Music For Everyone

Hadleigh Temple
Saturday 6th February
London Northeast Divisional Fellowship Band (Ken Hillson)

The annual Music for Everyone concert given by the London Northeast Divisional Fellowship Band has become a popular feature in the Hadleigh Corps calendar, always attracting a good audience and raising much-needed funds for local projects.

This year the Salvation Army’s Bradbury Home in Southend was the beneficiary, the money going to provide extras for the elderly residents. As in previous years the band was supported by various guests in an attempt to ensure a wide appeal.

Sparkling display

The timbrel items are always well received, and they opened the programme with a sparkling display to the old favourite “Montreal Citadel” (Norman Audoire). Due to other commitments only six members of the brigade were able to attend, but their efforts were greatly appreciated, and the bass section of the band seemed to relish getting off to such a positive start, whilst Lt Col Phillips took up the cymbals to assist the lone percussionist.

Solos in contrast

Trombone soloist Mark Sharman, from Birmingham Citadel, was one of a number of participants who were struggling with ill health, having suffered a migraine en route to Hadleigh. Nevertheless he pressed on manfully, opening with Don Lusher’s “Concert Variations”, accompanied at the piano by David Miles.

After a somewhat uncertain opening the performance grew in confidence, and he followed it with a version of “Londonderry Air” especially arranged by his brother Paul. The band accompaniment could have been a little smoother at times, and it did beg the question as to whether another version was really needed, when there are so many fine settings already in existence.

Throughout the evening the presentation was enhanced by the use of three cameras to project close-ups of the performers onto the screen behind the band.

Dreaming the dream

The ballad “I dreamed a dream” from “Les Miserables” (Schonberg arr Barry) featured Principal Cornet Keith Johnston, another who had been unwell in the run-up to the concert. Although his experience carried him though, he was clearly a little under par, and this seemed to have a knock-on effect on the band as a whole.

There were also a few intonation problems affecting the middle of the band, although there was some fine playing by Dave Harrison on soprano in the final section.

Humour in song

Billed as “The two tenors”, Chris Blyth and Dennis Anderson had travelled from Margate with their accompanist David Miles.

They brought more than a few chuckles with their humorous version of “From the General Down to Me”, in which a lowly Salvationist reflected on the lack of opportunities for promotion. There was added comedy as David Phillips, co-opted as drummer once more, missed his cue – twice!

A gem from the past

The band’s Deputy Bandmaster David Martin (Southend Citadel) conducted the band in their next item, Dean Goffin’s classic selection “To God be the glory”. After a positive opening, there was some fine trombone playing (with the assistance of Mark Sharman) in “Glory, glory, Jesus saves me”, and a strong, bright finish with “Glory to His name”.

David Miles at the piano

For his first solo offering, David Miles, who was for many years the pianist in the Royal Marines Band on the Royal Yacht Britannia, brought an interpretation of Debussy’s “Clare de Lune” that cleverly interpolated the children’s hymn “Jesus loves me, this I know”.

Music for a wedding

Bandmaster William Himes of the Chicago Staff Band penned “The Blessing” to be played at his son’s wedding.

Taking the song “Come thou fount of every blessing” as its basis, he has produced an imposing work, from the positive opening fanfare through to the assured final statement of the theme, which was aided by some incisive percussion playing. The band produced some of their best playing of the evening, particularly from the euphoniums as the theme was introduced.

Following the collection, Lt Col Phillips led the singing in melodies from the four countries of the United Kingdom, with “When Irish Eyes are Smiling”, “Annie Laurie “ (“The Christ of Calvary”) and “Cwm Rhondda”, although the choice of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” to represent England may have been pushing it a bit!

Theme from “Beaches”

For his second spot, Mark Sharman played “The Wind Beneath my wings” (arr Barry) to a cd backing track, and then produced a fine rendition of “Count Your Blessings”.

Brindley Boon, who died last year, was perhaps better known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of Salvation Army history and for his vocal compositions, but he also wrote a number of works for band, and this solo has stood the test of time better than many similar items.

After a slightly sluggish start in the accompaniment, both soloist and band acquitted themselves well.

The timbrels spared the band the rigours of tackling Paul Drury’s “Jubilee” by playing to a cd recording, before David Miles gave a refined reading of Scott Joplin’s “Maple leaf Rag”, avoiding the all-too-common mistake of treating it as a rat-race, but allowing the music plenty of space, as the composer intended.

Pause for thought

A time for reflection commenced with Kenneth Downie’s “Grant us thy peace”, followed by two further songs from Chris and Dennis, “Count your blessings” and “Amazing Grace”.

Thoughts from the scriptures led into Richard Phillips’ impressive setting of “Who is He”, drawing some full, warm sounds from the band following Keith Johnston’s solo presentation of the first verse.

Upbeat finish

The programme ended on an up-beat note with “Stars and Stripes Forever” (Sousa arr Himes), complete with “piccolo” obbligato from Dave Harrison, setting the audience’s feet tapping and hands clapping.

If not quite reaching the standards set by previous such events, it was nevertheless a most worthwhile evening which, with the assistance of a generous donation from one of the band members, raised a welcome £2.000 for the residents at Bradbury Home.

Peter Bale

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