Crowds Brave Monsoon Conditions
The evening of October 27th proved to be unbelievably wet and cold, nevertheless for those who braved the elements and ventured to the Bishops Stortford Methodist Church, there was warmth and encouragement in abundance. The event was the annual Bible Society praise concert which has, over the years, been regularly supported by the bands presence. In fact only a few weeks before, an ensemble from the band, had supported another Society function in the town.
The band presented a varied programme featuring old and new music from its repertoire. Solos were presented by Dave Thomas (cornet), Jim Rogers (flugel horn), Caroline Seredynski (piano), Brian Huke (vocal), James Adcock (euphonium) played Commitment, deserving particular commendation having been suffering from flu for several days. Well received also was local trombonist Don Jenkins with a magnificent rendition of Londonderry Air with band accompaniment.
Band pieces included a Disney Fantasy, The Witness, and Swedish Hymn. In conclusion the band played the plaintiff David Catherwood arrangement of Come Home followed by George Marshall’s rousing Army of the Brave.
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No Disappointments at Hendon
What a night! A full hall, outstanding soloists, a band giving its all and a great evening of praise.
The evening proved to be a great opener for our new season of 2012-13. The event was enthusiastically reported in The SA Bandsmen by Jim Wilson.
Visit to Reading Central
On stage at Reading Central
The band were pleased to contribute to a building fund event at the Reading Corps with the support of the Reading Central Songsters.
The corps provided refreshments before the commencement of the Festival which included some well established numbers from the bands current repertoire.
After opening up with Kevin Norbury’s Orwell Park, we Breezed Down Broadway at an alarming pace, remembered Where (We ) Loved to Be and then drew breath while Caroline Seredynski brought us some exquisite Debussy on the piano. Reading Songsters gave two items before the band resumed with Whirlwind with Dave Thomas, Cornet and Capriccio Brilliante from Phil Fisher, Horn.
Vocalist Debbie Crane sings Bill Broughton's arrangement of 'Now I Belong to Jesus'.
Bill Broughton’s up beat “happy version” of Now I Belong to Jesus featured Reading’s Debbie Crane as vocalist. James Adcock brought the Stephen Bulla euphonium solo Commitment to us before he excelled further as principal euphonium in Canadian Folk Song Suite.
After the interval, the band exploded into Be a Clown, an Alan Fernie arrangement of this fun Cole Porter number. It is really quite difficult to play out of tune deliberately! The congregation joined in Zephaniah’s Song, a Bill Himes arrangement. Further solo items followed including Anthony Smith on baritone with Paul Lovatt-Coopers’ Donegal Bay. Anthony has joined us in recent weeks due to the indisposition of our principal baritone, Howard Bowes.
There followed further items from the Songsters and the Bible Reading and Comment from Major Graham Mizon.
David Catherwood’s song arrangement Come Home is one of those apparently easy three line fillers in the Red Book. Not quite so easy to play but we hope our efforts brought blessing to our listeners.
To conclude the programme George Marshalls’ Army of the Brave brought a variety of moods in this early (no.6) Festival Series composition.
After the Benediction and Blessing there was still time for another foot tapper in the form of Ray Bowes’ march, Valiant Warriors.
Read MoreLCFB in Belfast
Liverpool and the Mersey, the birthplace of much of Britannia’s mighty navy including the first two Ark Royal aircraft carriers, and once described as “the Gateway to the new world” greeted the LCFB’s intrepid answer to Eddie Stobart, Don Jenkins and Mel James. It was a June Friday evening, the promenade at New Brighton looked deserted, the sky was grey, the horizon even darker and the sea a vast foaming maelstrom. No wonder, the efforts of those before us in escaping this dreadful place, would we too, be successful in reaching our new world.
After a rather lively crossing we reached the calm waters of Belfast Lough in the small hours of Saturday morning and were met by our friends from Sydenham Corps . We soon arrived at Sydenham Halls and after unloading our cargo of uniforms , instruments, sheet music, percussion paraphernalia etc we were taken to a rather swish hotel for a good Irish breakfast. During the day our Irish friends busied themselves ferrying the rest of the band from the airport to Belfast. By late Saturday afternoon we were set up and ready to go, but first a welcome tea and more Irish hospitality.
The evening festival was well attended and included Salvationists and friends from neighbouring Corps. The programme featured music from our current CD in addition to some more recently rehearsed repertoire. It was also a delight to have the voices of Sydenham Songsters to give some contrast to the programme. Our usual soloists were featured including Dave Thomas, cornet, Chipaenacas, Jim Rogers, Flugel, Through the Fair, Phil Fisher, Horn, Capriccio Brillante , Ken Stones, Euphonium,Valse and Don Jenkins, Trombone, Londonderry Air. Brian Huke provided the vocals to Bill Broughton’s up beat version of Now I belong to Jesus. Morley Calvert’s ever popular Canadian Folk Song Suite was well received at the close of the first half of the programme
In the absence of our Executive Officer, Major John Martin provided the Bible Reading and Comment. It was good to have John with us for the weekend in his many roles, executive officer, second horn, and a very able piano soloist, thank you John. Sydenham’s Corps Officer, Captain Martin Cordner is a friend of the band from earlier times and kindly composed the Festival Arrangement Call of the Gospel for the band to feature on its CD. It was fitting therefore for Martin to conduct the band for this arrangement.
