Birmingham Citadel Band
Bandmaster: Gavin Lamplough
Soloists: David Taylor; Neil Blessett
SPS Recordings: SPS 454 CD
The Birmingham Citadel Band has served its city since the late 19th century. In recent decades its mission in proclaiming the Christian Gospel through music has seen an active membership of over 60 musicians maintain a busy schedule of church services and performances – including a regular appearance to welcome the audience to the British Open Championship at Symphony Hall.
Wide ranging
Under Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough, the principal cornet of The International Staff Band of The Salvation Army, they have also enhanced a wide ranging artistic reputation, with this release, their third in recent years.
The twelve tracks provide cover an expansive arc of time, inspiration and style
The twelve tracks provide cover an expansive arc of time, inspiration and style; the meditative reflections of Eric Ball’s ‘Serenity’ and Leslie Condon’s vibrant march ‘Celebration’ from the 1960s through to the Count Basie-esque ‘Golden Stairs’ and the upbeat pop feel of Martin Cordner’s ‘Uniquity’, both penned in the last couple of years.
Even the seemingly curious inclusion of the overture to Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’, with its Masonic themes of enlightenment philosophy, symbolism and ritual isn’t too far out of place played with a light touch of secular refinement and understanding.
Message explored
Elsewhere the clear underpinning Christian message is explored in variant forms, with the bold evangelical expressions of faith heard in the title track by Marcus Venebles and the explorative themes of change curated in ‘Metamorphosis’ by Richard Phillips.
Contrasting solo leads come with the fine playing of euphonium David Taylor and tenor horn Neil Blessett on the lyrical ‘Shepherd Song’ and the suave flow of ‘Breathe on Me’.
Contrasting solo leads come with the fine playing of euphonium David Taylor and tenor horn Neil Blessett on the lyrical ‘Shepherd Song’ and the suave flow of ‘Breathe on Me’.
Recorded with a sympathetic ear to the acoustic to the band’s Citadel home, the upbeat drive of ‘This Train!’ that chuffs along at an ever-increasing foot-tapping pace is set against Kenneth Downie’s lovely framing of ‘Christ in Me’ and the familiar strains of ‘Jesus Loves Me’ arranged by Craig Stevens, both of which are expressively shaped and textured.
Iwan Fox
To purchase:
CD: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102438
Download: https://www.worldofbrass.com/102438-download
Wobplay: http://www.wobplay.com
Play list:
1. Holy Forever (Marcus Venebles)
2. Shepherd Song (Trevor Davis)
Soloist: David Taylor
3. Uniquity (Martin Cordner)
4. Jesus Loves Me (Bradbury arr. Craig Stevens)
5. Golden Stairs (Sam Creamer)
6. Serenity (Eric Ball)
7. Overture: The Magic Flute (Mozart arr. Michael Kenyon)
8. Christ in Me (Kenneth Downie)
9. Metamorphosis (Richard Phillips)
10. This Train! (Andrew Hedley)
11. Breath on Me (Gavin Lamplough)
Soloist: Neil Blessett
12. Celebration (Leslie Condon)
