Heritage Series: Volume 1

Has the ISB brought new life to some classic SA repertoire, or is it all still pickled in musical aspic...

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Heritage Series: Vol 1 (Music from the 1930s)
The International Staff Band
Conductor: Dr Stephen Cobb
SP&S Ltd: SPS 249 CD
Total playing time: 75.58

Many of the recordings by the International Staff Band of The Salvation Army focus largely on new music, reflecting on the band’s role in promoting innovation and showcasing recent and forthcoming publications. 

Classics of the past

Their latest release, however, is the first in a series bringing together some of the classics of the past, and it comes with an informative sleeve note by Ray Steadman-Allen, who is also heard in conversation with Stephen Cobb. 

Ray’s comments reveal an obvious affection for the music and also offer a composer’s insight into the techniques and musical forms employed.

Wide range of music

The pieces chosen, all of which date from around the 1930s, are representative of the wide range of music produced for Salvation Army bands, including marches, solos, selections and meditations. 

The composers featured were all key figures active during that period, with four items by Eric Ball, three solo features by the Swedish-American Erik Leidzen, marches from the pens of Arthur Gullidge and Bramwell Coles, a selection by George Marshall and an air varie by Philip Catelinet.

Subtle scoring

Most of the items can still be found in concert programmes, particularly the solo offerings which, with the combination of virtuosic solo writing and the subtleties of Erik Leidzen’s scoring, succeed in satisfying the wishes of soloist, band and audience, which is not always the case! 

In keeping with the requirement to produce “soul-saving music”, all the compositions feature tunes with a religious connection, including established hymns, original Salvation Army vocal publications or, as in the case of two of the Leidzen numbers, secular melodies to which a religious text has been attached.

Lesser known contributions

Of the four Eric Ball numbers, “Praise and Exaltation” is probably the least familiar, but Ray Steadman-Allen sees elements of Eric’s later writing for contests, and feels it marks an important stage in the composer’s development. 

He also comments that the contribution made by Philip Catelinet, who was later to premiere the Vaughan Williams “Tuba Concerto”, is often under-rated. 

Certainly his variations on “A Sunbeam” have stood the test of time well, and deserve to be heard more frequently.

Assured playing

The playing of the International Staff Band is well up to their usual standard, and if the present day band is slightly smaller than many of the bands by which the music was originally played, the fullness of sound produced is some compensation for the lack of numbers. 

The performances are notable for the careful attention to detail, with close observance of dynamics and phrasing which brings the music to life. 

The secure soloists play their part, both in their individual items but also in the many other solo passages, with Gary Fountain in particular nailing the crucial high note in “Triumph of Peace”, bête noir of many a soprano player down the years.

Nostalgia or exploring the by-ways?

For those brought up in and around Salvation Army Bands, this release will be something of an exercise in nostalgia, whilst for others it may prove an illuminating introduction to some very enjoyable and worthwhile music.

Peter Bale

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