Cat No. JM41058
Price £44.95
Composer: James Curnow
Categories: LIGHT CONCERT MUSIC, SALVATIONIST MUSIC

Salvation Army Tone Poem

Comments by Lieut-Colonel Ray Bowes

This fine work has much that will be of interest to players and conductors and should bring a measure of musical satisfaction when played. The directives of the message contained therein should appeal to those who listen. It is thought that the comments of the composer should prove helpful and these are therefore given.

‘Inspired by reading Marching to glory, a history of The Salvation Anny written for the 1980 National Congress in the USA by Professor E.H. McKinley, who taught history at Asbury College in Kentucky, the composer has endeavoured to capture the spirit of early-day Salvationists as they gave themselves completely to ‘the great salvation war’. The phrase itself appeared in the Pacific Coast edition of The Salvation Army’s newspaper, The War Cry, on 1 January, 1888, and was often used by the pioneers to describe their daily struggle against Satan and his legions.

The songs employed in the tone poem represent, first, the strength and determination of the pioneer Salvationists and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all odds (‘Stand like the brave!); second, complete commitment to the Lord, to trust only in him for power and direction, even in the darkest and most trying times (‘In thee, 0 Lord, do I put my trust’); and last, the triumphant reaffirmation of the Army’s one great purpose (‘Rescue the perishing’).’