Eikanger impress with Northern Lights 

European, Norwegian, Siddis and Brass in Concert champions Eikanger-Bjørsvik gave two world premieres of new works by Norwegian composers as they delighted the audience at the Grieghallen in Bergen last weekend with their heavy weight 'Northern Lights' concert. 

Under the direction of Swiss conductor Philippe Bach, the band showed just how adept they are at launching contemporary 'firsts' for the movement with superb premiere performances of 'Excavation' by Therese Birkelund Ulvo and 'Banderole' by Håkon Berge. 

Eikanger applied for funding from the Norwegian Arts Council for Therese Birkelund Ulvo's 'Excavation'. The composer who hails from Bergen, but is now based outside Oslo, describes the piece as finding what is hidden underneath the 'red, shiny, glossy sports car' that is the modern elite brass band. 

In contrast, Hakon Berge's 'Banderole' was originally commissioned by the Norwegian Band Federation as the test piece for the Norwegian Nationals in 2016, but was not ready in time to be used. Berge previously wrote 'Brass Blot', the set-work at the European Brass Band Championship in 2008. 

The programme also featured a wonderful reading of 'Aubade — Dawn Songs for the Fabulous Birds' written by Torstein Aagard-Nilsen for the 2003 European Championship. The work will enjoy somewhat of a resurgence next year, as it has been selected as the test-piece for the Elite Section at the 2018 Norwegian National Championships. 

In addition to showcasing the Nordic talent the concert also paid tribute to the late British composer, John McCabe with a beautiful performance of 'Northern Lights', which he composed in 1992. Audience members left the Grieghallen in no doubt as to why Eikanger-Bjørsvik has won so many plaudits of late, as the musicians proved themselves to be champions of the concert platform as well as the contest arena. 

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