2018 ‘European’ Set Test-pieces  

The European Brass Band Association is pleased to announce the two set pieces commissioned by event organisers for the 41st European Brass Band Championships to be held in Tivoli Vrendenburg, Utrecht, 4 and 5 May.  

Following the withdrawal of Harrie Janssen from the commission for the Championship set test, EBBA and Zimihc are delighted that eminent Luxembourg composer Marco Pütz (b. 1958) agreed to make available a much-admired work originally composed for the Luxembourg Military Band three years ago. Entitled 'Time for Outrage!', the composer describes it as "an expression of my personal aversion against all the current crises and injustice of any kind in the world. I am aware that I cannot alleviate or even eradicate these crises with my music, but as a free citizen I believe I have the right to express my indignation through music".  

'Time for Outrage!' is in three movements, beginning slowly with Breaking Silence, and gathering pace in Troubled and drama in Rock the Culprits! In 2017, Marco Pütz arranged the work for Fanfare Band and this version was premiered by the Gelders Fanfare Orkest at the World Music Contest in Kerkrade. EBBA and the composer are grateful to English composer and editor Paul McGhee for preparing the brass band edition for the Championship.  
Marco Pütz is a highly-regarded prize-winning composer for wind instruments and symphonic wind band. He has also composed a children’s musical, chamber music and works for symphony orchestra. In October last year he received the BUMA International Brass Award (The Netherlands) in acknowledgement of his contribution to the band repertoire.  

The composer of the Challenge Section set test is Hendrik de Boer (b. 1985). An experienced brass band musician, he was principal euphonium of Soli Brass for ten years, and since 2015 has fulfilled the solo baritone role for Brassband De Wâldsang. He also plays euphonium in the Fanfare Orchestra of the National Reserve and is a busy conductor and teacher of wind and brass. In recent years Hendrik de Boer has also been involved in making a number of high-profile arrangements for brass band and is now also increasingly active as a composer.  

He has entitled his test-piece 'Mystic Echoes' as the music is derived from a so-called ‘Mystic’ or ‘Prometheus’ chord, created by the Russian composer Alexander Scriabin (1871 - 1915) and upon which much of his later music is founded. Hendrik de Boer flavours Mystic Echoes with the harmonic characteristics of the six-note chord - perfect fourths and their more ambiguous augmented and diminished ‘relatives’.  

Hendrik de Boer has dedicated his three-movement work to "my good friend Chris van der Veen. The both of us were the euphonium section of Soli Brass, Leeuwarden, at the 2006 European Championships in Belfast. This was the first European Championships in which I took part as a player."  

For more news, features, articles and reviews, subscribe to BBW Digital. Alternatively, subscribe to the printed magazine delivered by post: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (Rest of the World)