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Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough) plays in the foyer of Birmingham Symphony Hall prior to the British Open 2016.

Birmingham Citadel Pre-Contest Concert

Posted on 28 September 2016 by Webmaster

[bclink id=”953″ target=”_blank”] (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough) were once again pleased to perform in the foyer of Birmingham Symphony Hall before the commencement of the British Open brass band contest on 10 September 2016. As usual, it was an early start for the band, but with people starting to gather early, the band all arrived and set up, ready to provide pre-contest music for those in attendance.

Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough) plays in the foyer of Birmingham Symphony Hall prior to the British Open 2016.
Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough) plays in the foyer of Birmingham Symphony Hall prior to the British Open 2016.

The band’s program started with a new item to the band, Intrada: Bless the Lord (Phil Rayment). This lively opener was followed by the cornet solo Share My Yoke (Joy Webb, arr. Ivor Bosanko) performed beautifully by the band’s principal cornet, Nicola Redhead. The words of this song talk about how God is with us and is able to support and carry us through difficult times. The chorus reads:

Share my yoke and you will find that I am joined with you.
Your slightest movement I shall feel and be there too!
Share my yoke and come the way that I must go!
In our “togetherness” my peace you’ll know;
The world beholding us will see it so!

– Joy Webb

The next item on the program was Jubilo, Jubilo (Martin Cordner). This item has proved to be very popular with audiences in previous performances (although less so with members of the band!), showing a lighter side to the band. Another switch in mood followed, as principal horn Neil Blessett brought the solo A Time for Peace (Peter Graham). The melody of this solo was taken from Graham’s major work The Essence of Time, and Blessett once again showed his musicianship and beautiful tone while performing this lovely tune.

Escape Velocity, another work by Martin Cordner, was the next item on the band’s program. This was a “first outing” of this piece for the band. Another solo item followed as principal euphonium David Taylor performed Troika? Tidy! (Karl Jenkins). This piece is a technical challenge for both soloist and accompanying band, and both rose to the challenge, with Taylor particularly impressing the listening audience with his technical prowess and ability.

Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough) plays in the foyer of Birmingham Symphony Hall prior to the British Open 2016.
Birmingham Citadel Band (Bandmaster Gavin Lamplough) plays in the foyer of Birmingham Symphony Hall prior to the British Open 2016.

Once the buzz from Taylor’s solo settled down, the band went straight into Hold That Fort by Sam Creamer. Creamer is an Australian Salvationist who is quickly gaining a reputation for writing brass band music in styles that might not be the norm for a brass band. This piece is no exception and his “funk” interpretation of an old Army tune is an excellent example of his work.

As is often the case with the band’s programs, another change in mood followed with the performance of Prelude on “Lavenham” (Geoffrey Nobes). This is a beautiful arrangement that has become a favorite of the band, with some powerful words connected to the tune. The last verse reads:

Lord, there are times when the questions run fast –
Times when I fear my faith may not last.
Help me, support me, Lord, help me get through.
Lead me through darkness till light shines anew.

– Nick Fawcett

As the band neared the end of their performance, the next item was the magnificent tone poem The Triumph of Peace (Eric Ball). This is a well-known piece by a composer known throughout the brass band world. It features the composer’s own tune, “Peace in our time, O Lord”, with words by John Oxenham. Although the wrk was composed in 1939, the lyrics of the final verse are just as relevant today:

Peace in our time, O Lord,
To all the peoples – peace!
Peace that shall build a glad new world
And make for life’s increase.
O living Christ, who still
Dost all our burdens share,
Come now and dwell within the hearts
Of all men everywhere.

– John Oxenham

An Army tradition is to finish a concert with a march, and the Birmingham Citadel Band did not disappoint as they gave a rendition of The Witness (William Himes), after which the members were able to meet with friends old and new before the start of the British Open. This event is an excellent ministry opportunity for the band, which is not taken lightly, and the band hopes that it was able to both bless and entertain those in attendance that morning in equal measure.

Source:
[bclink id=”953″ target=”_blank”] web site

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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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