So Glad!

A fine mix of lively and reflective repertoire doesn't quite hide the feeling that this latest release is a well aimed marketing ploy.

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International Staff Band
Conductor: Dr Stephen Cobb
SP&S CD: SPS 266 CD
Total Playing Time: 64.28

'So Glad!' presents the lighter side of the repertoire of the International Staff Band, with a mix of lively and more reflective works.

Most of these are fairly recent compositions, although it does include the Bramwell Coles classic march, 'Victors Acclaimed' and Brindley Boon’s fine setting of the hymn tune 'Troyte' - the latter being a timely reminder of the instrumental writing of a composer probably better known for his vocal contributions, who died in 2009.

Solo contributions

Three solo items are included, two from long-standing members Derick Kane and Andrew Justice, on 'In Christ Alone' (Phillips) and 'Whisper a Little Prayer' (Redhead) respectively.

The other comes from recently-appointed flugel player Richard Woodrow in a nicely laid-back account of William Himes title track, 'So Glad!' , that is one of the highlights of the disc.

In contemporary style

Other lively items are featured, such as Erik Silfverberg’s, 'Shalom', which some may recall was featured at a recent Gospel Arts Concert, Paul Drury’s spirited march, 'Jubilee' and William Gordon’s very American march medley, 'Heavenward'.

The band also copes well with the swing and gospel rock styles required in Peter Graham’s, 'Ask!' and Paul Sharman’s, 'Blessing and Honour' respectively, together with the Latin-American influenced, 'Praising' (Silfverberg).

Time to reflect

Some of the best playing can be found in the more reflective numbers, such as Bruce Broughton’s chorale prelude, 'The New-born Babe', and Kenneth Downie’s, 'Stars of the Morning'.

Ken also provides the final item, 'Peace',  that unusually for a Salvation Army publication, does not have any set text attached to it, but evokes the mood through music alone. Also in this vain is Stuart Watson’s transcription of his own vocal setting of, 'Psalm 91'.

A variety of hymn tune treatments

Much Salvation Army music is based on hymn tunes, and a variety of treatments can be heard here, ranging from Andrew Mackereth’s striking and upbeat take on Martin Luther’s, 'Ein Feste Burg', with its vigorous fanfare to open and various transformations of the theme, to Brindley Boon’s much more traditional, 'Troyte'.

William Gordon has provided an effective setting of, 'St Francis', that is more relaxed and flowing than some other versions.

Steven Ponsford’s 'Kerygma', the most substantial work on the disc, successfully draws together three contemporary worship songs, 'He is Lord', 'He is Risen' and 'Once Again I Thank You', the title coming from a Greek word adopted by the early church to express, 'The Word of God Proclaimed'.

Target audience?

Now one is faced with something of a dilemma: Although this recording is enjoyable to listen to, one wonders exactly at whom it is aimed.

It seems rather odd to present such a combination of reissued tracks and new recordings, and one can imagine it causing resentment in some quarters.

Even at a (slightly) reduced price, one wonders how many collectors will want to fork out again for tracks they already have on other issues in order to obtain the new items.

There is no indication as to which tracks are new and which are not, and it would have been much better, surely, to make it either a compilation or a completely new recording.

This is likely to be of most interest to someone coming afresh to Salvation Army music, and the brief notes do at least help to explain the music and put it in context, but it seems something of an odd marketing ploy and, to parody the writers of the spoof history - '1066 and all that' - 'not a very good thing'.

Peter Bale

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