Cory's progress towards banding immortality reached an almost unstoppable momentum at the Royal Albert Hall, as they successfully defended the National Championship title with a winning performance of Simon Dobson's 'Journey of the Lone Wolf' that brokered little argument.

Victory — their fourth major success in a row under MD Philip Harper was very nearly as emphatic as their British Open triumph in Birmingham. They now stand on the verge of securing a unique place in history if they retain their European crown in Ostend next year and become the first band to win five major championships in a row.

Celebrate

For the present though they can celebrate other outstanding achievements: An eighth National success; a calendar year 'hat-trick' of Euro/Open/National victories and an unassailable margin at the top of the 4BR World Rankings for yet another season and more.

They even became the first band to retain the National title off the same draw (number 9).

Within their grasp

In addition, their wonderful flugel soloist Helen Williams joined an elite group of players to have won both 'Best Instrumentalist' awards at the British Open and National Championships in the same year.

All this and they are not finished yet — with the Brass in Concert Championship to defend in November.

Immortality doesn't just beckon: It is already within their grasp.

Overwhelmed

Little wonder MD Philip Harper was almost speechless with joy as he sat next to his wife on the steps of the Albert Hall stage after the results. Even with such unprecedented success already achieved with his band, this victory had almost overwhelmed him.

"Well, I'm kind of speechless,"he stuttered at first, before adding. "I'm literally lost for words. This band is just incredible."

And when asked to explain what it was like to conduct such a band in full flow he simply added: "It's easy. They do whatever you ask them to do, without question. They just nail on stage every single time. Every time."

He also took the moment to single out the remarkable contribution made by Helen Williams to their victory. "I've conducted Cory for five years now and that is probably the best solo performance I've ever had unfold in front of me in all the years I've been conducting. She is something else. She is amazing."

Judges agreement

That was also the opinion of the judges, Luc Vertommen, Phillip McCann and Allan Withington; with Allan telling the audience before the results that, "One player gave a very, very rare moment of magic"to them in box.

A little later, Phillip McCann also told 4BR that after Cory had played it was a question of 'catch-up' for rivals, as they were faced by the immense task of trying to beat a simply stunning rendition of Simon Dobson's evocative exploration of the musical psyche of the remarkable Hungarian composer Bela Bartok.

"We were looking for a musical journey. All that adventure to start, the nocturnal feeling of the second movement and the excitement and war-like brooding of the final section,"he said.

"The icing on the cake from the winners came as soon as the beginning of the second movement — and especially from the flugel. There was so much space, atmosphere, textures and colours. It was the magic moment of the day."

Chilled the marrow

Few would have disagreed as Philip Harper allowed his players free rein to impose their technical brilliance on a foundation of stylistic nuance and evocative spaciousness — most notably in the 'Night Music' movement that chilled the marrow with its elongated pauses of cold introspection.

His remarks to 4BR also backed up the written comments of all three judges. Phillip described Helen Williams' flugel solo as, '…played like a dream!' whilst closing his overall Cory remarks with; 'Tour de Force — Bravo!'

Meanwhile, Allan Withington added at the start of the middle section; 'What a start at K flugel — and then just fantastic.' He ended by writing; 'Superb conclusion to a fantastic performance. Bravo to all!!!'

Luc Vertommen agreed: 'Some most refined flugel horn playing — very spacious and lovely sound', before closing with; 'What a band — some musically magical moments. Great performance.'

Composer blown away

And as if the official plaudits were not enough, the composer himself was simply blown away with what he had heard. "Cory was awesome,"he said. "I couldn't have asked to hear anything better.

My congratulations go to Philip Harper and the band. It was humbling to hear them play my piece so brilliantly."

Rivals buoyed

After their imposing triumph at the British Open, the question was posed to whether or not any of Cory's rivals could succeed in halting their progress on what appeared to be a 'journey' to an almost inevitable Kensington Gore success.

And although they couldn't on this occasion, a number left London buoyed by performances that certainly closed the gap, although Phillip McCann told 4BR that the judges still felt Cory was a 'clear winner' with second, third and fourth, 'very, very close together'.

Fairey stature

Heading the challenge was Fairey as the last band of an engrossing contest day. Any lingering disappointment they may have felt from a midfield finish at the Open was brushed away with an account of remarkable clarity of musical thought and execution.

Even ardent Cory fans would have felt shiver of apprehension run down their spines as Garry Cutt drew out beautifully balanced colours and textures from the detailed score.

It was a rendition of immense stature, and although a strangely messy last few bars nicked at the polished veneer, it was deservedly rewarded with their highest placed finish since 2011.

