Manger Musikklag retained the Oslo Brass Festival title with an outstanding programme of music held at the Kulturkirken Jakob Church.

Led by conductor Joseph Cook the Siddis Entertainment Contest champion gained a commanding victory over rivals Kleppe Musikklag with Sandefjord Brass Symposium in third.

Howells

Manger's programme also contained a brand new arrangement of a work by the celebrated English composer Herbert Howells.

'Paean' formed the finale to their English flavoured set, which also included music by Elgar Howarth and Martin Winter, and was made by principal cornet Nick Walkley, with the judges Ray Farr and Adam Cooke (joined by Morten Fagerjord) stating that the arrangement has "worked really well", was full of "fine colours and textures"and that, "...any more Howells in the repertoire is a good thing!".

Paean

'Paean' is a transcription a virtuoso organ piece written by the Lydney born composer in 1953 and published after his death in 1982.

At around 5 minutes in duration, its trickling flowing lines are reminiscent of the River Severn, whilst its majestic chordal statements capture the nobility and grandeur of Gloucester's great cathedral where Howells was once a student and choirboy.

With my family ancestors coming from the area, Howells' world has always been a part of minearranger, Nick Walkley

Pride

Speaking about the piece, Nick told 4BR: "With my family ancestors coming from the area, Howells' world has always been a part of mine, and I was proud to be able to publish the arrangement to extend the brass band repertoire with a work by this great Gloucestershire composer".

Nick originally arranged it as a 10 piece brass version to be performed by the celebrated ædelfrith brass ensemble in 2013, but started work on the full brass band version in December last year, with the first performance given by Manger Musikklag at their annual Christmas Concert, conducted by Trond Husebø.

The final published version of 'Paean' is published by NW notes, and available to purchase and download as PDF from the 4BR shop.

Result:

1. Manger Musikklag (Joseph Cook) — 223
2. Kleppe Musikklag (Trond Helland) — 215
3. Sandefjord Brass Symposium (Trond Husebø) — 179
4. Oslofjord Brass (John Philip Hannevik) — 170
5. Montebello Brass (Preben Nicolai Kragh-Riesling) — 161
6. Uffes BlÃ¥s Brassband (Andreas Kratz) — 144

Soloist Award: Torstein T. Holmås