Follow live comments on Thomas Doss's setwork "Alienus" at the Europeans in Linz

A nice atmospheric opening. Well balanced and paced.

Some inconsistencies and inaccuracies detract but it's very effective.

There's some good detail to tutti band sounds, but not everything aligns.

The quieter material is effective, but tuning issues arise.

There's some lovely solo lines, but not without their insecurities and tuning issues.

A good transition into the agitato leads to some really detailed material.

We lack a bit of the dynamic clarity and contrast of other bands through the wing section, but the final chorale has some lovely material.

I really like this finale - almost Saint-Saens in character - a noble hymn and fanfare like interjections. A lovely capture of this final movement, though not without its moment of insecurity and lack of clarity.

Bravo Festival Brass.

A well controlled open works into well organised tutti sounds.

This is tight - very well organised by Watkins.

There's big band sounds here - not always 100% balanced, but crikey it's forceful - real primary colours.

Lovely sop in the source material. Huge contrasts between the delicate material and the tutti band sounds.

Perhaps they're on the side of too much - it's white hot.

Very good euphoniums. And some lovely subtle playing in the quieter sections. A great show on what has proved to be challenging music today.

Transition to the agitato works well and there's good detail, just slightly unbalanced between brass and percs, but generally the ensemble works as one.

I really believe in the journey here - it's a linear picture - not without scrappy moments (perhaps just a bit quick) but it's full of feeling.

A few moment of uneasy tuning and articulation in the final chorale detract, but clearly they're enjoying this which is such a joy to watch.

A joyful finale and great sounds to close - what a show from Göta. I enjoyed that a lot!

Mysterious to open - lovely muted textures and wonderful sop.

Wow - wonderful ensemble. There's some fantastic textures here. Not without uncomfortable moments of tuning in top octaves.

Fantastic percussion. Some frailties through the quieter sections, but the tutti sounds are absolutely huge.

Beautiful sounds in the quieter textures - lovely cornet and euphonium.

Into the agitato the clarity is brilliant, such purpose of line and material. The odd blemish but such rhythmic security,

Maybe this swing section just isn't to be - it's felt quite constrained in all of the performances today.

Fantastic sounds and lines in the chorale - this is a huge band sound and so well managed by Porthouse.

Brilliant lines in cornets are countered well with full sonority in lower band, which leads to a jubilant (if fast) finale - and an extremely strong end.

I think this could well be up there today - but perhaps a few too many slips to make the very top.

A well organised opening shows new subtleties in the textures. It's not without it's insecurities or intonation issues but it's well shaped.

There's a lot of sense to these shapes - they add up to a greater whole. Just the odd slip which detracts.

A good sense of pulse and great attention to detail as we progress, and the tutti band sounds are full of depth and well balanced. Sop stands out.

The ensemble moves as one. Its presence is commanding. Not without flaws, but extremely impressive.

The delicate dynamics and texture standout - not without the odd frailty but generally secure and yet subtle.

An occasional slip through the solos just mars what is otherwise extremely well executed. Tuning of brass against crotales has drifted which is a shame.

Beautiful euphonium in these later solos. Still some inconsistencies in lines.

There's a great detail of clarity and detail in the agitato, but not always 100% balanced.

There's some phenomenal dynamic work here, but the slips are detracting. In such a tough field, it's likely to cost.

Probably the best swing we've had - some additional consideration to wide vib - but still not without it's constraint.

Big sounds in the final chorale, and some phenomenal detail - though not always 100% linear.

It all culminates in a rousing finale. This is sure to be up there, but I think there were a few too many issues for it to walk away with the prize on this one.

An atmospheric start from Hauts-de-France - the textures sparkle, though there are some intonation issues.

Lovely cornet, and there's some superb ensemble - if on the speedy side.

There's some great detail here, just the odd moment of unease - particularly at the end of lines.

It's well paced, and the shapes are evident, especially the source material - just a bit chaotic in places with execution not quite matching itention.

We lose the focus in some of the tutti sounds - with the melodic line lost within the overall texture.

Nice euphonium and trombones. There are some scuffs, but there's a great sense of musicality and cohesion, and some great balance between brass and percs.

