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Norway 2006
Highlight of the year so far without doubt was the band trip to
Norway to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the
formation of the band in 1996. Norway was the chosen venue as we
have a number of Norwegian members, and also to return the visit
made to us by Husnes Musiklaag (Husnes Wind band) in 2004.
Day 1
A party of primarily brass players (starting age 7 months) left
Scotland mid June , most flying from Aberdeen to Bergen, although
our intrepid Treasurer and one of our trombone players made the trip
by ferry from Newcastle, taking some of the larger instruments with
them. Norway provided some beautiful weather on arrival, wall to
wall sunshine all round. After leaving Bergen airport the band
headed off on the first part of the journey to Rosendal where we
were to be staying on the Sildenfjord. A short coach trip to Osøyri
was followed by a magical high speed catamaran trip amongst the
Norwegian islands. Home was the Rosendal Guest House for our first
few days. (insert link). Traditional Norwegian meatballs washed
down by the local beer were served for dinner. The beer at 55 kroner
for about 400ml was another issue. This worked out at about £6 per
pint !
Day 2
This started off as a lazy day, exploring Rosendal and generally
enjoying the sun, although some of us headed off to the nearby Sør-Al
aluminium factory in Husnes for an official visit. After all this
holidaymaking we were finally forced to play our instruments and the
afternoon saw a full afternoon rehearsal at Rosendal Hall followed
by some street busking in the main street. That evening provided
what must have been one of the highlights of the trip in the form of
an evening party with Husnes Musikklag at the traditional Norwegian
home and garden of Hans Petter Lange and Elin Legland, renewing old
friendships and once again being impressed by the good English
spoken by our hosts. General merrymaking and informal jazz and
Norwegian dancing session in the garden was the order of the day all
with a wonderful view of the mountain and fjords.
Day 3
The morning activity was a short joint rehearsal with Husnes
Musikklag in Husnes primary school hall in readiness for a couple of
joint performances later that day. Our visit to Husnes co-incided
with the town gala day with the first performance outside the
shopping centre at the market in 80 degree temperatures…..phew. The
second joint performance was part of a biennial open day at the Sør-Al
factory, largest employer in the area. The company had gone to a lot
of effort and were giving away free food and soft drinks, rides,
bouncy castle etc as well as a full size covered stage in the
central concourse. Our joint performance was well received but our
own individual slot stole the show with the jazz version of Amazing
Grace with soloist Philip Cardwell’s amazing improvised solos
followed by the old crowd favourite Kalinka. All this effort worked
up a considerable thirst in all this heat which was duly quenched
jointly with Husnes Musiklaag in the nearest hostelry.
Day 4
That day’s concert was at the Rosendal Barony visitor centre and
gardens. This is one of the oldest baronial type homes in Norway set
in attractive mature grounds below the mountains. We had time to
kill after the concert before the bus and ferry to Bergen so various
walking trips up the valley to see the waterfall took place before
the weather broke.
Day 5
Bergen – home town for our Chairperson. This was a free day so folk
ended up splitting up with various groups heading off to sightsee.
Most took up the offer of a personal guided tour of the sights by
our Chairperson Hege Hernæs. This included the world famous Bryggen
and Fløibanen
funicular
railway up Mt. Fløyen
when luckily the clouds lifted to review the cityscape below. Last
performance of the trip was scheduled for the teatime slot in the
Bergen Central Bandstand where despite the weather a dedicated band
of spectators seemed to enjoy the music. Evening meal was at Brød og
Vin, and excellent Chinese restaurant in the University District of
the city.
Day 5
Time to come home, but not before some of us took the chance to
visit Edvard Grieg’s house and museum at Troldhaugen, just outside
Bergen.
LCWB Norway Repertoire
including:
Kalinka
Tico Tico
Amazing Grace
Ain’t Misbehavin
We’ve Only Just Begun
Bone Idyll
Skye Boat Song
Clachaig Ceilidh
The pieces we played
with Husnes Musikklag
Bruremarsj
Loch Lomond
Next year’s trip –
Spain October 2007 ?? |
