The USA Southern Territorial Band commenced their Easter Tour at Chelmsford Citadel, the home corps of Bandmaster Nick Simmons-Smith.

Despite several members battling illness they marched into the hall to Chelmsford Band playing 'Salvation Song', before opening their own programme with the Festival Intrada, 'A Mighty Fortress' by principal euphonium Steve Kellner. 

Fortress

Written for the 125th Anniversary of the Atlanta Temple Corps, the composer viewed it as a symbolic 'fortress', incorporating Latin American elements and original music before a triumphant final statement of Luther's melody.

'Shepherd's Song' followed in a sustained reading that was a little heavy at times. This was also a problem with the accompaniment to Joel Collier's euphonium solo 'Able'. The soloist displayed a formidable technique complete with lip glissandi and multiphonics, but some of the detail was masked by the band.

Slick

Chelmsford Songsters brought contrast with 'Church on Fire', following in the second half with 'Showers of Blessing'. Both songs were slickly presented, although the male voices were rather outnumbered.

Andrew Barrington's 'Azmon Variations' uses a tune used in America for the song 'O For a Thousand Songs to Sing'. There was a striking section for euphonium and basses, whilst elsewhere fragmented sections of the tune were spread across the band, with it only appearing in full in the final uplifting climax.

The audience headed to the interval to 'La fe es la Victoria' - a Salsa version of 'Faith is the Victory'. 

The second half opened with 'Didn't Willie Ramble', a clever imaging of William Booth's funeral set in New Orleans, with marching band quartet and featuring 'Oh When the Saints' and 'O Boundless Salvation'.

Clever

The second half opened with 'Didn't Willie Ramble', a clever imaging of William Booth's funeral set in New Orleans, with marching band quartet and featuring 'Oh When the Saints' and 'O Boundless Salvation'.

After the rousing singing of 'And Can It Be' Jeffrey Barrington played 'A Prayer for Courage', a cornet solo written by his brother around Eric Ball's song of that name. Largely reflective the emphasis is on the courage needed to follow the way of the cross. 

Following the message from Lt Col Mockabee, the band presented a fine rendition of Eric Ball's 'Triumph of Peace'. The evening ended with the united bands playing the visiting bandmaster's march 'Chelmsford 125'.

Peter Bale