New York Staff Band

Hadleigh Temple, Westcliff on Sea
Thursday 5th June

The long-awaited visit of the New York Staff Band to Hadleigh Temple got off to a fine start with Ray Farr's Intrada: Ein Feste Burg, the cornets having the opportunity to shine with their independent overlapping lines. The percussion section were also given their head, heightened by the antiphonal placings, even if this was largely influenced by the shape of the platform.

The full band sound was displayed well in Paul Drury's cracking march Jubilee, which was notable for some very crisp playing from the trombone section, before the first of the evening's soloists took the stage. Gordon Ward, on solo cornet, originates from the Hull East Corps, and he presented a new solo by Belfast-based David Catherwood entitiled Forward. The solo certainly suited his bright sound, and the numorous top D's were tackled with apparent ease.

Eric Ball's Journey Into Freedom is currently appearing on a number of Salvation Army programmes. On this occasion it was prefaced by Eric himself introducing the piece at the Star Lake Music Camp in 1968, the year after it had been used for the National Finals in the UK. It was interesting to hear him describe it as "not a Salvation Army piece so far", although he went on to say that it was "Salvation Army music, because it was written by a Salvationist." The band produced a powerful rendition with some particularly fine playing in the EEb bass solo, although the sound could
have been warmer in the quieter sections.

The NYSB has long been noted for its singing and on this occasion, under chorus leader Major Thomas Mack, they sang Barry Moore's setting of Power. This was followed by an unusual scripture presentation, in which the bible reading was drowned out by the efforts of the percussion section, before the well-known verses of I Corinthians 13 were heard, extolling the importance of love if our lives are not to be empty and clamorous. Andrew Baker, a student majoring in tuba performance, chose to play Michael Brand's lively
Tuba Tapestry. Whilst the band were clearly at home with the dance rhythms featured, from where this reviewer was sitting the soloist appeared to be overwhelmed at times. The first half came to an end with Brian Bowen's Sursum Corda, based around the tune Hyfrydol, and written as a companion piece to the well-known My Comfort and Strength. On a first hearing the new opus did not seem as listener-friendly, although it was well-received by the packed audience.

A humorous interlude and commercial break introduced the interval, and the second half began with an unusual trumpet ensemble arrangement of Great Day Coming by Terry Everson. This was performed on soprano and 5 trumpets, and gave each player the chance to negotiate their own solo passages. Saints on Parade, a bright miniature overture written for the tour by Kevin Norbury, featured three lively choruses, interspersed with quotes from Strike Up The Band and Stars And Stripes, before ending with When The Saints Go Marching In.

Goff Richard's arrangement of I Will Follow Him gave another chance for the five-strong trombone section to show their paces before euphonium soloist Aaron VanderWeele played Stephen Bulla's Air 'N' Variations. Based on the old Salvation Army song A Happy Day it incorporates references to a number of other Salvation Army writers, and gave him the opportunity to demonstrate his considerable agility and wide range. The vocla solo Led By The Fire, arranged by Brian Bowen, is based on a broadway song, and was impressively sung in authentic style by Raymond Livingston.

The last piece in the formal programme was The Cry Of The Warriors, written by Welsh-born Ralph Pearce and featuring the tunes Men Of Harlech and Crugybar. It depicts a life of struggle in which various hurdles are overcome, and ends with a powerful affirmation of triumph and victory. The impact of the piece was enhanced by an accompanying presentation projected onto the screen behind the band.

As encores, the band played Peter Graham's Gaelforce and Sousa's Stars And Stripes, presented in their own inimitable fashion. The band then sang a setting of Rock Of Ages as a benediction, before band and congregation joined together in Kevin Norbury's arrangement of All Must be Well.

A packed hall had enjoyed a great evening of music, played by a band which knows how to communicate with an audience, helped by the comments by their Executive officer Lt Col Reynders, who acted as compere. If one missed the rounder tone of most British bands, particularly in the middle of the ensemble, this was countered by their enthusiasm and precision at all times. Hadleigh was the tenth venue of their tour, yet there were no obvious signs of fatigue, despite what has been a very full itinerary. The title of the tour is "United" and that was how we all felt, drawn together in music, love and fellowship.

Peter Bale

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