Put together every two years to support trumpeter Clarence Adoo, this year’s band was in the capable hands of Dr Howard Evans.
Many of the players had played with Clarence in various ensembles, or attended Music Schools together in their younger days, and Howard had chosen a programme featuring several transcriptions from the classics, as well as major works by Dean Goffin.
Full sound
From the opening notes of the march ‘Scarlet Jersey’, with its strong rhythms and answering phrases, it was clear that the near-capacity audience was in for a treat.
This was followed by ‘Guardian of My Soul’, fast becoming an Army classic; featuring a rich, full sound and an intensity to match the words associated with the featured melodies.
After a vigorous account of Saint-Saens’ ‘Marche Militaire Française’, Howard led the band in excerpts from ‘Treasures from Tchaikovsky’. The opening fanfare was quite stunning, the setting of ‘Christ had a Garden’ full of delicate touches, and the seamless dovetailing of the runs in the final section was most impressive.
Norwegian miniature
Eiliv Herikstad conducted Grieg’s ‘Last Spring’, explaining that the English version of the title fails to convey fully the sentiments of the original poem, in which an old man reflects on whether this may indeed be his final spring.
The cooperation between Craig Snell on principal cornet and his number two, Paul Young, was particularly effective as they combined to produce an unbroken melodic line.
Dean Goffin’s ‘Prelude and Fugue - Arise, My Soul, Arise’ was directed by Clarence; the subtle nuances of interpretation revealing an excellent rapport with the players.
Conflicts
In the light of the current turmoil in the Ukraine it was rather poignant to hear the beautiful melody at the heart of the ‘Finale from the Little Russian’, whilst the outer passages revelled in the vitality of the music of the steppes.
‘Nimrod’ was included in deference to conflicts closer to home; the music kept flowing with particular attention to the dynamic rises and falls.
Well matched
Occupying the euphonium chairs were Steven Mead, himself a product of the Boscombe Corps, and the band’s current principal euphonium, John Starkes. They produced a thrilling rendition of ‘Timepiece’, blending beautifully together, with the phrases in octaves coming over particularly well.
‘Mid all the Traffic’ led into the bible reading and thoughts, brought by Clarence, and Ray Steadman-Allen’s classic ‘In Quiet Pastures’. The subsequent appeal by General Shaw Clifton raised over £1500.
Tour de force
The programme proper closed with ‘Symphony of Thanksgiving’, written to mark the 75th anniversary of the International Staff Band.
Opening at a cracking piece, all the sections of the band were put through their paces, with some fine work in particular from the trombones, led by Dudley Bright, and from Gavin Lamplough on Eb trumpet.
The musical items were interspersed with comments from Clarence and video clips, together with what he described as, ‘rather embarrassing’” pictures of his early days at Shoeburyness!
The band rounded the evening off with the march ‘Cobham Hall’, written for a Salvation Army music school that many present had attended.
Peter Bale
