Brass Band Buizingen has secured its place at the European Brass Band Championships in Oslo in May 2013 by winning the Belgian National title for the second time in four years on the weekend.

Held at the Concertzaal Lemmensinstituut in Leuven, Buizingen’s victory was built on a foundation of an outstanding performance of the set work, Robert Simpson’s ‘Energy’, which was described by the adjudicators, Simon Dobson, Ian Brownbill and Steve Sykes as ‘exceptional’.

When World’s Collide

The band’s first national title since 2009 was captured by adding a further top class performance of Nigel Clarke’s ‘When World’s Collide’.

The composition has the intriguing subtitle of ‘Little Green Men in Intergalactic Spaceships with Rayguns and Phasers’ and is inspired by the atmosphere and sentiment of cult American science fiction movies of the 1950s such as ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’.

The twin performances proved good enough to repel the challenge of 2008 champion Festival Brass conducted by Dirk De Caluwé, who topped the own choice section of the contest with a superb performance of ‘Spiriti’ by Thomas Doss.

Exceptional

Buizingen Band Manager Eddy Vanhaelen told 4BR: "We are still celebrating! It was a very good victory for the band and we were very pleased with our performance of ‘Energy’, which the adjudicators told us was exceptional."

He added: "We were really proud to play Nigel Clarke’s new work, which we all enjoy too. The win gives us great confidence as we can now build on it for the future and especially for the European Championships in Oslo."

No Euro return

The result meant that former European champion Brass Band Willebroek, won’t be returning to the contest once again as they had to be content with third place for the fifth year running under Frans Violet, despite providing a fine rendition of the recent European Championship set work ‘Vita Aeterna Variations’.

Brass Band Heist continued their remarkable progress by claiming their best ever result by ending fourth under Bert Van Thienen, as they showed their growing maturity as a contesting force with an excellent performance of ‘Spiriti’ off the number 1 draw.

Disappointment

However, there was to be bitter disappointment for hat-trick seeking Nord Limburgse under Ivan Meylemans, as last year’s European Championship runner-up failed to impress the adjudication trio with either their set work or own choice selection of ‘Audivi Media Nocte’ to finish fifth in defence of their title.

First Section

In the First Section, there was victory for Brass Band Panta Rhie under conductor Frans-Aert Burghgraef after they claimed the title by the narrowest of margins from rivals Brass Band Bacchus, with Brass Band Ghent in third.

Founded in just 1995, the winners cried tears of joy at the result following their excellent performances of the set work, ‘Frontier' and their own choice selection of ‘Music for the Common Man’.

Tears of joy

Regular MD Paul Voet, who played in the cornet section for the contest told 4BR: "When the result was announced, I admit I and many others cried with joy! This victory is the crowning in gold for me as we have worked so hard and so long to get here.

All our soloists did an amazing job for Frans, who is a wonderful musician and an amazing conductor."

The twin performances saw the band claim victory by 0.50% from Bacchus who played ‘Concerto for Band’ by John Golland with Gent playing, ‘Sounds’.

Second and Third Sections

Braz’Art was the single entrant in the Second Section, where their performance of ‘Variations on Laudate Dominum’ as well as the set work, ‘A Celtic Suite’ saw them take the honours.

Meanwhile, in an entertaining Third Section victory went to Brass Band Scaldis who beat off the challenge of Brass a Musica with Brass Band ‘de Grensbewoners in third.

Led by former Brass Band Willebroek principal cornet Raf Van Looveren it was the first National victory for the band named after the main river flowing through their home city of Antwerp, who produced two excellent performances of the set work, ‘Sinfonietta’ by Joseph Horovitz and their own choice selection of ‘Images’ by John McCabe.

Championship Section:
Adjudicators: Ian Brownbill, Simon Dobson, Steve Sykes
Test piece: Energy (Robert Simpson)
Set Work & Own Choice = Total

1. Brass Band Buizingen (Luc Vertommen): 279/288 = 94.50%
2. Festival Brass Band (Dirk De Caluwé): 267/291 = 93.00%
3. Brass Band Willebroek (Frans Violet): 270/276 = 91.00%
4. Brass Band Heist (Bert Van Thienen): 258/285 = 90.50%
5. Noord Limburgse Brass Band (Ivan Meylemans): 261/279 = 90.00%
6. Brass Band Zele (Bart Van der Strieckt): 252/267 = 86.50%
7. Brass Band Leieland (Wouter Loose): 243/270 = 85.50%
8. Kortrijk Brass Band (Ward De Ketelaere): 249/261 = 85.00%

First Section:
Adjudicators: Ian Brownbill, Simon Dobson, Steve Sykes
Test piece: Frontier (Michael Ball)
Set Work & Own Choice = Total

1. Brass Band Panta Rhei (Frans-Aert Burghgraef): 270/267 = 89.50%
2. Brass Band Bacchus (N/K): 276/258 = 89.00%
3. Brass Band Gent (N/K): 255/246 = 83.50%

Second Section:
Adjudicators: Ian Brownbill, Simon Dobson, Steve Sykes
Test piece: A Celtic Suite (Philip Sparke)
Set Work & Own Choice = Total

1. Braz’Art (N/K): 261/255 = 86.00%

Third Section:
Adjudicators: Ian Brownbill, Simon Dobson, Steve Sykes
Test piece: Sinfonietta (Joseph Horovitz)
Set Work & Own Choice = Total

1. Brass Band Scaldis (Raf Van Looveren): 267/255 = 87.005
2. Brass a Musica (N/K): 261/243 = 84.00%
3. Brass Band ‘de Grensbewoners (N/K): 249/249 = 83.00%
4. Brass Band Euterpe (N/K): 255/240 = 82.50%
5. Brass Band de Thudinie (N/K): 246/237 = 80.50%