The European Brass Band Association (EBBA) is pleased to announce the own choice test piece selections by the competing bands at the 45th European Brass Band Championships 2024, in Palanga, Lithuania.
There is an intriguing selection of own choice pieces and composers in the Championship, Challenge and Youth sections, so it promises to be a great weekend of music making and listening. There are three new commissions in the Championship, with new works from Peter Graham, Paul Saggers and Hitoshi Takahashi – possibly the first time a Japanese composer has featured in the Championship. This will be Paul Saggers’ first appearance at the Euros as an own choice composer. Sand and Stars by Thierry Deleruyelle appears to be firmly established as a modern classic and will be performed by three bands. Championship bands will also be performing two works by Ludovic Neurohr and a band will be featuring Simon Dobson’s Jesus in Tibet. In the Challenge Section, all three own choice works will be by established English composers.
The EBBC own choice and set test contests have facilitated the creation of so much of the modern brass band repertoire over the years, that it would be hard to imagine a time before ‘the Europeans’ or more importantly, without it.
Own Choice Pieces – Championship Section
Cataclysms Roland Szentpali
Dear Cassandra Ludovic Neurohr
Fraternity Thierry Deleruyelle
Jesus in Tibet Simon Dobson
Karma Ludovic Neurohr
Sand and Stars Thierry Deleruyelle
The Falcon in the Snow Paul Saggers
The Triumph of Time Peter Graham
Weeping Willow Hitoshi Takahashi
Z 1920 Peter Graham
Own Choice Pieces – Challenge Section
Music of the Spheres Philip Sparke
Of Distant Memories Edward Gregson
Paganini Variations Philip Wilby
Repertoire European Youth Band Competition
– Premier Section
Title Composer Arranger
Down to Earth Stijn Aertgeerts
Elegie Koen Van Biesen
Festmusik der Stadt Wien Richard Strauss Peter King
Share my yoke Joy Webb Ivor Bosanko
Malaguena Ernesto Lecuona Mark Freeh
Fanfare of Daffodils Gareth Wood
Men of Harlech Trad Gordon Langford
Carnival of Venice Paganini Alan Catherall
Starburst Dan Price
Prismatic Light Alan Fernie
Gaelforce Peter Graham
Repertoire European Youth Band Competition
– Development Section
Title Composer Arranger
The Yeti – At the Foot of the Mountain Magnus Brandseth
The Sea Ghost and the Sirens
– Voices from the Abyss Magnus Brandseth
The Phoenix – Rising from the Ashes Magnus Brandseth
Pradžios vėjas Saulius Petreikis Rokas Podelis
Eloïse Paul Ryan Derek Broadbent
Lithuanian Dances Kazys Daugėla
Quest – part 1 Making a difference Paul Sharman
Blaydon races Gordon Langford
Country scene Goff Richards
Tension Frederick Schjelderup
Nightmare from Cry of the Celts Peter Graham
A Troika? Tidy Karl Jenkins
Olympus Philip Harper