Switzerland will send a brace of powerhouse performers to the 2015 European Championship in Freiburg, following victory for Treize Etoiles in Montreux.

A historic thirteenth National title success will see the band from the Valais region join defending European Champion, Brass Band Burgermusik Luzern in providing the Swiss with a formidable dual edged challenge in Germany next May.

Outstanding performances

In a two legged competition enhanced by a number of outstanding performances, Treize Etoiles’ imposing consistency under James Gourlay secured second place on the set work and with their own choice selection of ‘Apocalypse’, to claim the trophy, Euro qualification and a prize package worth over £8,600.

The win also sealed a 2014 ‘Double’ following victory at the Swiss Open, as well as securing them the same number of National titles as the stars that represent the villages in their banding canton, and which gives rise to their famous name.

Historic success

No wonder founding father Geo Pierre Moren and their smiling band representative couldn’t contain their delight as they raised the trophy to the appreciative audience:

“We are all very happy,” they told 4BR. “James Gourlay is a wonderful conductor who has brought us this historic success.

We are now looking forward to playing in Freiburg with Luzern where we hope to win the European title.”

With their potent set work rendition followed by a ferocious interpretation of Derek Bourgeois’s vision of the end of the world, Treize Etoiles’ supreme confidence (showcased by the ‘Best Soloist’ playing of flugel player Claude Romailler) left no one in any doubt of their committed intention of reclaiming the title for the first time since 2010.

Valaisia denied

Victory also meant that it denied a first win since 2009 for Brass Band Valaisia, who led after the first day with a superb rendition of the Oliver Waespi’s magnificent set work, ‘As If A Voice Were In Them’, as well as a second successive win for the defending champion Luzern, who delivered a scorching performance of ‘Trance’ by Thomas Doss to top the own choice discipline.

The all British adjudication panels of Simon Dobson, Steve Sykes and Chris Wormald (set work), Garry Cutt, Peter Graham and Stephen Roberts (own choice), were faced with hugely contrasting high quality approaches from the competitors over the twin disciplines.

Sheer class

They later told 4BR that performances of ‘sheer class’ clearly topped their respective sections, although with such high standard playing on show they also admitted that a great deal of thought and discussion had to be given to the rest of the placings, with only minor slips and errors defining their ultimate decisions.

Under Arsene Duc, Valaisia’s engrossing evocation of William Wordworth’s geologically inspired Alpine poem, was certainly of the highest quality — aided by the superb ‘Best Principal Cornet’ Vincent Bearpark, although they could only manage fifth on their own-choice of ‘Audivi Media Nocte’.

Meanwhile, Luzern ended sixth on the set work but sent the packed Stravinsky auditorium in rapture with their rendition of the latest Thomas Doss blockbuster — inspired by the thoughts of a young woman towards the uncertain fate that could befall her and her unborn child.

Musical adventure

It meant that a delighted Brass Band Berner Oberland eventually clinched the final podium spot thanks to twin third placed performances that caught the judge’s ears in the box (especially with their rendition of ‘Perihelion — Closer to the Sun’).

With the bands showing a remarkable sense of musical adventure, the remaining top six placings went to a delighted Ensemble de Cuivres Melodia, whilst sixth placed Fribourg provided the talking point of the whole weekend with their engrossing performance of ‘*****’ — Concerto No 10 for Brass Band and Ondes Martenot by Ludovic Neurohr.

However, the main point of discussion long into the night from neutral observers in various Montreux bars was the sense of confidence and musical adventure that both Treize Etoiles and Luzern will take with them to Freiburg in less than six months time.

First Section:

With five new compositions commissioned to celebrate the 40th Championship event, Stephan Hodel’s ‘The Legend of Curupira’ provided an exotic, highly inventive test in the First Section.

It was Regional Brass Band Bern who claimed their third National title since 2003 under MD Vincent Baroni, with a colorful performance that certainly captured the sense of mystery, magic and mischief in the wonderful musical tale of the red headed, pig riding eco warrior dwarf.

Ocarina

With a number of excellent performances (and fine playing of the ocarina) the judges, Stephen Roberts, Steve Pritchard Jones and Alan Withington had a difficult task separating out the 18 bands in what was a long, but immensely enjoyable contest.

Ultimately though it was Bern who just pipped Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia (who played straight after them under Michael Bach), as they sought a sixth title winning success, with a delighted Brass Band Eglisau taking the ‘Best Percussion’ prize in coming third.

The remaining top six places went to Liberty Brass Band Ostschweiz, Brass Band Kirchenmusik Fluhli and Brass Band Rickenbach, whist defending champion Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS could only end eleventh.

Second Section:

Bertrand Moren’s filmatic take on the life of Pharaoh Ramses II also provided an enjoyable contesting test in the Second Section with RosAlp Brass Band under David Bonvin reigning supreme over their rivals to claim their first ever National title.

They were helped to their success by a cornet player who has certainly ensured a line of accession of his own, as Angelo Bearpark claimed the ‘Best Cornet’ prize to replicate his son’s achievement the following day with Valaisia.

Once again it was a difficult task to separate out the well matched contenders for the adjudication team of David Childs, Garry Cutt and Peter Graham, with 2005 champion Brass Band Cazis eventually coming runner-up, with defending champion Liberty Brass Band Junior, looking for their third title in four years, in third.

Third Section:

There was more colourful music to enjoy in the Third Section, as 10 bands provided a tasty musical aperitif to the Excellence Division climax later in the day on Pierre Schmidhausler’s ‘Cha Das Caldeiras’.

Its enticing mix of tone poem drama, Gregorian chant and Swiss ‘Highland Cathedral’ finale certainly inspired the bands and their MDs, with Jugend Brass Band Michelsamt under Lukas Scherrer eventually coming out on top.

It was the band’s sixth national title success, but their first since 2010, as they pipped a delighted Emotion Brass into second place. Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien B was third, with their euphonium and baritones taking the ‘Best Section’ award.

Fourth Section:

Although there were only a quartet of bands competing in the Fourth Section this year, they certainly provided wonderful entertainment thanks to Mario Burki’s inventive set work, ‘Flow!’

With its opening tributary themes growing in depth and pulse, it asked taxing but not over demanding questions of the players, with a fine performance from Jugend Brass Band Neuenkirch under Christoph Bangeter taking the title for the second time since 2012.

Defending champion Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band had to be content with second place as they looked to continue their domination of the contest by claiming a fifth win since it was established in 2003, with Hinterlander Jugend Brass Band in third, just a point ahead of MV Birmenstorf.

Excellent 40th anniversary

With Swiss banding reaching a landmark anniversary this year, the organising committee of the Association of Swiss Brass Bands led by President Arian Brun will have left Montreux delighted by the sense of optimism and confidence that permeates the banding movement as it enters youthful middle age.

A highly professional contest event, expertly run, with ambitious, inventive musical challenges was rewarded by competitors delivering performances full of ambition, invention and expert playing in return.

With their potent set work rendition followed by a ferocious interpretation of Derek Bourgeois’s vision of the end of the world, Treize Etoiles’ supreme confidence left no one in any doubt of their committed intention of reclaiming the title4BR

Results:

Championship Section:
Test Piece: As If A Voice Were In Them (Oliver Waespi)
Adjudicators:
Set Work: Simon Dobson, Steve Sykes, Chris Wormlad
Own Choice: Garry Cutt, Peter Graham, Stephen Roberts

Set Work placing + Own Choice placing = Total

1. Brass Band Treize Etoiles (James Gourlay): 2 + 2 = 4
2. Valaisia Brass Band (Arsene Duc): 1 + 5 = 6
3. Brass Band Berner Oberland (Corsin Tuor): 3 + 3 = 6
4. Brass Band Burgermusik Luzern (Michael Bach): 6 + 1 = 7
5. Ensemble de Cuivres Melodia (Stephane Duboux): 4 + 6 = 10
6. Brass Band Fribourg (Frederic Theodoloz): 7 + 4 = 11
7. Ensemble de Cuivres Valaisan (Francois Roh): 5 + 7 = 12
8. Constellation Brass Band (Ivan Lagger): 8 + 8 = 16
9. Oberaargauer Brass Band (Russell Gray): 10 + 9 = 19
10. Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien (Blaise Heritier): 9 + 11 = 20
11. MG Risch-Rotkreuz (Rino Chiappori): 11 + 10 = 21

