An Indian Summer in Sweden

Posted by Melvyn James on Oct 14, 2014 in Band news | 0 comments

Well almost…..an on going autumn with a hint of summer which the UK experienced well into October of 2014 was still  evident as we  travelled to Stockholm in mid October . We were the guests of Stockholm South Band, perhaps better remembered as Stockholm vii, although all activities during the weekend  were centred at the centrally located Stockholm Temple .

After arriving on Friday evening the band was provided with an enjoyable meal and welcomed by Torgny Hanson, Bandmaster, Stockholm South Band and until recent retirement,  Lieut.Colonel, Head of Music, The Swedish Defence Forces. There followed a short informal music session with each band playing two or three pieces of their choice  and concluding with a couple of massed items. We were aware that on previous occasions  visiting bands had been challenged to play Starlake at a tempo  far beyond the bounds of reasonableness…not this time…. but the question was asked  who had ever played the Erik Leidzen cornet solo Happy Day…..  six hands  were hesitatingly raised ….the result is on YouTube with our Stockholm hosts accompanying  Gavin Mann, David Thomas, David Rudd, Kelvin Ketteringham, Alan Garratt and Julian Bright in what might be the first ever hexadic performance of this well loved classic solo.

 

Saturday gave opportunity to  present a lunch time  music concert in the beautiful  Adolf Fredrik Church in the centre of Stockholm. A large audience enjoyed a varied musical menu including Olympic Fanfare, Torchbearers, Lift Up Your Voice, New York, New York, and  The Kingdom Triumphant. Soloists were David Marley, Trumpet, Jim Rogers, Flugel and Duetists  Dave Thomas and Kevin Kavanagh with the Cornet and Euphonium Duet , The Prayer.

 

The principal event of the weekend was the Saturday evening “Host Festival” which this year was supporting  Salvation Army  endeavours in Kenya. The LCFB were the main guests  supported by  vocalists Sophie & Ella Hagman  and the  Stockholm South Band.  Playing in a full Stockholm Temple hall the LCFB provided a well received  programme of varying music primarily  featuring the repertoire  featured on  its latest CD Abundance. Stockholm South Band  contributed Ray Bowes’ Air Varie  Sunshine Mountain, in complete contrast to the  predominance of brass, Sophie and Ella delighted us with a number of their contemporary vocals numbers.

 

Sunday at the Temple

The stirring sounds of  Eric Ball’s  The Kingdom Triumphant focused  hearts and minds on morning worship at the Temple.  Lt. Col. Peter Dalziel led our  morning worship  and was superbly interpreted in both voice and body language by Commissioner Hasse Kjelgren, retired TC for Sweden and now a playing member of Stockholm South Band’s tuba section. Before Peter’s Bible address the band played Darren Shaw’s meditative  Guardian of  My Soul and Julian Bright led an interview session with four members of the band relating to the link between  band membership and their faith. A wonderful sense of  worship was experienced, the close of which led to a short musical interlude  from the band before Sunday Lunch and our return flight to England. The band featured David Thomas playing Ray Bowes’ Rhapsody for Cornet and Band. A confident a cappella introduction and the ensuing sensitive accompaniment made for perhaps our best offering of the weekend.  At the close of such a rewarding weekend in Sweden what else could we do but play out with an ABBA number…..Thank You For The Music.