*
banner

CD Review: High Over All

Birmingham Citadel Band
Conductor: Gavin Lamplough
Pure Technical Services: PTS 1601
Total playing time: 62.43 min

High All Over

For several years the Birmingham Citadel Band has provided the musical entertainment as the audience gathers for the start of the British Open Championship. They continue to provide a long tradition of Salvation Army music-making and under the leadership of Gavin Lamplough maintains a high standard of performance.

Mix of styles

Their latest recording 'High Over All' contains repertoire both old and new, and there should be something there for most tastes - from the well-established items by Erik Leidzen to the up-beat contributions of Australian Sam Creamer. The performances show a good sense of style, from the swagger of 'On the King's Highway' to the funk and samba influenced 'Hold that Fort!' and the title track.

Accomplished soloists

The three soloists present contrasting pieces: Horn player Neil Blessett delivers an elegant rendition of 'A Time for Peace', before David Taylor shows what an accomplished player he is with 'A Troika? Tidy!' from the Karl Jenkins euphonium concerto. Mark Sharman opts for flamboyant 'Fiesta', with its Latin American influences - all three are well-supported by the band.

William Himes visited the Corps last year, and provides the narration for his own 'Jericho (Revisited)'; a humorous retelling of the biblical account with excellent interaction with the players.

Supporting worship

The band's role in supporting worship is reflected in the programme; with a sensitive setting of 'The Good Shepherd' and the lively opener, 'Make His Praise Glorious', whilst the use of transcriptions from the classics is represented by 'Marche Militaire Francaise', taken at just the right tempo to provide excitement without losing any of the detail and precision.

Martin Cordner's high-octane 'Escape Velocity' places considerable demands on the band with its driving rhythms and both it and 'Corpus Cristi' are given most convincing readings; the basses and euphoniums blending well in their solo feature in the latter.

This fine recording comes with an excellent sleeve note, although one may need a magnifying glass to read the very small print!

Peter Bale

Available from: http://www.birminghamcitadelband.com/BCB_Website/Welcome.html

Track Listing:

1. Make His Praise Glorious (Bill Wolaver arr William Gordon)
2. A Time for Peace (Peter Graham)
Soloist: Neil Blessett
3. Escape Velocity (Martin Cordner)
4. Hold that Fort! (Sam Creamer)
5. A Troika? Tidy (Karl Jenkins )
Soloist: David Taylor
6. The Good Shepherd (Erik Leidzen)
7. Jericho (Revisited) (Willam Himes )
Narrator: William Himes
8. On the King's Highway (Erik Leidzen)
9. Fiesta (Peter Graham)
Soloist: Mark Sharman
10. Marche Militaire Francaise (Saint-Saens arr Kenyon)
11. High Over All (Sam Creamer)
12. Corpus Christi (Robert Redhead)



Petworth Town Band - Petworth Town Band at Petworth Heritage weekend

Saturday 20 September • Centre of Petworth Town GU28 OAH


Cheltenham Silver Band - Holst Birthday Concert

Saturday 20 September • All Saints Church, All Saints Road, Pittville, Cheltenham GL52 2HG


Dobcross Silver Band - Milnrow Band

Sunday 21 September • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - The Band of the Grenadier Guards Big Band

Friday 26 September • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. WC1 2DJ W1C2DJ


Brass Bands England - The Brass Band Conference

Saturday 27 September • Redhills Durham Miners Hall, Durham DH1 4BE


Haverhill Silver Band

September 17 • Haverhill Silver Band (Championship Section) seeks a FRONT ROW CORNET (position negotiable). This is a superb opportunity to join East Anglia's premier brass band for the L&SC area contest, the Senior Cup, Whit Friday and beyond.


Cheltenham Silver Band

September 16 • Required:. Musical Director : Cheltenham Silver Academy Band Following the relocation of our current conductor we are looking for a progressive, passionate and dedicated individual to lead our Academy Band, and to support our continued improvement.


Chinnor Silver

September 16 • We need a Bass player (either Bb or Eb) and a percussionist to join our happy team! The band is promoted to the first section in 2026 and were also 2025 Second section National Finalists. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings in our own bandroom in Chinnor


Sarah Groarke-Booth

BA (Hons) MA
Conductor, Adjudicator, Compere, Actor


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd