The brass band world rejoices...

That's it from Utrecht — and what a great time we have had, despite the hotel bars and at the hall closing at midnight!

No real chance for the new National Champion in each of the sections to 'rejoice' as they deserved, but we are sure they will make up for it today.

Edward Gregson made everyone rejoice in returning to contesting with his piece

Congratulations to all the winners — and to the new Champion Band of The Netherlands — Soli Brass.

It is only the second time they have claimed the title since the Millennium, but it was so well merited, even though they do not get to go to the European Championships. It was decided that the 2019 Champion Schoonhoven would go to Birmingham and the contest would revert back to its original qualification format for 2023 — so the 2022 champion goes.

Congratulations also to the organisers who once again put on a splendid event — shoehorned into one day, but packed with wonderful performances on five brand new works — including Edward Gregson's, 'The World Rejoice'. The others are well worth checking out.

Now for the long journey home...

Results:

Championship Section:

2021 Champion: Soli Brass

Ready to Rejoice: Winning MD, Anne van den Berg

Runner-up: Brassband De Waldsang

Best Soloist: Tenor horn from Brassband De Waldsang

Championship Section:

Set Work: 'The World Rejoicing' (Variations on a Lutheran Chorale) — Edward Gregson
Adjudicators: Jan de Haan; David Thornton; Bertrand Moren

1. Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg) — 97
2. Brassband De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde) — 95
3. Brass Band Limburg (Renato Meli) — 94
4. Altena Brass (Ward de Ketelaere) — 93
5. Amsterdam Brass (Paul van Gils) — 92
6. Brassband de Spijkerpakkenband (Ido-Gerard Kempenaar) — 90
7. De Bazuin Oenkerk (Jaap Musschenga) — 89
8. Brass Band Schoonhoven A (Benny Wiame) — 88
9. Provinciale Brassband Groningen (Richard Visser) — 86
10. Brassband Rijnmond (Chris Derikx) — 85

Best Soloist: Tenor horn of Brassband De Waldsang

First Division:

2021 First Division Champion: Chr. Brassband Excelsior

Runner-up: Brassband Amersfoort

Best Soloist: Percussion of Brassband Pro Rege

First Division:

Set Work: From San Marco Quarter (Joop van Dijk)
Adjudicators: Jan de Haan; David Thornton; Bertrand Moren

1. Chr. Brassband Excelsior (Rieks van der Velde) — 95
2. Brassband Amersfoort (Vincent Verhage) — 94
3. Brassband Pro Rege (Anne van den Berg) — 92
4. Kunst naar Kracht (Pieter Koster) — 90
5. Brassband Breukelen (Erik van de Kolk) — 87
3. Brassband Oefening en Uitspanning (Anno Appelo) — 86

Best Soloist: Percussion (Brassband Pro Rege)

Second Division:

2021 Second Division Champion: Brassband De Lofklank

Runner-up: Brassband Excelsior Ferwert

Best Soloist: Euphoniums of Brassband De Lofklank

Second Division:

Set Work: Signature: Fantasy in Two Movements (Hendrik de Boer)
Adjudicator: Patrik Randefalk; Kevin Houben; Frans-Aert Burghgraef

1. Brassband De Lofklank (Gerk Huisma) — 96
2. Brassband Excelsior Ferwert (Gijs Heusinkveld) — 95
3. Brassband Constantijn Huygens (Richard Visser) — 94
4. Brassband Gloria Dei (Piet van der Heide) — 93
5. Gereformeerde Brassband Groningen (Jan Werkman) — 92
6. Martini brassband (Rieks van der Velde) — 91
7. Looft den Heer (Gijs Heusinkveld) — 90
8. Brassband David (Wilbert Zwier) — 89
9. Brassband Schoonhoven B (Zoran Rosendahl) — 88

Best Soloist: Euphoniums (Brassband De Lofklank)

Third Division:

2021 Third Division Champion: Brassband Immanuel

Runner-up: Greidebrass

Best Soloist: Flugel horn of Greidebrass

Third Division:

Set Work: The Final Frontier (Geert Jan Kroon)
Adjudicator: Patrik Randefalk; Kevin Houben; Frans-Aert Burghgraef