We head into the agitato with intent and there are some great points of detail - but while there is a great depth of band sound, the balance doesn't always come off.

I'm not sure on the swing - it's a bit rigid.

There are some great sounds into the final chorale - especially troms who stand up to really show off.

The ensemble is organised well by Vertommen to a jubilant finale - and fantastic sound to close.

This could be up there, but in such a fierce competition, we'll see!

A suitably mysterious opening, though some rubs in tuning detract.

There's quite a few clips and slips detracting from the performance.

There's a good band sound here, and it's generally well organised. The tutti sections are well organised, and there are some phenomenal dynamic shapes.

The thinner material shows up some issues in ensemble tuning and production.

The transition to the agitato is well managed, and there is some great detail here.

A good go at the swing, it has some freedom; and we transition well out of it.

There's some great detail in the chorale - however the main lines are suffering from tuning issues and we lose the linear aspect of the chorale.

A commanding ending, signature Childs - but a mixed performance from Whitburn on this; let's see how it fares in this excellent field of bands with the judges!

Lovely opening from Janssen and 3BA. Captures the mysterioso.

Good ensemble and a well balanced sound - just the odd occasions of insecurity in individual lines.

Tuning issues occur in tutti textures which detract, and there is some scrappiness - but percussion is excellent.

The presentation of the Bach isn't flawless, but there's some good changes in style. There's a bit of a lack of focus in the texture.

The quieter textures show some fragilities here, with the odd clip, and intonation issue between open and mutes players.

A nice transition to the agitato - but some inaccuracies are apparent, and textures are a bit mishandled, with a lack of depth to the band sound.

Not a bad go at the swing, and as we go into the chorale there is some good individual playing, but the ensemble isn't always fully balanced - with some of the dynamics being a bit overzealous in their effect.

A good ending finishes a mixed performance from 3BA. There were moments of excellence but ensemble issues may detract today in a very strong field.

A very atmospheric open from Flowers with great detail in all of the lines.

Super ensemble - if not quite always together on the finishing of notes. There's great rhythm to this and the textures are managed very well.

There's a real substance to the tone of the band - very well balanced, and some brilliant dynamic effects.

Beautiful Euphonium - so well shaped and a great sound.

Lovely cornet - the bottom octave of this has proved a challenge for all today, but this is up there with the best we've had.

This is so musical. They make it sound easy!

A good transition leads to the agitato, with fantastic trombone interjections. Such tight playing.

Still not the easiest of swing, but it's in 2!

Holland ties the final choral together, finding shape and line which few have managed today - here is a performance that matches musical intent to execution with resounding success.

A finely paced finale leads to a superb ending.

A show to beat here. Bravo.

An atmospheric opening, but not without its insecurities.

Ensemble isn't 100% as we introduce more voices, but there are committed sounds.

The busier textures are somewhat frantic, not as well organised as we have heard today.

There are great contrasts between the big textures and the source materials, if somewhat fragile in the quieter moments.

Lovely cornet. Not all accomps are comfortable, but it's a good transition to the agitato.

The agitato is well organised and we hear a good focus to the source material.

There's a good flow to the final chorale, but intonation isn't 100%.

The ending is joyful, if a little scrappy - great sounds to close though.

A suitably mysterious opening from the Italian Brass Band, though sometimes a little abrupt in its entries and exits.

Vibrato on the crotales. A nice touch!

There are some uncomfortable moments of tuning, but things are well organised and balanced.

The tutti textures are a bit muddled - with lines not quite focused and organised, but it's exciting!

Subtle sop is well in keeping with the source material, but the tuning was a little uncomfortable.

There are notable clips and splits in softer entries which unfortunately detract from the picture.

Nice cornet leads us through the central section, though accomp is not always speaking totally together. Lovely tuba - I wonder if we could learn something from the euros in the UK on the use of rotary valves...!

Great timps! So committed. It's so interesting the difference in performances today, very different focuses and interpretations.

Closest to swing we've had so far today, but still a way from real freedom. An interesting test for the bands today!

The chorale starts with real intent, but loses a bit of steam, but it's generally well balanced.

