Music For Everyone

Hadleigh Temple Band & Hadleigh Temple Timbrels
Conductors: Ken Hillson, Irene Ivory
Ipswich Citadel
Saturday 9th May

The link between Major Wendy Goodman and Hadleigh Temple Corps dates back 23 years, during which period Hadleigh Temple has frequently supported the work in her various appointments. 

The Major is currently stationed at the Priory Centre in Ipswich, but as the Centre is relatively small, the comrades of Ipswich Citadel agreed to host the visit of the band and timbrels for a fund-raising concert.

Give thanks

Despite the presence of Kettering Band a few miles up the coast at Lowestoft, a respectable number gathered as the band opened the evening with Richard Spicer’s sparkling march “Concord”, featuring the contemporary song “Give thanks”. The mood then quietened somewhat with Paul Drury’s sensitive arrangement of Graham Kendrick’s “Such Love”, before prayer was offered by Band Sergeant John Ashcroft.

Mis-placed applause

Following some words of welcome, Bandmaster Hillson took on the role of compère, expressing the hope that there would indeed be something in the programme to appeal to everyone. 

Music from the classics followed, with the overture to Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”, arranged by Michael Kenyon, a former Bandmaster at Hadleigh. The performance displayed some fine solo work across the band, albeit interrupted slightly by a smattering of applause at the half-way point, despite a warning from the bandmaster in his introduction.

Contrasting solos

Two soloists were featured, the first being Deputy Bandmaster Keith Johnston with Erik Silfverberg’s lively setting of “Way beyond the blue”. Using the chorus “I’ve got a home in Gloryland that outshines the sun” as the basis for some brisk variations, it is hard to credit that this well-established classic is now some 30 years old.

Whilst the audience were encouraged to sing along if they knew the chorus, they would have been hard-pressed to do so with the second solo item, “Allegro Spiritoso” (Senaille arr Himes), presented by Principal Euphonium Anthony Sommerville, who had travelled to Ipswich straight from his duties with the Grenadier Guards Band. Both soloists were well supported by the band, with just a little uncertainty at one of the tempo changes in the latter item.

A taste of New Orleans

The band then had a rest from playing as the Timbrels presented their first item, based on “Just a closer walk with thee”, set in New Orleans style with a wind band accompaniment. Progressing slowly up the aisle, the timbrellists sang the verse in three-part harmony before moving briskly to the front of the hall for the livelier second section. As always, their contribution was very well received.

Music for all seasons

Bandmaster Hillson suggested that it is a shame that much seasonal music is often only heard over a very limited period, when there are so many good melodies and when the sentiments of the songs are frequently relevant all year round. 

This served to introduce Kenneth Downie’s “Bleak Mid-Winter” (Gustav Holst), one of four items that the band was playing out for the first time. An extended setting of the traditional carol, with many harmonic twists so characteristic of the composer, and introducing original music as interludes and counter-melody, the band brought out the subtleties of the scoring most effectively.

Versatility

The first half was brought to a close with a rousing rendition of “Toccata in D minor” (Bach arr Jan van Kraeydonck), in which trombonist Ben Still demonstrated his versatility by playing the central kit part.

Music fit for a king

To open the second half, the band’s five trombones, together with soprano and four solo cornets, formed a V formation in front of the platform for Dudley Bright’s “Pastime with Good Company”. 

After a drum introduction, the melody, attributed to King Henry VIII, was presented first by the trombones and then the cornets, before the band joined in, juxtaposing the worship song “Lord I lift your name on high” with the original tune. 

The contrasting styles worked well, with the rich sound of Carl Carter’s bass trombone on one side, and Dave Harrison’s soprano rising above the ensemble on the other, the dark, sombre tones of the trombones set against the brighter cornet sound.

Birthday greetings

Carl then moved to the piano, accompanying the congregational song “Simply Trusting” before leading the assembled company in a chorus of “Happy Birthday” for Major Pam Saunders, who was also presented with a bouquet of flowers. The Major, who worked with Major Goodman for a number of years, is now retired at Hadleigh, and was helping organise the event.

Final soloist

Young People’s Band Leader Alex Campbell was the third and final soloist to be featured, with a full-toned rendition of the flugel horn solo “It is well with my soul” (arr Howard Davies). This was followed by the second item from the timbrels, who performed a slick display to Arthur Gullidge’s lilting 6/8 march “Emblem of the Army”, played by the band.

Moments for Reflection

To precede the Scripture thoughts, brought by Band Sergeant John Ashcroft, the band played Roy Newsome’s transcription of Noah Bruce’s tune for “There is a green hill”, the first three verses featuring in turn flugel, cornets and euphoniums, before building to a thrilling climax in the last verse.

Reworking of an old favourite

The final two items both came from the pen of William Himes, the first being a new arrangement of Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever”, the writer explaining in the score that he felt it was time to replace the customary wind band parts with a tailor-made version for brass band. This featured Dave Harrison on the “piccolo” obbligato, and ended with a suitably swaggering final section.

Thrilling finale

Having written “Procession to Covenant” for his own wedding, William Himes was asked to write something on the occasion of his son’s marriage. 

The outcome was the “Meditation – The Blessing”, based round the song “Come thou fount of every blessing”. The music embraces a wide range of emotions as it reflects on the various verses, the text being displayed on the screen, and it provided a thrilling finale to the programme.

At the conclusion of the applause, the band members moved into the body of the hall for a sung benediction, “The Lord bless thee and keep thee”, before taking the opportunity to shake hands with audience members.

Peter Bale

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