United youth bands from the Anglia, London North East, Northern, Southern and West Midlands Divisions, together with the International Staff Band got this year’s Gospel Arts Concert off to a rousing start with Andrew Mackereth’s, ‘Keep Me Praising’.
Andrew Blyth controlled his massed forces pretty well, despite a slight wobble in the rather quirky interlude, and the ten percussionists were clearly enjoying themselves.
The USA Western Territorial Songster Brigade, who had entered during the piece, made their way to their seats as the band played ‘The Blessing’.
Transatlantic guests
Kathryn Ballantine, daughter of Major Len Ballantine, was enjoying her first solo visit to the UK.
She was accompanied by the songsters and the ISB in her father’s arrangement of, ‘Joyful, Joyful’, as popularised in the film ‘Sister Act’. Her performance was full of vitality, although the free interpretation of the song was rather masked by the backing forces.
For many present, the USA Western songsters were the stars of the show, with a bright, balanced sound and exemplary diction which allowed them to communicate well with the audience.
They followed ‘Sing and Rejoice’ with ‘Boundless!’, Kevin Larsson’s contemporary setting of William Booth’s well known words.
Confident playing
Stephen Cobb led the youth bands in their major contribution, Stephen Ponsford’s ‘Kerygma’ - the young players taking the solo lines appearing totally unfazed by the occasion, particularly the flugel who started things off all on his own.
Celebration of RSA
Two songs in contrast from the International Staff Songsters set the ethereal sounds of Barber’s ‘Agnus Dei’ against the more recent ‘I’ve Just Seen Jesus’, before the ISB excelled in a new work by Dudley Bright.
‘Fantasia on ‘Glory to His Name’ uses the afore-named solo as its basis, but includes numerous references to other vocal and instrumental works.
Kathryn Ballantine brought the first half to a close with a soulful rendition of ‘Wade in the Water’, a spiritual inspired by slaves seeking freedom trying to elude the pursuing bloodhounds.
Vocal contrasts
There was a moment of unintentional humour as Andrew Blyth stepped forward to announce the congregational song, only for him to end up miming to the off-stage announcer.
The ISS continued with a light-hearted vocalisation of Norman Bearcroft’s ‘Just Like John’, an unaccompanied rendition of ‘Jesus Himself Drew Near’ and the chorale-like ‘God, We Will Give You Glory’.
Exciting hoe-down
The youth bands displayed great sensitivity in ‘Lord, How I Love You’, before being allowed to let their hair down in Martin Cordner’s lively ‘Round Up’.
Kyle Higgins then presented a scripture recitation, illustrated by the dance of Kathryn Ballantine.
The second set from the USA songsters consisted of ‘Bow the Knee’ and the challenging ‘Love’s Call’, specially written for their UK tour.
United finale
Steven Bulla’s ‘Mission Force’, from the ISB preceded the telling message from the recently-appointed Territorial Commander, Commissioner Clive Adams, and a moment of quiet ensued as Kathryn sang ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’, sensitively accompanied at the piano by Nicholas King.
The massed songsters and ISB then combined in ‘The Hallelujah Chorus’.
It bought to the close an evening where there was much to enjoy, but which somehow seemed to lack a little sparkle, and that did not flow as smoothly as usual.
As for the number of empty seats, one has to question the viability of this long-standing event in this venue.
Peter Bale
