Canadian Staff Band

Conductor: Bandmaster Kevin Hayward
Scarborough Citadel
Toronto
Saturday May 27th

A capacity crowd greeted Bandmaster Kevin Hayward and the Canadian Staff Band as they took the stage to present their 37th annual anniversary concert, held at Scarborough Citadel in Toronto, May 27th. A sense of eager anticipation filled the hall, as the band kicked off with a new piece from the pen of Bill Himes entitled appropriately enough, 'Cause for Celebration'.

The reason for the heightened enthusiasm was the visit of the ISB Bandmaster Stephen Cobb, and his son Philip, from London England. After a warm welcome, extended by Major Ron Millar to the international
visitors, B/M Cobb stepped forward to conduct the band through an exciting presentation of Ray Steadman-Allen's major work 'Victorian Snapshots - On Ratcliffe Highway'. Very descriptive in nature, this
work is a collection of 'sound pictures' which attempt to depict the early day Salvationists making their way through London's notorious Thameside in the 1880's.  The composer cleverly utilises fragments of music hall
tunes clashing with the old Army song 'Hold the fort for I am coming', as the 'Skeleton Army' confronts the Whitechapel Band as they hold an outdoor meeting. The piece comes to a triumphant conclusion with a big
treatment of the song 'We'll be heroes'.

Following this, Stephen Cobb brought Philip on stage to present the Erik Leidzen solo, 'Wondrous Day'. Orginally written for Philip's famous cornet playing grandfather, Roland Cobb, this young man gave a
performance that Roland would have been proud of. The finesse and maturity of Philip's playing certainly belies his 18 years! For his second contribution in the first half, Philip chose the beautiful Ken Downie arrangement of 'Healing Waters', which demonstrated the soloist's ability to convey a message through controlled and sensitive playing.

The hush that followed spoke volumes as to the audience's appreciation of his skill.

The CSB contributed two other significant works before the intermission, with the popular Mozart 'Overture to the Marriage of Figaro'. This embellished transcription from the pen of Bill Himes, and then B/M Hayward steered the band through a confident reading of Kevin Norbury's 'Flourish and Dances'. It was evident from the sustained applause that the crowd appreciated this brilliant performance, significant perhaps, as the composer was in the audience.

In keeping with tradition, the CSB started the second half with an old march from the pen of Dean Goffin titled 'Alderney'. Those of us from that vintage can probably recall this one from an old Tottenham Citadel
LP recording. Interestingly, one of  the members of that same band was in the audience; namely Deryck Diffey! Following this, Stephen Cobb took over the baton again, and Philip presented the Kenny Baker trumpet piece, 'Virtuosity'. Brilliant playing again from the younger Cobb, who seemed just as much at home on the trumpet as the cornet. After sustained applause, an encore solo was offered, with Peter Graham's 'Whirlwind'. Again, superb playing from this young virtuoso.

The mood was changed with two up tempo items. First off, the Ray Farr arrangement of Bach's 'Toccata in D Minor', which set the audience abuzz, and then a big band treatment of the old S.A. song, 'Love Lifted
Me' from the pen of Vancouver composer, David Mills. The CSB also presented several vocal ensemble items during the evening, one of which was 'You're never too far from God', a colloboration between two
Chicago writers, Robert Thomson and Bill Himes.

For the final major work of the evening, the Band was joined by Philip Cobb on the cornet bench as they presented an exciting new piece from the pen of Martin Cordner titled 'Day of Freedom'. This work incorporates two songs - one ancient, one modern.  The old 17th century German  hymn 'Lobe den Herren', and the contemporary gospel song 'Midnight Cry'. Cordner has produced an interesting and musically
satisfying work that should find its way into the mainstream of S.A. band repertoire. The audience certainly seemed to enjoy it.

Following prolongued applause, B/M Cobb responded with an encore, and led the band through Peter Graham's lovely arrangement of 'Swedish Folk Song'.

Feedback in the days following seemed to suggest that this was one of the best CSB concerts in recent years. The Band, Stephen and Philip Cobb are to be commended for an evening of music of the highest calibre.

Stan Ewing

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