The 30th Hendon Highlights Festival featured an all Salvation Army line-up; David Taylor, euphonium, Sue Blyth, vocal, the New Generation cornet ensemble, and the Territorial Music School 'A' chorus joining Hendon Band. 

The opening 'Fusion' found Hendon in good fettle, with an especially warm sound to the middle range instruments. Although the three trombones were rather outnumbered by the doublings around them, they made a distinctive contribution throughout.

Impressive choral singing

David Taylor's sensitive 'Shepherd's Song' led nicely into the prayer and introductions, before the chorus sang 'Boundless', a lively contemporary setting by Kevin Larsson of William Booth's words. 

David Taylor displayed his prowess in a confident reading of 'Air 'N Variations' with its allusions to Erik Leidzen's solos, before New Generation gave the premiere of 'Fuego!'

This Spanish style work, for eight cornets, was especially written for the occasion by Paul Sharman, and included some particularly fruity harmonies in its setting of 'Send the Fire'.

Vocal variety

Sue Blyth was accompanied by piano and band in 'How Beautiful' and used a big band style backing track for 'Somebody Believed'. The chorus then demonstrated their versatility in 'Be Thou my Vision' and 'Your Grace still Amazes Me'.

The first half closed with 'Song of the Eternal' in a finely crafted rendition with tight ensemble playing and first class solo work.

There was some especially telling quiet playing, although one occasionally wished for a bit more in the louder tutti passages.

After a rousing song, 'Charlotte Celebration' made for a toe-tapping start to the second half, with more than a touch of the circus ring to it, New Generation returned with 8 flugels for William Himes revision of 'So Glad'. 

Their spacious reading seemed more coherent than that at ISB120, and each player dealt with their solos with aplomb.

Relish

Early arrivals to the 2013 British Open may well have caught David Taylor's masterly account of 'Harlequin' with Birmingham Citadel Band, and he did not disappoint on this occasion either, relishing the lyrical opening whilst taking the technical challenges in his stride.

Sue Blyth was joined by the chorus in 'Father, Creator', then by the band in the swing style 'We've come this Far by Faith', before closing with an exquisite 'His Eye is on the Sparrow' that was greeted by an appreciative silence.

The final items from the chorus were 'Come to the Cross' and Michael Jackson's 'Man in the Mirror'. 

Andrew Blyth admitted that the latter found him well outside his comfort zone, but the words were quite appropriate and the young singers clearly enjoyed themselves.

Commanding finale

The scripture presentation was followed by 'Sunset over the River Exe', before 'Turris Fortissima' made for a rousing finale, with excellent solo work from cornet, horn and trombone in particular. 

It brought to a close an excellent showcase of Salvation Army music-making, although there may be concern at the number of empty seats.

Peter Bale