The performance also secured Fairey the honour of being the English representative at the 2018 European Championship in Utrecht as they continued to display their own wolf like hunger in seeking a major title for the first time since 2003.

Superb maturity

Also leaving upbeat was Brighouse & Rastrick, who once again delivered a performance rich in character, passion and style under their rejuvenated MD Prof David King.

As at Symphony Hall, just some noticeable minor ensemble errors tarnished the overall musical canvas, although his leading players (and most notably his young soloists) performed with superb maturity.

Like Fairey, they too have upped their contesting game to a new level of red-blooded potency.

Ebbed away

In the judge's opinion, the last band to pose a threat to Cory's dominance was Black Dyke, although the Queensbury band will know that despite a ferociously exciting closing section, their chances of a 24th National victory had by then ebbed away with some ensemble and solo fragilities.

They now brood like a wounded former lupine alpha male on the margins of the leading pack waiting to see if the dominant leader will ever show signs of weakness.

They may need considerable patience.

Contrasting

The final top six places went to contrasting performances from Foden's and Flowers.

Foden's were a completely different outfit to that heard at the Open — inspired by a wonderful interpretation from Branwell Tovery that was perhaps the most complete 'musical journey' the judges were looking for on the day.

Just some early moments of unease and a few too many minor slips cost them the chance of an automatic qualification place, but it was good to hear them back to their true form once again.

Flowers will also be more than pleased that after a year of major upheaval they have retained their place in the major title packing order after giving a bold, bravura account under Paul Holland to finish sixth.

It was also a result that confirmed their domestic alpha status in what promises to be a cracking West of England qualification battle next March, after Woodfalls and Aldbourne also delivered fine accounts that resonated in the box to end eighth and ninth respectively.

Vivid account

Meanwhile, Virtuosi GUS's solid major championship progress was further enhanced as their well-structured rendition saw them end seventh — their highest placed finish since 2010, although Tredegar will have returned home rather more downbeat after their vivid account from the early number 4 draw found many admirers in the hall but fell away in the mind's eye of the judges to end tenth.

Behind them, the midfield finishers and below had little cause for complaint, as stylistic inconsistencies and noticeable minor errors started to pile up in the debit side of the contest ledger book.

That said, the overall standard was still very high, with a number performances of engaging artistic merit helped by MDs who certainly tried to explore the oblique emotional layers of Bartok's enigmatic personality.

Kelly's Eye

Frairy Guildford (posting their best ever Albert Hall return) led home a group of well-matched early draw bands in Reg Vardy (whose representative had the misfortune to pick out Kelly's Eye from the bag as the first person to dip in), Whitburn and Thoresby Colliery.

Co-operative Funeralcare will have been disappointed that they could not maintain their recent good form as they ended sixteenth, whilst Tongwynlais Temperance, Wantage Silver, EYMS and Wingates didn't quite play to their form they had hoped for.

Deference

The pre-results entertainment was a showcase for the band the band that certainly did however.

With the famous National Trophy glistening on stage, Cory performed in front of it like a lone wolf pacing out the boundaries of its musical territory for rivals as well as fans and brass band lovers to pay deference to one more time.

The announcement of the results simply reconfirmed that dominance once again.

Iwan Fox

The icing on the cake from the winners came as soon as the beginning of the second movement — and especially from the flugel. There was so much space, atmosphere, textures and colours. It was the magic moment of the dayPhillip McCann

Results:

Saturday 8th October
Test Piece: 'Journey of the Lone Wolf ' (Simon Dobson)
Adjudicators: Phillip McCann, Luc Vertommen, Allan Withington

1. Cory (Philip Harper)*
2. Fairey (Garry Cutt)**
3. Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof. David King)*
4. Black Dyke (Prof. Nicholas Childs)*
5. Foden's (Bramwell Tovey)
6. Flowers (Paul Holland)
7. Virtuosi GUS (Adam Cooke)
8. Woodfalls (Dr Robert Childs)
9. Aldbourne (David Johnson)
10. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)
11. Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Erik Janssen)
12. Friary Guildford (Chris King)
13. Reg Vardy (Russell Gray)
14. Whitburn (Michael Fowles)
15. Thoresby Colliery (Ian McElligott)
16. Co-operative Funeralcare (Thomas Wyss)
17. Tongwynlais Temperance (David Roberts)
18. Wantage Silver (Craig Patterson)
19. East Yorkshire Motor Services (Stig Maersk)
20. Wingates (Paul Andrews)

Best Instrumentalist: Helen Williams (flugel) — Cory
Youngest Player: Rose Hancock (baritone) — Wantage Silver

* Top 4 pre-qualified for 2017 National Final
** Denotes qualification for 2018 European Brass Band Championships as highest placed English representative