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Restored drum presented to Belfast Temple Band at its 125th Anniversary Festival

Belfast Temple and Downshire Brass Combined Anniversary Festival

Posted on 12 January 201612 January 2016 by Webmaster

125 years of banding at Belfast Temple (formerly Ballymacarrett Montpottinger) and 25 years of Downshire Brass (formed from an amalgamation of Reid Memorial Silver Band and Hillsborough Silver Band) were celebrated on 10 October 2015 as [bclink id=”951″ target=”_blank”] (Bandmaster Jack Burch) joined with [bclink id=”2652″ target=”_blank”] (Musical Director Michael Alcorn), vocal soloist Megan McBride and compère Dr. Joe McKee OBE for a concert of celebration through music.

The celebrations began with Belfast Temple Band playing the rousing march The Red Shield (H. C. Goffin) to march Downshire Brass to their seats. This was quickly followed by the stirring opener Hail the Dragon (Philip Sparke) from Downshire Brass. A complete change of atmosphere and mood was achieved with Lady Stewart’s Air, a flowing and calming arrangement from the pen of Peter Graham.

Following opening introductions and remarks from Belfast Temple Band Sergeant Stephen Wray, the rest of the evening got under way with the professional chairmanship of Dr. Joe McKee, who enlightened the audience with facets of information, both humorous and serious, about himself and the music. The next item, the festival march Montclair Citadel (Stephen Bulla), was led by the Belfast Temple deputy bandmaster. Belfast Temple’s three cornet soloists took to the stage next to perform the trio Trumpets Wild, which received a great response from those in the hall.

The atmosphere was changed again with the euphonium solo Shepherd Song (Trevor Davis), skillfully and passionately played by former Ballymacarrett MontPottinger bandsman and now Downshire Brass member Edward Wilson. Next, Queens University final year music student, and the guest vocalist for the night, Megan McBride took the stage. Appropriately, she opened with Out Here on My Own from the musical “Fame”. She received a very warm reception and captivated the audience by singing Stars and the Moon from “Songs for a New World” to end her first segment of the program.

Belfast Temple Band brought a Latin American feel to the evening with El Es El Señor (Dean Jones). Downshire Brass then brought the first half to a close with their first public performance of the test piece for an upcoming contest, John Ireland’s Comedy Overture.

Restored drum presented to Belfast Temple Band at its 125th Anniversary Festival
Restored drum presented to Belfast Temple Band at its 125th Anniversary Festival

After the interval, Belfast Temple Band brought the audience back to their seats with the big-band style item which has become somewhat of an anthem for the band, Swingtime Religion. Downshire Brass then brought one of the emotional highlights of the night, playing the popular song The Prayer (arr. Frank Bernaerts). This was immediately followed by the presentation to Belfast Temple Band of an old rope drum, circa 100 years old. The drum had been found, in poor condition, in an attic and had been restored by the Stevenson Family in memory of their late mother, Margret. From October 1914 through the 1970s there was always a Stevenson playing the drum with Ballymacarrett Montpottinger Band. It was appropriate that the drum was presented on the band’s 125th anniversary.

Following the presentation, Belfast Temple Band played their main work for the evening, Leslie Condon’s tone poem Faith Reborn. Megan McBride returned to the stage to perform I’m Not Afraid of Anything, which added some light comedy to the concert, and then finished her selections with Secret Love from “Calamity Jane”. Downshire Brass also lightened the mood with Copacabana (made famous by Barry Manilow) and You’ve Been Warned (Paul Lovatt-Cooper), which included singing from the band.

The guest band’s jazz singing was followed by the Belfast Temple Band singing The Lord Is My Shepherd, bringing silence to the hall for the reading of Psalm 100 and a brief devotional thought from Band Sergeant Wray. As the two bands moved on the stage to join together for the last two items, Band Secretary Clark Mills gave some words of thanks. The concert concluded with Professor Alcorn leading the combined bands in Fire in the Blood (Paul Lovatt-Cooper) and Bandmaster Burch conducting the exuberant march Goldcrest (James Anderson), during which Downshire Brass surprised everyone by putting down their instruments to sing along with “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart” as the music concluded in joyous fashion.

Source:
[bclink id=”951″ target=”_blank”] web site

Tags: anniversaryBelfast Temple BandClark MillsconcertDownshire BrassEdward WilsonJack BurchJoe McKeeMegan McBrideMichael AlcornStephen Wray
Category: News

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Articles

Two-Part Hymn Series: Ten More Tunes

1 June 2019 14:24

The latest set of ten tunes in our Two-Part Hymn Series has been released. There are now 90 tunes available in the second phase, and 210 overall. Read more

Posted in: New Releases, Sheet Music

STANDING ON THE PROMISES (Tune of the Week)

10 January 2019 06:05

Tune of the Week for 10 January 2019. Read more

Posted in: Tune of the Week
Ken Graham

Staff Band Marks Passing of Ken Graham (1936–2018)

9 January 2019 06:36

The Canadian Staff Band (Bandmaster John Lam) has announced, with great sadness, the passing of Bandsman Ken Graham (North York Temple) on 24 December 2018. Graham was a member of the Staff Band cornet section for nine years, 1985–1994. Read more

Posted in: News

Joyful & Triumphant

8 January 2019 06:40

On 1 December 2018, the National Capital Band (Bandmaster Dr. Steve Kellner) was at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Richmond, Virginia, for Joyful & Triumphant, a Christmas concert and carol sing-a-long. Read more

Posted in: News

NICAEA (Tune of the Week)

3 January 2019 07:23

This is the first of a new series, Tune of the Week, featuring tunes from our Two-Part Hymn Series. Read more

Posted in: Tune of the Week

Two-Part Hymn Series Reaches 200

29 December 2018 10:57

The latest set of ten tunes in our has been released. This brings the total number of tunes in the series to 200. All of these tunes are free to download and use. Read more

Posted in: New Releases, Sheet Music

Away In a Manger (Cornet Solo)

19 December 2018 05:40

James Allen has crafted a beautiful and simple cornet solo that blends together two familiar tunes associated with the much-loved Christmas carol. Read more

Posted in: New Releases, Sheet Music
The New York Staff Band at historic Faneuil Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, November 2018

NYSB Massachusetts Ministry Weekend

19 December 2018 05:23

On the weekend of 16 – 18 November 2018, the New York Staff Band (Bandmaster Derek Lance) traveled to the Massachusetts Division for a ministry weekend that included stops in Worcester, Canton, Boston, and Brockton. Massachusetts Divisional Music Director (DMD) Matthew Luhn and his team organized the events of the weekend. Read more

Posted in: News

Brass for GOSH Launched

3 December 2018 05:17

The London Central Fellowship Band (Bandmaster David Rudd) launched their latest recording with a concert at Regent Hall on 17 November 2018. Just under 300 people were in attendance for a fantastic night of music-making, raising funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Charity. All of the profits realized by Citadel Promotions, the producers, will benefit the hospital charity, leading to the title of the recording, Brass for GOSH. Read more

Posted in: New Releases, News, Recording
Kintambo Band at the 10th anniversary service for the Plateau District, eastern Kinshasa

Kintambo Band Supports Anniversary Service

1 December 2018 08:32

On Sunday, 28 October 2018, the Kintambo Band (Bandmaster Henri Makanda Nkodia) had the privilege of being on duty at the Menkao Post in the Plateau District (the eastern part of the city of Kinshasa) for the district’s tenth anniversary Thanksgiving service. Read more

Posted in: News
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