Double Norwegian National champion Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag is the latest European contender to showcase their final preparations ahead of the championships in Oslo in less than a week’s time.

Open concert

The band will be presenting an open concert featuring both the 2013 set work, ‘Myth Forest’ by Stig Nordhagen and their own choice selection, plus a number of other items on Monday 29th April at the Grieghallen in Bergen.

Conducted by Professor David King, the band will give the Norwegian premiere of ‘Myth Forest’ (Hestefalltjønn) in a concert that will also feature the emerging talents of Eikanger-Bjørsvik Juniors and Bjørsvik Brass.

Both bands are part of the exciting brass community linked to Eikanger-Bjørsvik's rehearsal facilities in Knarvik north of Bergen. This venue also hosts Oster Brass, Knarvik School Band and at present, Kleppe Musikklag.

Project

Eikanger-Bjørsvik Juniors is a project band consisting of 40 youngsters from school bands in the region north of Bergen and will be performing with their senior counterparts for the third time since their formation, whilst Bjørsvik Brass consists of many former Eikanger-Bjørsvik players – some of whom were in the band when they won the European title back in 1988 & 1989.

Grant boost

The band has also been boosted by the news that they are to receive a grant of 125,000 Kroner from the Norwegian Composer´s Fund to assist them finance a major new work from the pen of composer Svein Henrik Giske.

The latest grant comes in addition to last year’ 60,000 Kroner award from the Norwegian Arts Council for a new piece by European set work composer Stig Nordhagen, which will be premiered in the autumn of 2014.

Goldberg

The concerto for two trombones from the man who wrote the pulsating ‘Goldberg 2012’ will feature the talents of Eikanger’s highly respected Greta Tonheim and her great friend and professional player Marius Hesby.

The band hopes to premiere the new work in June 2015.

The band has also been boosted by the news that they are to receive a grant of 125,000 Kroner from the Norwegian Composer´s Fund to assist them finance a major new work from the pen of composer Svein Henrik Giske4BR

Pre-European Concert programme:

Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Professor David King)
Myth Forest by Stig Nordhagen

Eikanger-Bjørsvik Juniors (Bengt Florvåg)

Blue Rondo ala Turk, Brubeck/arr. Edwards
Underlige aftenlufte, Nielsen/arr. Fredrick Schjelderup
Firestorm, Steven Bulla

Bjørsvik Brass (Bjørn Breistein)

Czardas, Strauss /arr. H.Snell
Impromptu for tuba, Darrol Barry
Soloist: Ståle Sleire Johansen
Variations on an Enigma, Philip Sparke

Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Professor David King)

Own choice piece for the EBBC