band

16. Hungarian Melodies
17. Valse Scherzo Op. 34
   - Audacious (2009) - with Tomoko Sawano on piano

18.  The Amazing Mr. Arban (Jean Baptiste Arban/arr. Gurtner)
   - Mead IN(N) - Brass (2001) - With Sound Inn Brass

On next week's show we listen to music performed at the 2012 and 2013 (Updated) European Brass Band Championships.

Program No. 75 - Richard Wagner

2013 sees the 200 anniversary of the birth of Wilhelm Richard Wagner, legendary German composer best known for his operas, including the group of 4 operas known collectively as Der Ring des Nibelungen, or The Ring of the Nibelung, or more simply The Ring Cycle. With it being performed in Melbourne later this year, together with a whole swag of Wagner shows being around the world this year, it is only fair that we get in on the act as well.

1. Overture to The Flying Dutchman (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Vernon Handley) 
We start we the Overture to an opera composed by Wagner and premiered in 1843. I tried to find a summary of the storyline of this opera. I think this is the best of the ones I could find.

The recording is from Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries, Overtures.

2. Prelude to "Tristan and Isolade" (The London Horn Sound)
We turn next to a work composed between 1857 and 1859 yet not premiered until 1865. Wagner didn't actually view this is an opera, instead as a drama. The work is based on a romance by Gottfried von Strassburg titled Tristan, in the early 13th century.

This arrangement is played entirely by French Horns and comes from a 1999 CD titled The London Horn Sound.

3. Tannhauser: Overture (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Vernon Handley)
This next overture is from the opera composed in 1845, and is based on the 13th century poet, Tannhauser. The story centres on the struggle between sacred and profane love, and redemption through love, a theme that is familiar in a lot of Wagner's work.

This is again from, the Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries, Overtures.

4. Das Rheingold (The Rhine Gold), Entry of the Gods into Valhalla (Berliner Philharmoniker)
We now move on to the first of the operas in The Ring Cycle, Das Rheingold. This opera was completed sometime in 1854, but was not premiered until September 1869. What is it about? Best to look here.

This excerpt comes from the 1996 CD Wagner: Orchestral Works.

5. Wagner: Die Walkure - Ride Of The Valkyries (Daniel Barenboim: Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
The Ride of the Valkyries has to be one of the most generally recognised operatic pieces of all time. From the second of the operas in The Ring Cycle, The Valkyrie, it was composed in 1856, and premiered in 1870.

This piece has been adopted as a standard "classical" piece for use in movies, including (and most famously in) Apocalypse Now, as well as The Blues Brothers and The Return of the Pink Panther.

The recording is from Simply the Best Classical Anthems [Disc 1]

6. Götterdämmerung: Siegfried's Funeral March (Sir Adrian Boult & London Philharmonic Orchestra)
We skip the third opera (titled Siegfried) and move on to the final opera Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods). This opera received its premiere in 1876. Siegfried's Funeral March is from the final act and is often used as a standalone concert work.

This piece is from the 2010 CD Essential Wagner.

7. Rienzi: Overture (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Vernon Handley)
Rienzi was one of Wagner's earlier operas, having been completed in 1840. It was premiered in 1842 and was considered to be Wagner's first success.

The Overture for this opera is again from the CD Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries, Overtures.

8. Lohengrin, Act I: Entrance of the King (Solid Brass)
9. Lohengrin, Act III: Vorspiel (German Brass)
10. Lohengrin, Act III: Reitermärsche (German Brass)
11. Procession to the Minster (Organ Philip Wilby) (Black Dyke Band)
Lohengrin first premiered in 1850.  I have avoided the Bridal Chorus and instead have chosen these four excerpts. The Entrance of the King is from Solid Brass's  1988 album Wagner, Verdi, Mozart, Bizet & Purcell: Opera Highlights Arranged for Brass and Percussion.

The Act III excerpts are performed by German Brass on their 2013 CD Celebrating Wagner.

The Procession to the Minster comes from Black Dyke's 1996 CD Cathedral Brass is arranged by Howard Snell.

12. What's Opera Doc?
I finish tonight's show with a Looney Tunes cartoon based on a mash up of Wagner operas starring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. This was produced in 1957 and is considered to be the finest cartoon ever produced.

The Wagner excerpts include:

• The overture from The Flying Dutchman — opening storm scene
• Siegfried's horn call from Siegfried — "O mighty warrior of great fighting stock"
• The overture and "Pilgrims’ Chorus" from Tannhäuser — "O Bwünnhilde, you'w so wuvwy," "Return my love," and the closing scene
• The overture from Rienzi— as Elmer is chasing Bugs.
• The Bacchanal from Tannhäuser — ballet scene between Elmer and Bugs

The cartoon cost about 6 times as much to produce as any other contemporary cartoon, and was the first cartoon considered to be deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Congress Library in 1992.

A fine way to finish tonight's program.

Next week we listen to the recordings of one of the top Euphonium players in the world at the moment, Steven Mead.