All to quickly the festival drew to a close and it was time to meet new friends as we shared their hospitality over night.
Sunday activities commenced with a corps prayer meeting led by our band sergeant Alan Garratt. It was good to share thoughts and prayers together. There were indeed some precious moments.
Major John Martin led the Sunday Morning Meeting, his theme “ Defining Moments” drew on the story of the Prodigal Son. Colin Ambrose opened in prayer and interview testimonies featured Gwen Yendall and Andy Thomas. The band contributed In the Love of Jesus (Ken Downie) and Mid all the Traffic Arr. Martin Cordner. It was also good to hear the Singing Company.
Following a splendid traditional Sunday lunch at the halls, the Sunday Afternoon Festival was soon upon us. Memories of BBC “Bandstand “ programmes were recalled with the opening Soldiers in the Park. The congregation sung heartily Sound the Battle to the arrangement by Ray Bowes.
An apt choice by the visitors from London was a Mini Fantasia on a “London”Theme by Robert Collinson.
There were further instrumental solos , to recall two in particular, Alan Garratt, former principal cornet, played the Cornet Solo Misty and Anthony Smith played the Baritone in Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s Donegal Bay. Sadly only days before our trip to Belfast, our principal baritone, Howard Bowes, had health problems which prevented him coming to Belfast. Howard is now “on the mend” and we thank Anthony for joining us at such short notice.
Through the Fair for Jim Rogers is a flugel horn solo based upon a traditional Irish tune arranged by Sydenham’s Singing Company Leader Chelsea Pascoe… Jim played the solo on Saturday evening…. and this afternoon the band invited Chelsea to conduct them in the march, The Army Spirit (Ian Clarke).
There were contributions also from the Songsters and the YP Band. After the Bible Reading and Comment by Major John Martin, the band played David Catherwood’s song arrangement Come Home. Three lines in the Red Book…what a gem.
The band’s closing piece was no.6 in the Festival Series, George Marshall’s Army of the Brave.
Tea followed and then transfers back to the airport.
It had been a great weekend, the band wish to express their thanks to the people of Sydenham for their warmth and kindness and pray that the weekend was a source of blessing and encouragement to everyone .
The van and its occupants arrived back in Liverpool safely on Monday morning!
Be sure to check out the various videos from the weekend on the band’s YouTube channel.
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Stotfold Salvation Army Anniversary Celebrations
With a capacity crowd, the LCFB, with the support of Letchworth Songsters, provided an Anniversary Festival at the hall in Church Road. Saturday evening event was an introduction to the week end celebrations led by Commissioners Alex and Ingeborg Hughes . The event was reported in Salvationist…. Clique on….
Report in The Salvationist on concert at Stotford, May 2012
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An evening of fine music making
Programme cover from joint concert with Enfield Salvation Army Band and LCFB
A capacity crowd greeted the LCFB and Enfield Citadel Band in a joint concert at Ipswich Citadel. It was a time of happy Salvationist music making enhanced by several father and son relationships linking the two bands. It was good to meet up with KEITH NICE, conductor of The Suffolk Phoenix Band and a former colleague in the Chelmsford Citadel Band. Thank you Keith for accepting our invitation to report on the evenings events.
A near capacity audience greeted Enfield Citadel and London Central Fellowship bands to Ipswich Citadel. Robert Redhead’s A Fanfare of Praise was chosen by Enfield to commence the programme and set the standard for the evening with a controlled and exciting performance. The bands alternated items interspersed with comments from Jonathan Corry and David Daws their respective conductors. London Central Fellowship band chose Ray Steadman Allen’s Take Over Bid as their first item bringing back happy memories of the early days of SA musicals. Mention must be made of Phil Fisher who produced a warm, full sound on the tenor horn in the solo Demelza, and Debbie Crane who added variety with a vocal solo Now I belong to Jesus. Enfield provided a foot tapping rendition of Alan Fernie’s Just a Closer Walk and the first half concluded with a favourite of this listener Kenneth Downie’s Purcell Variations. It is clear from this reading that Enfield are in safe hands with Jonathan Corry.
Kevin Norbury’s march Orwell Park opened the second half, a nice touch by the Fellowship band given that the park is just outside Ipswich and recognises the regional music school held there in the past. Having not attended a SA festival for over 20 years I was intrigued and surprised to see Hello! Dolly on the programme as I was to see Breezin’ Down Broadway, both items given a spirited performance by the Fellowship band. Enfield also included I will Follow Him from the film Sister Act featuring the trombone section, ably led as always by Andrew Justice, they provided a faultless and impressive item.
The bands united for the final items, following a short thought provoking address by Major Graham Mizon they played Lord, With My All I Part. It was good to see Bandmaster Williams take the baton for Erik Leidzen’s march In the Kings Service and the bands responded to his direction. The evening closed with the Fellowship band playing the hymn tune Worcester, there is something special about a brass band playing a hymn tune, and no concert featuring Enfield would be complete without the obligatory Red Shield which this year will be the fiftieth anniversary of its inclusion in Enfield’s programme and still played with great verve and panache.
As someone quite rightly pointed out it was an evening of fine music making with something for everyone.
Bible Verse of the Day
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
