[bclink id=”978″ target=”_blank”] (Bandmaster Richard Woodrow) celebrated its 129th anniversary on the weekend of 17 – 18 September 2011. Special guests for the weekend were the Hendon Band, under the direction of Bandmaster David Rudd.
After a welcome meal of sausage and mash provided by Norwich Citadel tuba player Brandon Barron together his wife, Susan, the 38 members of the Hendon Band delighted the gathered crowd with items such as Able (William Himes), Psalm of Thanks (Paul Sharman), Blessing and Honour (Paul Sharman), Ein Feste Burg (Andrew Mackereth) and Lightwalk (Barrie Gott). The major work of the evening was the masterly Variations on “Maccabeus” written by Kevin Norbury and recorded by the Norwich Citadel Band under Bandmaster Ron Young for their 1998 USA Tour. Another notable highlight was the exciting Gaelforce (Peter Graham), featured on the Norwich Citadel Band’s 2004 Sweden Tour and conducted by Bandmaster Douglas Beattie.
Soloists included Tony Scannell (euphonium), who played The Better World (Norman Bearcroft); twin brothers Stephen (piano) and Paul Hopkins (trombone), who presented Autumn Leaves (Bill Geldard); and Nick Tiplady (flügelhorn), who offered Sweet By and By (Leonard Ballantine).
A beautiful sunny Sunday saw a good crowd gathered for worship. Preliminary music was played by the Hendon Band and Norwich Citadel’s Young People’s Band. The meeting was led by Major Paul Hilditch. Hendon Band presented Leslie Condon’s lovely meditation A Gift for His Altar and the Singing Company also took part.
A march of witness in bright sunshine followed with both bands massed, drawing crowds who came to listen to the open-air service, an unusual occurrence for the Hendon group. The outcome resulted in two people coming to the afternoon meeting to hear more and discover what happens at The Salvation Army.
The afternoon was part musical program and part devotional meeting. Among items played by the visiting band were Seize the Day (Peter Graham), South Shields Celebration (Martin Cordner) and the flügelhorn solo Concerto de Aranjuez (arr. Bolton). The Songsters supported and Norwich Citadel Band presented a recently published piece by William Himes, the pastorale Precious Fountain.
Source:
[bclink id=”978″ target=”_blank”] web site, original report by Band Secretary Michael Whybrow