EBBA European Online Brass Band Festival 2021
Over the weekend of Friday 7 to Sunday 9 May, brass band communities from Europe and around the world will be able to enjoy the unique energy and flavour of the annual European Brass Band Championships [EBBC] from their homes. The European Brass Band Association [EBBA] and principal partner World of Brass have joined forces to present a European Online Brass Band Festival free to view via World of Brass streaming service wobplay.
EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg explained, “The global pandemic continues to disrupt normal life. Sadly, we had to cancel EBBC in Palanga last year and in Malmö in May, so we are delighted to be able to produce a packed weekend of online events with our principal partner World of Brass for everyone to enjoy.”
Hosts for the weekend are the inimitable Frank Renton with Helen Varley, respected tenor horn soloist and teacher. Their guest list includes leading conductors, composers and players and they’ll be delving into the World of Brass video archive to bring you the best of arguably the world’s most prestigious brass band contest from the past 18 years.
The playlist already includes inspiring performances from some of Europe’s best youth bands. We’ll also be celebrating the youthful energy and exuberance of the European Youth Brass Band and marvelling at the artistry of some of the finest symphonic and brass soloists and ensembles from the annual Gala Concerts. We’ve some outstanding highlights from the Challenge section to share and there will also be a chance to see how the careers of prize-winners of the European Soloist Championships have developed.
At the heart of every EBBC are the set test piece and own choice contests. Some of the commissioned works have become brass band classics. The own-choice contest is one of the most keenly anticipated and exciting occasions of the brass band year. We need your help to create the playlists for these shows, to re-create something of their unique atmosphere with their combination of high skill and high-octane energy.
EBBA is inviting you to vote for your favourite set test piece (2003-2019) and your favourite own choice performance (2003-2019) from a list of six pieces nominated by two panels of EBBC ‘alumni’ - players, conductors, media and organisers. A playlist will be created from your votes and you’ll find out what is, in your collective opinion, the ultimate test piece composition and own-choice performance since 2003.
Favourite test-piece (2003 — 2019):
‘Audivi Media Nocte’ (Oliver Waespi) — performed at Montreux, 2011
‘Extreme Make-Over’ (Johan de Meij) — performed at Groningen, 2005
‘Fraternity’ (Thierry Deleruyelle) — performed at Lille, 2016
‘From Ancient Times’ (Jan van der Roost) — performed at Oostende, 2009
‘St. Magnus’ (Kenneth Downie) — performed at Glasgow, 2004
‘Vita Aeterna Variations’ (Alexander Comitas) — performed at Rotterdam, 2012
The works were nominated from selections made by Markus Bach, Robert Childs, Kenneth Crookston, Florent Didier, Iwan Fox, Philip Harper, Katrina Marzella, Jocelyne Moren, Berit Palmquist, Frode Rydland, Ulf Rosenberg and Rieks van der Velde.
Favourite Own Choice performance (2003 — 2019):
Cory Band (Philip Harper)
‘Raveling, Unraveling’ (Sparke) — performed at Lille, 2016
Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag (Ingar Bergby)
‘Fraternity’ (Deleruyelle) — performed at Oostende, 2017
Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag (Ingar Bergby)
‘Partita’ (Heaton) — performed at Utrecht, 2018
Yorkshire Building Society Band (David King)
‘Concerto Grosso’ (Bourgeois) — performed at Bergen, 2003
Yorkshire Building Society Band (David King)
‘Music of the Spheres’ (Sparke) — performed at Glasgow, 2004
Valaisia Brass Band (Arsene Duc)
‘The Turing Test’ (Dobson) — performed at Utrecht, 2018
The works were nominated from selections made by Markus Bach, Trevor Caffull, Joe Cassells, Kenneth Crookston, Iwan Fox, Paul Hindmarsh, Berit Palmquist, Frank Renton, Frode Rydland, Christopher Thomas and Alexander Zwaan.
Speaking about the selections, Paul Hindmarsh, Chair EBBA Music Commission, stated, “We are grateful to all those who gave of their time to recall some of their EBBC highlights. They were spoilt for choice of course, finding the selection of just six test pieces and own choice performances especially challenging, but they have come up with two short lists of outstanding quality.”
To vote for your two favourites, please visit the EBBA website via www.ebba.eu.com/polls
Voting closes on Friday 26th March.
.gif)
