Despite there being no official announcement made through EBBA, the test pieces to be used at the 2010 European Brass Band Championships in Linz in Austria next year have been revealed in this month’s issue of Brass Band World magazine.

Spiriti

Although it was stated earlier this year that the Austrian composer Thomas Doss would be writing the top section work, no further details were given, although it has now been revealed that the piece will be called 'Spiriti', and takes it’s inspiration from the compositions of Anton Bruckner and JS Bach.

Embarrassment

The announcement will be an embarrassment to EBBA, who it was understood were to have made an official announcement through their own website in January, especially as Erich Schoefl, President of EBBA’s Music Commission is directly quoted in the article, saying, "We chose them because they are both from Upper Austria and Linz is the capital of that region."

The announcement will be an embarrassment to EBBA, who it was understood were to have made an official announcement through their own website4BR

Musical genius

According to details in the article, the Bruckner inspired 'Spiriti' is, 'full of the spirit of that musical genius'.

The work quotes from the chorale in Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony, as well as containing a middle section with a religious character and a finale that has minimalist fragments of a Bach chorale (Fur deinen Thron tret’ ich hiermint).

According to the composer’s own notes, ‘As the church bells ring out, one can almost hear the great masters presiding at the organ.”

Up My Alley

In contrast Albin Zaininger’s ‘Up My Alley’ will provide the test for the bands in the B Section.

The piece is said to contain various parameters expected of a test piece – virtuosity, different tempi, as well as exposed solo parts, although there is no indication as yet just where the inspiration for the rather quirky title comes from.