© 2003–2004 WASBE

Photographs © 2003 Anthony Reimer or Egil & Brith Gundersen (used with permission)

The opinions expressed
herein are those of the
authors and not
necessarily the opinions
of WASBE.

Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces

by Timothy Reynish

The recent WASBE Conference was fortunate to attract three first rate professional military bands, from Norway, Sweden and Germany. The concert on the first evening by our Norwegian colleagues was extraordinary, both in its inventive programming and in the level of virtuosity displayed. The conductor, Eivind Aadland, is primarily a violinist, and he brings to the ensemble a flexibility in phrasing, a feeling for sonorities, and an aesthetic of programming which is an object lesson to all who still think that band is a different animal from orchestra or choir. Music from the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries was played with authority, virtuosity and conviction. Their performance of Motlys by Per Norgaard had at least one member of the audience rocking in his seat as if at a pop gig, and the final work, Stabsarabesque by Olav Thommesen had all of the drive and excitement of Le Sacre de Printemps.

The concert began with a fine fanfare by Klaus Egge, reminiscent of Hindemith, and continued with two major chamber works, Emil Hartman's Serenade and a great performance of Florent Schmitt’s Lied et Scherzo. I never expect to hear a better performance of the Grieg Funeral March, so simple yet so hard to bring off.

The second half introduced us to three contemporary works. The Euphonium Concerto by Stig Nordhagen, a major addition to the repertoire, was brilliantly performed by Sverre Stakston Olsrud. It is available (as is the Thommesen) from the Music Information Centre, Norway. This varied concert will repay closer study on CD later this year.