The NBK organisers of the 2022 Dutch National Championships have announced that 41 bands will compete at the event on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th October at the TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht.
The winner of the Championship Division will represent the nation at the 2024 European Championships in Palanga. The defending champion is Soli Brass.
The action starts on Friday at 2.30pm with the Fourth Division, followed by the Third Division at 7.00pm.
Saturday kicks off at 10.00am with the Second Division, followed by the First Division at 1.30pm and the Championship Division at 6.00pm.
4BR will provide live reporting coverage of the event over both days. The competition is being recorded for broadcast on Sunday 30th October by brasspass.tv
Set-works
The set-works include a new Championship Division commission from the respected Dutch composer Jan de Haan entitled, 'Redbad — The King of the Frisians'.
It was originally planned for 2021, but with Covid-19 postponing the 2020 championships, Edward Gregson's 'World Rejoicing' was used instead.
Redbad
Redbad was the last independent ruler of Frisia from 690 AD to 719 AD, and an important historical figure based in the Utrecht region.
The composer states that the 18-minute work in seven connected sections is written in a "freely accessible idiom" although there are what he calls "high demands" placed upon euphonium, cornet, trombones and Eb tuba.
Jan de Haan was commissioned by the NBK organisers in recognition of his 70th birthday, with a spokesperson stating: "We are very proud to honour Jan de Haan in this way."
James Cook
The First Division bands will be faced by Gilbert Vinter's last major test-piece composition 'James Cook-Circumnavigator'. Originally composed for the 1970 New Zealand National Championships, it was later used at the 1974 British Open and has remained a popular contest work ever since.
Sanctuary!
Daniel Hall's 'Sanctuary!' — inspired by Victor Hugo's novel 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', will provide the test for the Second Division contenders.
Written in 2018, it was the popular set-work in the Premier Division of the European Youth Championships in Montreux the following year. The title refers to the climax of the novel when Quasimodo saves Esmeralda from death only to forlornly proclaim her safety in the church.
Albinus
A new work that will be performed first at the WMC Contest in Kerkrade this year will test the bands in the Third Division.
'Albinus Variations' by Etienne Crausaz was commissioned for the Third Section of the Kerkrade event, and is inspired by the Lutheran hymns, including ' Alle menschen massen sterben', which forms the basic thematic material which comprises five contrasting variations following a solemn opening.
Argos
Stephan Hodel's 'Argos', which proved to be a popular success when it was used as the Fourth Section set-work for the Regional Championships in the UK will be tackled by the Fourth Division bands.
4BR will provide live reporting coverage of the event over both days4BR
Championship Division:
Set-Work: Redbad — The King of the Frisians (Jan de Haan)
Adjudicators: Sheona Wade; Bertrand Moren; Luc Vertommen
Amsterdam Brass (Paul van Gils)
Brass Band Limburg (Renato Meli)
Brass Band Schoonhoven A (Erik Janssen)
Brass Band De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde)
Brass Band Rijnmond (Chris Derikx)
Brass Band de Spijkerpakkenbandband (Ido Gerard Kempenaar)
De Bazuin Oenkerk (Jaap Musschenga)
Provinciale Brassband Groningen (Richard Visser)
Soli Brass (Anne van den Berg)
First Division:
Set-Work: James Cook — Circumnavigator (Gilbert Vinter)
Adjudicators: Sheona Wade; Bertrand Moren; Luc Vertommen
Brass Band Amersfoort (Vincent Verhage)
Brass Band Breukelen (Erik Kluin)
Brass Band Gloria Dei (Gerk Huisma)
Brass Band Pro Rege Heerenveen (Anne van den Berg)
Chr. Brassband Excelsior (Rieks van der Velde)
Kunst naar Kracht (Pieter Koster)
Oefening en Uitspanning (Anno Appelo)
Second Division:
Set-Work: Sanctuary! (Daniel Hall)
Adjudicators: Frans Aert Burghgraef; Ludovic Neurohr; Frans Violet
Brass Band Schoonhoven B (Joop Nijholt)
Brass Band Excelsior Ferwert (Gijs Heusinkveld)
Brass Band Looft den Heer (Gijs Heusinkveld)
De Bazuin Oenkerk B (Jan Aart Ponstein)
De Lofklank (Gerk Huisma)
Gereformeerde Brass Band Groningen (Jan Werkman)
Martini Brass Band (Rieks van der Velde)
Third Division:
Set-Work: Albinus Variations (Etienne Crausaz)
Adjudicators: Frans Aert Burghgraef; Ludovic Neurohr; Frans Violet
Apollo (Piet Visser)
Backum Brass (Harmen Cnossen)
Brass Band Heman (Geert Jan Kroon)
Brass Band Immanuel (Jan Werkman)
Brass Band Kunst en Vriendschap (Henk van Loon)
De Nije Bazun (Jaap Wils)
Greidebrass (Marco Middelberg)
Fourth Division:
Set-Work: Argos (Stephan Hodel)
Adjudicators: Frans Aert Burghgraef; Ludovic Neurohr; Frans Violet
Alkmaar Brass (Alexander Zwaan)
Brass Band Bernlef (Theun van Leijen)
Brass Band Opsterland (Martine Reijenga)
Brass Band UDI Oosternijkerk (Marco Middelberg)
CMV Concordia (Gouke Wielenga)
Chr. Muziekvereniging Blaast de Bazuin (Piet Visser)
Chr. brassband Westersweach (Jan Rondaan)
Felison Brass (Marcel Mooibroek)
Koperensemble De Waldsang (Gerk Huisma)
Soli Deo Gloria (Martijn Oostra)
Soli Deo Gloria Rinsumageast (Reimer Jan Rondaan)