A finely paced ending but some tuning issues in the final chord mars an otherwise passionate performance.

Big expectations musically as Russell Gray takes the stage.

A nicely paced and balanced open. Perhaps lacking a little dynamic subtlety to really capture the mysterioso.

Some great tutti textures - effectively balanced and well focused, just missing the raw sound that has been on show from other bands today.

Gray clearly commands the source material here, with lines well found and shaped but with inconsistencies in individual performances.

Great euphonium, and some very effective solos. The slow music is well shaped, just some fragilities apparent detracting.

Percussion dominates in the agitato and there are some inaccuracies appearing.

The final chorale is a bit abrupt but the lines are present, and things are nicely controlled and paced to a good final chord.

This was a very musical performance from Brass LT. Perhaps lacking some of the richness and raw power from other performances today, but very enjoyable nonetheless.

Concorde open with subtle textures, but there are moments of unease in tuning. Ensemble is good, though not all notes are entirely centred.

Brass and percussion are balanced well, and there's some terrific tutti sounds - though sometimes a few individual stand out too much. Sop is very powerful - but not entirely in keeping with the section balance.

The ensemble unfortunately don't move together in tutti moments which undermines the impact of these structural moments.

The swing again feels a little straight laced, but there is some good ensemble detail here.

The final chorale has a good energy, and bounce to it, but keeps sustain and fizz. There's some great dynamic contrasts, and a really jubilant ending.

This is a performance which really grew as it went, and a wonderful showing for Denmark.

I always look forward to David King's interpretations, and with Manger - I'm sure this is set to be exciting!

The textures to open are well managed and certainly mysterious.

There's a really good balance between brass and percussion here, with the bells nicely accentuating the fragments of Bach Doss put in for us to find.

Quieter moments are affected well, but not without uncomfortable moments in individual playing and fragilities apparent.

Some lovely solo contributions - bravo euphonium!

The agitato has a great presence and energy to it though not all shapes quite land together.

The swing feels a bit 'square', but the dynamics are great.

The chorale is well managed, though perhaps lacking a bit of horizontal continuity.

Fantastic band sound to finish!

A very enjoyable show from Manger and Prof. King but not without its moments of discomfort, which in a competition of such high calibre, could cost them places in the end.

And now for the reigning champions!

Very atmospheric to open - beautifully balanced, and coloured in the mutes - though not without rubs in tuning.

Wonderful cornet sets a great marker for this performance.

There's a great band sound here, and real clarity to the textures, with the fragments of Bach coming through nicely.

Everything has such space, and so the lines flow well, though percussion sometimes dominates and we lose a bit of focus.

Euphonium is excellent, but even Willebroek isn't impervious to the technical tuning challenges that are presented in these softer sections between open and muted lines - perhaps highlighted given the instructions for senza vib.

Nicely transitioned into the agitato and great levels of detail are heard. It's not without uneasy rhythmic moments, but there's some excellent individual playing.

The swing doesn't quite sit convincingly but we do get the dynamic contrasts.

They do well to tie the fragments of chorale together, with some terrific trombone sounds.

Nicely paced as they pull back into the finale, and a great (long) chord to finish.

One to watch!

And away we go - we're live for the European Brass Band Championships. It's set to be a real celebration of music making!

An atmospheric opening from Brass Band Oberösterrich which manages the aleatorics with convincing musicality.

Not all textures are managed successfully however, with dense material being quite complicated and not always clear where the focus should be and individual voices dominating.

There are some nice sostenuto moments, but not all entries are 100% secure.

Ensemble is well organised, but there are moments of uncomfortable tuning and intonation issues, especially in muted sections.

Brilliant tuba!

A nice transition into the agitato, but not all detail is heard through this quicker material. The wild swing is handled well, but tuning suffers, particularly in the higher register.

The deciso is big, but a bit heavy handed and not sustained enough for me - we could do with more phrase to really bring the chorale to life.

Good dynamic effects drive to a colourful conclusion and a very large last chord, including outward facing instruments.

A fine marker for this wonderful event and what a wonderful world premier! But a real testament to just what a challenging work this is all around the stand. We're in for a great show this afternoon.