Congratulations to Luc Vertommen and Brass Band Buizingen on their superb result of 5th position at the European Brass Band Championship held in the Brucknerhaus in Linz, Austria. This result left them only one point behind the world famous Black Dyke Band with Cory Band from Wales taking the European title for the third year in a row. On day one of the competition they performed Thomas Doss’s brilliant work `Spiriti’ and on day two gave a stunning and inspirational performance of Nigel’s `Earthrise’ a work specially written for Brass Band Buizingen and their conductor Luc Vertommen. The Band’s principal cornet player Harmen Vanhoorne came 3rd in the 5th European Solo Competition.

A review for `Earthrise’ and Brass Band Buizingen performance from the brass specialist website www.4barsrest.com is as follows:

Fire up the Saturn! It’s all systems go after the dramatic start blasts off with power galore. It’s dramatic, exciting writing this and played with real ensemble verve by the band. Great little individual motifs help keep the pace up but until we reach the weightlessness of orbit it’s been ensemble brilliance. Now we get the four intrepid astronauts in space and the sense of adventure which is playful and technical, before we see the majesty of the earth rising into view in the Apollo spacecraft window, which is reflective and full of majesty. These elements are so well brought to life and so atmospheric, before we fire up the Quattro rocket and head for home at one heck of a lick. 

Hells bells – literally – before the big splash down and glory be, we’re home on the seafront of Belgium. Great stuff. 

Overall: What a fabulously descriptive piece – from take off to splash down and everything in between. It was a million mile journey at a million miles an hour – but so exciting.

……… Despite principal cornet player Richard Marshall winning the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize, they (Black Dyke Band) could only end a point ahead of an inspired Brass Band Buizingen from Belgium in fifth, who caught the imagination of many neutral listeners under Luc Vertommen.

4barsrest – 1st May 2010
http://www.4barsrest.com/news/detail.asp?id=11537