Best Principal Cornet (Set Work): Vincent Bearpark (Valaisia Brass Band)
Best Soloist (Own Choice): Flugel horn (Brass Band Treize Etoiles)

First Section:
Test Piece: The Legend of Curupira (Stephan Hodel)
Adjudicators: Stephen Roberts, Steve Pritchard Jones, Alan Withington

1. Regional Brass Band Bern (Vincent Baroni) — 98
2. Ensemble de Cuivres Euphonia (Michael Bach) — 97
3. Brass Band Eglisau (Andreas Buri) — 96
4. Liberty Brass Band Ostschweiz (Andreas Koller) — 95
5. Brass Band Kirchenmusik Fluhli (Armin Renggli) — 94
6. Brass Band Rickenbach (Corsin Tuor) — 93
7. Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg A (Raffael Camartin) — 92
8. Brass Band Breitenbach (Enrico Calzaferri) — 91
9. AEW Brass Band Fricktal (Roland Froscher) — 90
10. Brass Band Harmonie Neuenkirch (Christoph Bangerter) — 89
11. Ensemble de Cuivres AMBITUS (Francois Roh) — 88
12 = Brass Band Emmental (Heinz Heiniger) — 87
12 = Brass Band Schotz (Peter Stadelmann) — 87
14. Universal Brass Band (Gian Stecher) — 86
15. Brass Band Treize Etoiles B (Geo Pierre Moren) — 85
16. Brass Band Sursilvana (Riman Caprez) — 84
17 = Oberwalliser Brass Band A (David Lochmatter) — 83
17 = Feldmusik Knutwill (Gian Stecher) — 83

Best Percussion: Brass Band Eglisau

Second Section:
Test Piece: The Son of Light (Bertrand Moren)
Adjudicators: Garry Cutt, Peter Graham, David Childs

1. RosAlp Brass Band (David Bonvin) — 95
2. Brass Band Cazis (Enrico Calzaferri) — 94
3. Liberty Brass Band Junior (Christoph Luchsinger) — 93
4. Brass Band Berner Oberland Junior (Jan Muller) — 92
5. Brass Band 43 (Jacques Rossier) — 91
6. Brass Band Harmonie Rickenbach (Lukas Scherrer) — 90
7. Brass Band Abinchova (Gian Walker) — 89
8 = Brass Band Fribourg B (Eloise Fellay) — 88
8 = Brass Band Feldmusik Escholzmatt (Roger Muller) — 88
10. Brass Band Junior Valaisan (Maurice Donnet- Monay) — 87
11. Ensemble de Cuivres Melodia Junior (Vincent Maurer) — 86
12. Brass Band Posaunenchor Flaach (Thomas Fischer) — 85
13. Musikverein Brass Band Henggart (Christian Bachmann) — 84
14. Ste. de Musique Brass Band L'avenir Lignieres (Cyril Perrenoud) — 83

Best Principal Cornet: Angelo Bearpark (RosAlp Brass Band)

Third Section:
Test Piece: Cha Das Caldeiras (Pierre Schmidhausler)
Adjudicators: David Childs, Simon Dobson, Steve Sykes

1. Jugend Brass Band Michelsant (Lukas Scherrer) — 94
2. Emotion Brass (Peter Stadelmann) — 92
3. Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien (Florian Lab) — 91
4. Brass Band Zurich (Werner Kubli) — 90
5. Musik Frohsinn Oberburg (Jan Muller) — 89
6. Brass Band Imperial Lenzburg B (Benjamin Groth) — 88
7. Brass Band Gurbetal (Urs Stahl) — 87
8. Oberwalliser Brass Band Junior (David Lochmatter) — 86
9. Brass Band Frutigen (Adrian Germann) — 85
10. MV Buckten (Roland Schaub) — 84

Best Euphonium: Ensemble de Cuivres Jurassien B

Fourth Section:
Test Piece: Flow! (Mario Burki)
Adjudicators: David Childs, Simon Dobson, Steve Sykes

1. Jugend Brass Band Neuenkirch (Christoph Bangerter) — 90
2. Entlebucher Jugend Brass Band (Mario Schubiger) — 88
3. Hinterlander Jugend Brass Band (Luca Frischkneckt) — 87
4. MV Birmenstorf (Patrick Fischer) — 86

Best Flugel Horn: Jugend Brass Band Neuenkirch