1. Brassband Immanuel (Jan Werkman) — 93
2. Greidebrass (Marco Middelberg) — 91
3. Backum Brass Castricum (Harmen Cnossen) — 90
4. Brassband Kunst en Vriendschap (Henk van Loon) — 89

Best Soloist: Flugel horn (Greidebrass)

Fourth Division:

2021 Fourth Division Champion: Chr. Muziekvereniging Blaast de Bazuin

Runner-up: Christelijke Brassband Advendo Burum

Fourth Division:

Set Work: Green (Tjeerd Nijhof)
Adjudicator: Patrik Randefalk; Kevin Houben; Frans-Aert Burghgraef

1. Chr. Muziekvereniging Blaast de Bazuin (Piet Visser) — 91
2. Christelijke Brassband Advendo Burum (Stefan de Groot) — 90

Round up and prediction

Well it was well worth the wait. What a great piece Edward Gregson has given us — full of rich musicality, touches of nostalgia as well as exciting new directions. The structure of the piece is familiar but still fresh, and the way he intertwines the musical elements large and small, opaque and transparent is the mark of a mastercraftsman.

The bands certainly enjoyed it, and it was good to hear conductors trying to emphasis the musical content rather than mere effect to make their mark.

The best for us today came from Soli Brass with Groningen and Schoonhoven just behind. After that its anyone's game.

4BR Prediction:

1. Soli Brass
2. Groningen
3. Schoonhoven

Championship Section:

10. Brass Band Limburg (Renato Meli)

A full blooded account and a different approach that had its moments, excellent, good and indifferent from start to finish.

The hymnal 'Prelude' was an oasis of calm before a dynamic squall hit the sails in the crisp 'Capriccio' and power laden 'La Danza'. It robbed the music of its refined character, but it was certainly exciting and even the 'Processional' was like a cortege for a heavy metal biker. The approach worked wonderfully for the second 'La Danza' though — dark, malicious and edgy to set things up for the contrasts of the 'Arias & Duets'.

There were some top class individual contributions on show here, even if the dynamic level could have been more considered. It left nowhere really to go with the climax, which was a pity as the build to it grew in rich intensity. The close had a cold ethereal beauty that stopped the blood in the veins.

The 'Fuga Burlesca' just lost its focus in places, but again the excitement generated was thrill a minute stuff as it came to the thunderous 'Chorale' and bold as brass 'Postlude' to close.

Championship Section:

9. Altena Brass (Ward de Ketelaere)

An artisan account full of good musical sense and solidly delivered intent — from the opening hymnal 'Prelude' played so well by the trombone and then the ensemble, all the way though to the final heavyweight 'Postlude' chord.

That super opening promised much, and although what followed didn't quite hit the same heights it always kept the listener engaged.

The fleet-footed 'Capriccio' was followed by a tetchy 'La Danza' with its moments of unease, but the 'Processional' was sombre and dignified. The second 'La Danza' had a dark clarity.

'Arias & Duets' didn't sound cohesive though — the elements not quite complimenting each other, although individually there was some fine playing on show. The MD kept the music flowing and the dramatic climax was brimful of passion. The close sounded a tad unsettled though before the last chime of the bells.

A pacy 'Fuga Burlesca' was exciting if overwrought and the dynamics went into overload mode on occasions, but it held its form with a huge sounding 'Chorale' lead to a 'Postlude' that could be heard in Rotterdam.

Championship Section:

8. Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg)

Not for the first time today we have sat back and thoroughly enjoyed a performance inspired by the musical insight of Anne van den Berg — and he certainly found something others missed inside this Gregson score.

The intellectual sensibility in the approach was marked — helped by a gorgeous trombone to open — an angelic voice for a 'Prelude'. The following 'Capriccio' had that essential capricious element too — despite the odd little clip and blip, and the first 'La Danza' was playful in a slightly darkened way through to the noble 'Processional' which moved with stately intent.

The second 'La Danza' had a more malicious sharpness to it — just blunted by the odd nick but which still led so well into the 'Arias & Duets' that was delivered with artistry and musicality from all concerned. Not note perfect but the musical shaping was and it made for engrossing listening — and bravo for the MD's insistence on dynamic restraint.

