After 37 long years, the iconic European Championship Trophy will be displayed for the first time with unsuppressed Swiss national pride engraved on its list of winners following Brass Band Burgermusik Luzern’s thrilling victory in Perth.

It was hard to imagine a nation’s brass band supporters more proud of the achievement of its representative than those who joined in the raucous celebrations with the Luzern players on the stage of Perth Concert Hall: There were tears of joy lining faces of bewilderment and delight.

Hugs and kisses

Even the usually reserved Swiss Brass Band Association representatives hugged and kissed each other before joining a collective cheer that could have been heard in the cantons of their home country, as Luzern’s inspirational MD, Michael Bach (above) finally made it to the stage to raise the European Trophy above his head.

As news of the victory initially reached him, he had taken time to ensure that the first people to share the triumph were his parents.

His father, Markus, who was one of the first pioneering conductors to lead a Swiss band at the contest, and a former President of the European Brass Band Association, looked on with unadulterated pride.

Drained

As the players eventually made their way into the packed bar to start what promised to be a very long night of celebration, an emotionally drained MD told 4BR of his sheer joy at being able to capture the European Trophy on behalf of his country.

"I’m just about speechless," he said hoarsely.

"I really can’t believe it. I told my players before we played that there was perhaps a reason why Switzerland has had to wait 37 years to win the title, so perhaps it was time we ended that.

They gave me everything and produced two brilliant performances. Everyone is happy — not just for Luzern but also for the whole of Swiss banding."

He then added with great generosity of spirit: "I know any band has to have some luck to win a major contest, and perhaps we had some this weekend, but I hope this win can now help inspire others at all levels who have supported us and developed banding in our country."

Historic

That was a sentiment certainly echoed by the highly respected Swiss EBBA representative, Kurt Bohlhalter: "This is a historic achievement for Swiss brass banding,” he said smiling with pride.

"We have grown and developed over the last 40 years and now we have a European champion band to celebrate. This will be of huge benefit and significance to all of Swiss banding."

As Luzern contemplated the long trip home accompanied by the most fantastic of celebratory headaches to go with the prize package of 1,000 Euros and Prestige Euphonium, others will certainly have had clearer minds to ponder the ramifications of what was an engrossing contest.

Consistency

For the first time since 1997, the title was claimed by a band that did not win either section of the twin discipline event.

Consistency was the key, as Luzern’s brace of second place finishes on the set work ‘Muckle Flugga’ and their own choice of ‘REM-scapes’ by Thomas Doss, delivered with power, precision and breathless virtuosity, saw them consign Eikanger Bjorsvik to their second successive runner-up finish.

Under David King, the Norwegians also produced two outstandingly consistent accounts of the set work and their own choice of ‘Goldberg 2012’, to finish just two points behind the new champion.

They will now have to wait until Freiburg in Germany in 2015 to see if they can end their own 25 year wait for a third European victory.

Fluctuating opinions

The fluctuating opinions of the two sets of judges, saw Brass Band Willebroek end the Friday in first place after they produced an evocative rendition of Rory Boyle’s set work, whilst Black Dyke delivered a superb world premiere of Peter Graham’s ‘The Triumph of Time’ to head the own choice section of the contest.

One of the set work judge’s later told 4BR that Willebroek had, ‘made so much sense of the score’, whilst a fellow own choice adjudicator said Black Dyke’s performance — aided by the ‘Best Soloist’ contribution of baritone star Katrina Marzella, was ‘unbelievable’.

Lost ground

However, despite the remarks, the Belgian’s could not hold onto their overnight lead, despite a vibrant account of ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’ which saw them finish fifth, whilst Black Dyke’s performance could not make up the lost ground of only finishing fifth on Friday’s set work.

The final announcement of the results saw Black Dyke finished equal on points with Eikanger, but losing out on second place overall due to the Norwegians higher placed test piece finish, whilst Willebroek secured fourth on their first European appearance since 2008.

No Welsh repeat

There was to be no repeat of the Welsh choral celebrations of Oslo, as the reigning champion Cory found the cruellest of twin draws too much for them to overcome as they eventually ended fifth overall.

A bold rendition of the set work off the number 1 draw could only gain eighth place, whilst the premiere of ‘The Divine Right’, written by their conductor Philip Harper, could only manage fourth on the Saturday.

