London Northeast Fellowship Band

Music For Everyone
Bandmaster: Ken Hillson
Hadleigh Temple Timbrel Brigade (Irene Ivory)
Hadleigh Temple
Saturday 26th January

This year’s “Music For Everyone” concert given by the London Northeast Fellowship Band was their first under the leadership of Bandmaster Ken Hillson (Hadleigh Temple).  

Their special guests for the occasion were Kenneth and Patricia Downie, of Winchester Corps.  Kenneth was featured as guest conductor, and accompanied his wife in her solos, as well as - rather unexpectedly - demonstrating a pleasant, light tenor voice of his own.  

The band commenced proceedings with Charles Skinner’s stirring march “Amsterdam Congress”, the players responding well to the bandmaster’s leadership as he set a brisk pace.  Rhythms were crisp, aided by some fine work on percussion, and dynamics were carefully observed.  The euphonium line in the trio was particularly smooth and finely shaped.

Following a congregational song – “Simply Trusting” to the tune of “Will ye no’ come back again” (chosen no doubt in deference to Kenneth Downie’s Scottish background) came the opening prayer and introductions, before the band continued with Eric Ball’s classic Air Varie “The Old Wells”.  

The band produced a warm, full sound in the tutti sections, with some tidy semiquaver work in the first variation.  The start of the passacaglia was a little uncertain, and there were some tuning issues between cornets and horns, but the contrasts between the various sections – cornets, trombones, basses – came across well, and overall it was a creditable rendition.

The first soloist of the evening was John Ferdinand, from Hastings, playing Chris Mallet’s lively euphonium solo “Travelling Along”.  Standing at the left by the soprano led to a few problems in co-ordination, particularly with the percussionist, who was at the opposite side of the band, but things soon settled down.  

The soloist produced a clean, lyrical performance, although the band was at times a little overpowering for his lightish sound.  With the quotes from “California here I Come” and “Raindrops are falling on my Head” reflecting the contrast in weather between Chris’s adopted home in California and his native UK the item was well received by the appreciative audience.

As Kenneth Downie stepped up to introduce and conduct his own “Sacrament” he commented that he was the first of the featured composers to be still alive!  He explained how the piece, based around Albert Orsborn’s words “My Life must be Christ’s Broken Bread”, was inspired by hearing a sermon by John Gowans.  

Beginning with a unison tenor melody, the music gradually opened out as the rest of the saxhorns joined in, followed by cornets and trombones.  The writing conveyed the emotions of the hymn effectively, through the impending suffering and sacrifice and on to the confident assertion that “Who dies with thee, O Word divine, shall rise and live again”.  The quiet coda, well controlled by the band, ended the piece on a reflective note.

For Patricia Downie’s first item, she presented Howard Goodall’s setting of “The Lord is my Shepherd”, written for the television comedy “Vicar of Dibley”.  With sensitive accompaniment from her husband her interpretation highlighted the various moods of the words, which are based on Psalm 23.  

Their second contribution was a new duet – described as a “fun” item - especially written for the occasion.   Entitled “A Sunbeam” it featured Kenneth and Patricia as piano duettists, opening with Kenneth’s own singing company setting of “Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam”, as incorporated in his march fantasy “The Joybringer”.  

In the central section, Patricia stepped forward to sing the children’s hymn “God make my life a little Light”, before resuming her seat at the piano for the finale, which included both the old and new tunes for “A Sunbeam”.  The handovers between them were handled very slickly, and they communicated a real sense of fun to the audience.

Five members of Hadleigh Temple Timbrel Brigade presented a sparkling display to Arthur Gullidge’s march “Emblem of the Army”.  This brought out some fine playing from the band, as they maintained the lilting 6/8 style throughout, and made much of the dynamic contrasts.

The second soloist from the band was their Principal Cornet, Deputy Bandmaster Keith Johnston of Hadleigh Temple.  Playing William Himes’ setting of “I’d rather have Jesus” he displayed his customary clear tone, from the unaccompanied opening through the various moods of the writing, although some of the band entries could have been a little more sympathetic and less obtrusive.

Kenneth Downie returned to conduct the band in George Marshall’s selection “Great and Glorious”, recalling how, as a student in Durham, he went to visit the composer’s widow to talk about George and his music, only to be mistaken for the laundry boy!  

The music is based on three songster pieces by George Marshall himself, and Kenneth Downie explained how the composer had been inspired by the rolling hills of the Trossachs as he penned the opening bars.  After some initial reluctance to move along with the conductor, the band soon settled down, with nicely observed dynamics and effective interchange between the sections, particularly in the lively final segment of the piece.

Following the interval, the second half opened with a second item by the Timbrels, this time nine in number, spread out down the three aisles of the hall, as they performed to a vocal rendition of a gospel song, in a display first used as part of the Corps’ Christmas presentation.

The third band soloist to take part was Principal Trombone John Ashcroft, who demonstrated his fluency in the upper register in Norman Bearcroft’s arrangement of “Over the Rainbow”.  Again, there were a few occasions where the sparse accompaniment could have been more secure, but it did little to detract from the fine solo playing, with a resounding top D to finish.

As the collection was taken up (which raised £428 for the band’s ongoing running costs) Kenneth Downie improvised at the piano, moving from “Over the Rainbow” to Ernest Rance’s “To the Hills” and back again, with some characteristic harmonic shifts on the way.

“Joy in the Lord” was described as a “double duo”, with both Kenneth and Patricia featuring as pianists and vocalists, his light tenor voice blending well with her soprano.  

Incorporating “Joy in the Salvation Army” – both the traditional melody and a Downie original - it also featured the song “There’s joy in following” (including the little-known verse) as well as “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart”.  Once again, the dexterity of both performers was plain to see, complete with crossing over of parts when at the piano.  

For Patricia’s final song, she presented “The Christ of Calvary”, to the tune of “Annie Laurie”.  The accompaniment was exemplary, providing flexible support to the soloist without any superfluous notes or undue display.

As a prelude to the scripture reading, presented by Major Idwal Evans, the band played Brian Bowen’s transcription of the “Theme from the Second Movement of Schubert’s Fifth Symphony”.  

Apart from some untidiness from horn and flugel in the tricky opening bars, this was quite effective, and led into Idwal’s reflections on Jesus calming the storm, which he linked with his own experiences travelling home by sea from Cape Town accompanied by his two young children.  Kenneth Downie then took up the baton once more to lead the band in his own setting of “In Perfect Peace”, in which the band produced some of the best playing of the evening, with good work from the soloists, and a seemingly endless pause on the final chord.

Following the Benediction, brought by Hadleigh Temple’s Commanding Officer, Major Noel Wright, Kenneth Downie brought the evening to a close with George Marshall’s march “Soldiers of Christ”, dating from as long back as 1912 but sounding as fresh as ever, with the cornet section doing valiant work in the fanfares leading into the last section.

Mention had been made previously of the valuable role the Fellowship bands are able to fulfil, particularly on weekdays when other bandsmen are otherwise engaged with work commitments.  With the majority of members well past retirement age, they have a wealth of experience to draw upon, and the band seems to be responding well to Bandmaster Hillson’s leadership.  

The playing may not be perfect, but they carry out a most worthwhile ministry, and the congregation of some 250 certainly appreciated their efforts, as was indicated by the warmth of their applause.

Peter Bale        

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