The Lyngby-Taarbæk Band has won the 2014 Danish National Brass Band Championship title to secure its place at the 2015 European Championships in Freiburg.

 

Directed by David Childs, they produced two outstanding performances of the set work, 'Arabian Nights - Fantasy on Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade for Brass Band’ by Stephen Roberts, plus their own choice selection of ‘Symphony in Two Movements’ by Edward Gregson, to claim the title for the third time in the last four years and twelfth time overall.

The band was placed first in each category by all the adjudicators at the Symphonic Concert Hall in Musikhuset Aarhus, as they comfortably held off the strong challenge of reigning champion Concord Brass Band conducted by Russell Gray, with Silkeborg Blæserne directed by Gert Skovlod Hattesen in third.

The victory was built on a commanding performance of the 2013 British Open set work, followed by an equally impressive rendition of the Gregson opus, whilst Concord opted for Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s ‘Blue Empires’ as they came a clear second with Silkeborg Blæserne performing ‘Concerto Grosso’ by Derek Bourgeois. 

Lyngby’s performance of ‘Arabian Nights’ was described by the composer, who was one of five judges, as having, ‘…so much passion and energy…the MD did such a fine job. Fantastic!’, whilst Anne Crookston called it, a ‘great reading… you find the music so well.’

Gregson’s ‘Symphony in Tow Movements’ also elicited impressive responses in the box with David Ridell calling it a ‘great performance of a taxing piece’ and Preben Noergaard Christensen adding, ‘Super direction - I’m proud to have heard this distinguished performance.’

The result also saw David Childs continue his remarkable 100% conducting record - with his third contesting appearance in just over a decade, resulting in a third win.

No wonder then that he was a happy man when talking to 4BR on his return to the UK.

“I’m really pleased for such a young band. They took to the stage with five new principal players all aged 21 or under and delivered everything I could have asked of them.

Their commitment has been superb - putting in so much hard work with my father the weekend before the contest to make my job so much easier when I arrived!”

He added: “The band performed so well on two demanding works and up against excellent performances from their rivals. 

It’s been a real pleasure working with them - and hopefully we can do something together again in the future. It was also great to be able to share the victory with my family who made a special trip out to Denmark to support me. “ 

 

Result:

Elite Section:
Test piece: Arabian Nights - Fantasy on Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade for Brass Band (Stephen Roberts)

Adjudicators: Stephen Roberts, Anne Crookston , David Riddell, Frode Rydland, Preben Nørgaard Christensen 

1. Lyngby-Taarbæk Brass Band (David Childs): 94/96:94/96:94/94 = 94.7
2. Concord Brass Band (Russell Gray): 92/91:92/93:92/92 = 92.0
3. Silkeborg Blæserne (Gert Skovlod Hattesen): 90/92:91/92:90/91 = 91.0


A public rehearsal in Copenhagen prior to the Nationals in Aarhus.

 
A few solos for the audience.