Consistency was also the key to Brass Band Schoonhoven’s fourth consecutive top six-finish, as their colourful performances (including their own world premiere of ‘Metamorphosis for Brass Band’ by Jan de Haan) saw them come in the prizes once more.

Memorable Paris

In a contest where the level of technique was at times breathtaking, the memorable musicality of Paris Brass Band was rewarded with seventh place — although the disappointment of the overall result was greeted by their players with an admirable Gallic shrug of the shoulders.

They will however be pleased that the remarkable breadth and control of their orchestral inspired ensemble sound certainly won over numerous new fans, with many critics and neutrals placing them ahead after the first day of contest (they eventually ended fourth) and with a strong case to claim the overall title, despite a more hit and miss rendition of ‘From Ancient Times’.

Emerging strength

There was something of a mini contest for the minor placings, with top flight debutants Austrian Brass Band showing the emerging strength of their nation’s banding challenge as they finished eighth, whilst home favourites Whitburn flying the Scottish Saltaire with pride to end ninth.

Concord Brass Band also displayed growing maturity to end tenth, with Welsh champion Tongwynlais Temperance showing remarkable tenacity and pride following a busy and trying period for the band.

Debate

With the Perth Concert Hall bar reverberating to the sound of multi lingual opinions and views being shared long after the official result was announced, there was general agreement that Rory Boyle’s controversial set work had certainly won over its critics, (the composer wore his own smile of mischievous delight both before and after the bands had played on Friday).

There was also a growing debate over the difficulty the own choices judges must now have in making subjective decisions on first performances of blockbuster own choices (three world premieres and one European premiere this year)

However, the lasting impression, with Brass Band Wipptal of Italy also claiming the Challenge Section title, was that the 37th European Championships once again showed that the musical strength of Europe-wide banding continues to grow — led by the triumphant Swiss of Brass Band Bugermusik Luzern.

I told my players before we played that there was perhaps a reason why Switzerland has had to wait 37 years to win the title, so perhaps it was time we ended thatMD, Michael Bach

Championship Section:

Adjudicators:

Set Work: Hannes Buchegger, Guido Segers, Martin Winter
Own Choice: Preben Norgaard Christensen, Jean-Claude Kolly, Stephen Roberts

Test piece: Muckle Flugga (Rory Boyle)
(Draw): Set Work/Own Choice = Total

1. Brass Band Burgermusik Luzern: (Michael Bach): (4/11): 96/97 = 193
REM-scapes (Thomas Doss)

2. Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag: (Prof David King): (5/9): 95/96 = 191
Goldberg 2012 (Sven Henrik Giske)

3. Black Dyke: (Dr Nicholas Childs): (10/2) 93/98 = 191
The Triumph of Time (Prof Peter Graham)

4. Brass Band Willebroek: (Frans Violet): (8/4): 97/93 = 190
On the Shoulders of Giants (Prof Peter Graham)

5. Cory, Philip Harper (1/1) 90/95=185
The Divine Right (Philip Harper)

6.Brass Band Schoonhoven, Erik Janssen (7/7) 92/92=184
Metamorphosis for Brass Band (Jacob de Haan)

7. Paris Brass Band: (Florent Didier): (9/3): 94/89 = 183
From Ancient times (Jan Van der Roost)

8. Austrian Brass Band of the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz: (Prof Uwe Koller): (2/10): 88/90 = 178
Music of the Spheres (Philip Sparke)

9. Whitburn: (Ian Porthouse): (6/5): 91/86 = 177
Canite Tuba (James MacMillan)

10. Concord Brass Band: (Dennis Anderson): (11/8) 86/91 = 177
Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Prof Peter Graham)

11. Tongwynlais Temperance: (Jeremy Wise): (3/6): 87/87 = 174
On Alderley Edge (Prof Peter Graham)

Best Soloist: Katrina Marzella (baritone): Black Dyke

Challenge Section:

Adjudicators:
Hannes Buchegger, Guido Segers, Martin Winter

Test Piece: Pilgrims (Josiah Walters) and Own Choice Programme

1. Brass Band Wipptal: (Martin Gruber): (2): = 94
2. 1st Old Boys Association Silver Band: (Stephen Cairns):(4) = 93
3. Tullis Russell Mills: (Paul Drury):(3): = 89
4. Drogheda Brass Band: (Michael Maher): (3) = 88

Best Instrumentalist: Markus Luhn (euphonium): Brass Band Wipptal