The European Brass Band Association (EBBA) is pleased to announce the own choice testpiece selections by the competing bands at the 44th European Brass Band Championships 2023, in Malmö, Sweden.
It promises to be a great contest, in the Championship, Challenge and Youth sections, with a high number of bands taking part. Not only are the contests high in quantity, but also in the quality of the bands and in their choice of testpieces. This year sees a number of commissions for the Championship and Challenge sections, as well as the return of some modern classis, such as Fraternity and A Gabrieli Fantasy, which proved so popular at the EBBC in Birmingham last year. The music of Thierry Deleruyelle will feature three times and the music of EBBA’s own Oliver Waespi, twice. A new work form Kenneth Downie in the Challenge section will also add interest.
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
A Gabrieli Fantasy (x2) Bert Appermont
Antiphonies on Themes by William Byrd Oliver Waespi
Are We Dark Inside? Ludovic Neurohr
Astralis Philip Wilby
Breath of Souls Paul Lovatt-Cooper
Catharsis Kjetil Djønne
Diary of a Madman Christian Brant
Fraternity Thierry Deleruyelle
Horror Show Simon Dobson
No Man’s Land Thierry Deleruyelle
Other Lives Oliver Waespi
Sand and Stars Thierry Deleruyelle
The World Rejoicing Edward Gregson
Own Choice Pieces – Challenge Section
Match Rhythm Jan Bosveld
Variations Andrew Lloyd-Webber, arr. Peter Graham
Excalibur Jan van der Roost
Hope Fulfilled Kenneth Downie
Terra Australis Martin Ellerby