The music built from afar 'un lontano ricordo' to a super climax and a close that echoed with melancholy to the last chime of the bells.

The 'Fuga Burlesca' caught the groove from the word go, allowing for a noble drama to build to the hymnal 'Chorale' and a 'Postlude' that set the seal on a very fine reading and performance. Will take some beating that.

Championship Section:

7. Amsterdam Brass (Paul van Gils)

A performance that held rich promise but never quite lived up to the early expectations.

At last we got a sonorous, simple hymnal 'Prelude' — shaped and delivered to perfection, although the following 'Capriccio' didn't quite hit the same heights — a tad messy in places although full of energy and detail. The first 'La Danza' skipped along and the 'Processional' felt at ease — like a slow moving cortege. There was also fizzy intent to the second 'La Danza' played at just the right tempo to enhance the clarity.

'Arias & Duets' never came off though — sounding strained in some of the solo lines despite the MD's fine efforts to keep the music flowing. A well developed climax came from afar 'un lontano ricordo' — growing in passion and intensity before things settled comfortably before the last chime of the bells.

A deliberately paced 'Fuga Burlesca' just cried out for a little more devilment, but the warm hymnal 'Chorale' had a nobility that turned nicely into a triumphant 'Postlude' and tub-thumper last couple of bars.

Championship Section:

6. Brassband Rijnmond (Chris Derikx)

An uneven account that never quite recovered from a nervous opening — and it was a pity as there was a flowing musicality about the approach from the MD that brought nuance and detail through when it finally hit its stride.

The opening 'Prelude' took time settle, although the 'Capriccio' had character and the 'La Danza' had a joyful swagger that didn't hang about in leading into the slow tread of a mournful 'Processional' which worked well. The second 'La Danza' found a neat notch of comfort and drive but the 'Arias & Duets' that followed never quite sounded at ease in the solo lines or ensemble.

The build to the climax came in well defined stages and the repose was tender in dying away to the final chime of the bells. The best playing came with a cracking 'Fuga Burlesca' that really throbbed with fission and drive in forcing its way through before the warm colours of the 'Chorale' gave way to a dayglo 'Postlude' — exciting but just a bit raw.

Championship Section:

5. Provinciale Brassband Groningen (Richard Visser)

A powerful, persuasive performance this; played with well considered confidence — although it was dynamically on the safe side at times.

The quality of the ensemble playing was shown throughout, whilst the soloists all played their part too — from the liquid opening 'Prelude' which led into a muscular 'Capriccio' and punchy 'La Danza' that bounced off the pads. The MD didn't take many interpretive risks but the writing presented so many gift wrapped opportunities nonetheless.

The 'Processional' moved along business-like rather than maudlin in self-pity and the second 'La Danza' had a dark edge that cut through the fatty acoustic. It wasn't always at ease in the 'Arias & Duets' though — the artistry intermingled with some noticeable unforced moments of unease and intonation waywardness. The climax was a dazzler and the repose with the church bell ending had a cold finality of the grave about it.

A well worked 'Fuga Burlesca' bubbled with intent and sharp edged precision that cut through — especially in the lower end, before a warm 'Chorale' and final 'Postlude' that had the church bells ringing out like VE Day in triumph to round off a red blooded account.

Championship Section:

4. Brassband De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde)

What a persuasive take on the score by the MD here — just letting the score unfold naturally without forcing the issue in any way.

The warm sonority of the 'Prelude' was followed by a fizzy 'Capriccio' and a darkly edged 'La Danza' — full of pulsating, edgy excitement. Contrast came with a 'Processional' that had a religious feel to its foot tread — seriously catholic in taste — and the second 'La Danza' had a malicious intent last heard in the Spanish Inquisition. Worked well that in pulling the toenails in excitement.

We heard the cantabile tonality in 'Arias & Duets' with artistry in the lead lines despite the odd blip or two. The musicality was so well defined. The climax was rich and the repose tender despite the glitch.

The devilish 'Fuga Burlesca' woke the dead — really rollicking along and 'Chorale' also had that feel of triumphalism all the way to the eye popping close.