Categories: TEST PIECES (Major Works), SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: Robert Redhead
The set testpiece for the English National Brass Band Championships 2008
Robert Redhead is a Canadian who was born in Manchester, United Kingdom, in 1940. His introduction to music came through the local Salvation Army young people’s brass programme. He has been a Salvation Army officer since 1964 and has served in the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, both in musical development roles, as pastor of a church congregation, and in various executive leadership positions. His passion has always been to deepen the experience of Christians and their worship. During the last two years prior to retirement in July 2005, he and his wife visited 32 countries on behalf of the General of The Salvation Army, assisting with the development of Worship and Evangelism through music and other creative arts. All his major works for brass band have been broadcast and commercially recorded. His previous commissioned test piece, Isaiah 40, was for the 1996 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, but has since been used at national championships in Norway, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Australia, and was used again at the UK Championship Section Regionals in 2007.
He now resides in Orillia, Canada, with his wife Gwenyth. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Categories: TEST PIECES (Major Works), SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: Robert Redhead
The study score for the English National Brass Band Championships 2008
Robert Redhead is a Canadian who was born in Manchester, United Kingdom, in 1940. His introduction to music came through the local Salvation Army young people’s brass programme. He has been a Salvation Army officer since 1964 and has served in the UK, Canada, and New Zealand, both in musical development roles, as pastor of a church congregation, and in various executive leadership positions. His passion has always been to deepen the experience of Christians and their worship. During the last two years prior to retirement in July 2005, he and his wife visited 32 countries on behalf of the General of The Salvation Army, assisting with the development of Worship and Evangelism through music and other creative arts. All his major works for brass band have been broadcast and commercially recorded. His previous commissioned test piece, Isaiah 40, was for the 1996 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, but has since been used at national championships in Norway, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Australia, and was used again at the UK Championship Section Regionals in 2007.
He now resides in Orillia, Canada, with his wife Gwenyth. They have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Categories: TEST PIECES (Major Works), SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: Robert Redhead
The Championship Section test piece for the 2007 Regional Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
Performance time - 12.41
You can buy the full recording of this work on the CD section of our site.
The recording is REGIONALS 2007 on Doyen DOY CD217
Commissioned for the final of the 1996 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. The timeless truths contained in Isaiah 40 were written to encourage a people facing very intimidating circumstances. The Jewish people of the 5th Century BC were preparing to make an arduous journey though the desert to return to their ravaged homeland after a lengthy exile in the sophisticated society of Babylon. Both Scripture and music sound out a message of hope, as they view life from an eternal perspective, thus placing change in its proper context. Because 'the Lord is the everlasting God' his word 'stands forever' and 'those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength'. They will not merely get through somehow but 'they will soar on wings like eagles'.
Categories: Christmas Music, SALVATIONIST MUSIC Arranger: Norman Bearcroft
Norman Bearcroft gives us a very 'different' treatment of this Christmas favourite, in which he depicts an imaginary sleigh ride - including falling off at the end!
Category: SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: Howard Evans
This work was written for the 125th anniversary of Boscombe Band, celebrated in November 2011, and is the title track of the band' album released in the same year. The music is celebratory in nature and is dedicated to all those who have served in the band during its 125 year history. The theme of the work is a song by Charles Hutchison Gabriel which was the favourite of the band's librarian, Gerald Whittingham, who was 'promoted to Glory' after a long battle with a brain tumour. The title comes from the last verse, 'When with the ransomed in Glory, his face I at last shall see, 'twill be my joy through the ages, to sing of his love for me'.
This short, light-hearted solo has been described as The Salvation Army's answer to 'The flight of the bumble bee' and requires facility from the soloist and accurate accompaniment from the band. The solo opens and closes with whimsical references to Erik Leidzen's famous euphonium solo 'The Song of the Brother' and includes the tunes 'A robe of white' and 'I'll serve Thee'.
Categories: MARCHES, SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: Kenneth Downie
This Festival (Concert) March was a pacesetter among 'new' Salvation Army marches of the 1960s with its refreshing harmonic language and use of Latin American rhythmic style.
Categories: Christmas Music, Trios, SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer / arranger: Norman Bearcroft
Double Cornet Trio
This music takes the form of a double trio (cornets and trombones) with full brass band accompaniment and is based on the composer's own Christmas song for female voices, 'Carol of the Bells'.
Categories: Solos, SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: William Himes
This cornet solo was written for Peggy Thomas, principal cornet of the Chicago Staff Band of the Salvation Army. It is tightly constructed and opens with material based on bare fourths & fifths, the soloist almost "arguing" with the band in places. A brief quote from the Salvationist tune "Joy Because of You" fails to appease the band but eventually a cadenza quietens the mood before the soloist introduces "If You Want Joy" and at last the band succumbs, restating "Joy Because of You". Th soloist takes this up and has finally won his argument, turning the opening mood of agression into one of joy.
Duration 8.56
Jubilance, by William Himes, is available on the CD 'By Request II' by Grimethorpe Colliery Band, conducted by Dr. Robert Childs & Ray Farr.
Categories: Hymn Tunes, SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer / arranger: Wilfred Heaton
Salvation Army meditation
A typically dramatic 'classic' by Heaton. Published in 1947 but written many years before, this timeless composition is more than 'just a hymn setting' - more a miniature Tone Poem of real Heaton intensity. Immensely popular for both SA and 'contesting' bands and featured on no less than 6 recordings in this catalogue.
Category: SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: Steven Ponsford
The Greek word 'kerygma' was adopted by the early Christian church as a way of expressing 'the word of God proclaimed'. The composer has taken this concept and used three contemporary worship songs, 'He is Lord', 'Jesus Christ' and 'He has risen', along with fragments of the more traditional 'Easter Hymn', to proclaim in music the Lordship of the risen Christ.
Category: SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: Kenneth Downie
Based on the well-known hymn 'Praise my soul, the King of Heaven', this composition was specially written for The International Staff Band. A veritable showcase for the brass band, featuring each section in turn (cornets, horns and baritones, trombones, euphoniums and basses, percussion), the music concludes with an exciting and dramatic presentation of the theme.
Category: SALVATIONIST MUSIC Arranger: Trevor Worthington
Unity Series Band Journal,
February 2008 - Numbers 342 - 345
This is a compilation album of four complete arrangements.
No. 342 Chorus Arrangement - King of kings, Majesty (Trevor Worthington).
An arrangement of the popular worship song by Jarrod Cooper.
No. 343 Song Arrangement - My Tribute (Marlon Jones).
A transcription for brass of one of the most popular Christian songs of the 20th Century.
No. 344 Festival March - Walking with him (Steven Ponsford).
Based on Sally Broughton's medley entitled 'Jesus loves me' this march features an arrangement of 'Yes, Jesus loves me', 'He never failed me yet' and 'Walking with Jesus'.
No. 345 Benediction - Perfect Peace (David Rowsell).
A simple arrangement of the chorus, 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace'.
Categories: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC, SALVATIONIST MUSIC Composer: Eric Ball
Salvation Army Tone Poem - duration 8.35.
This landmark composition written in 1962 is perhaps the most universally known Eric Ball classic. With its magnificent finale treatment of the hymn tune 'Helmsley,' this is ideal concert repertoire.
If you enjoyed listening to this extract and want to hear the full recording, you can buy the CD on this website in the CD Section. The CD is "PATRONS CHOICE II" Fodens Band conducted by Michael Fowles.
To view 