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Christmas in Toronto

Posted on 29 December 2009 by Webmaster

December was a busy month for the Canadian Staff Band (Bandmaster John Lam) as the group was on duty for two annual Christmas events on back-to-back Saturdays.

Christmas with the Salvation Army

First up was the annual Christmas with the Salvation Army program at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. This year’s guests were Barbara and Steve Allen for Los Angeles, who inspired the audience with a selection of items. Starting with It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Barbara then moved into Who Would Imagine a King before concluding her first set with a sing-along medley, arranged and accompanied by her husband, Steve, on the piano. Later in the program she delighted the audience by recruiting a volunteer to assist her as she present Christmas on the Beach in Malibu, which came on the heels of Big Band Santa and proved to be a real highlight of the evening. Elsewhere on the program Barbara was the featured soloist with the festival chorus, piano and Staff Band in a new Leonard Ballantine arrangement of More Than Wonderful, and, to close out the evening, a setting of the contemporary worship song Adonai.

The festival chorus was in fine form again this year. In addition to providing descants for the congregational carols, the group presented three other items – Little Lord Jesus Is Born (John Wells, arr. Leonard Ballantine), For Unto Us a Child Is Born from Handel’s Messiah, and a new setting of the Huron Carol, also arranged by Leonard Ballantine. Accompaniment was provided by Bill Way on piano and Elizabeth Colley on flute, with drums, bass and guitar as required. The selection from Messiah was accompanied by organist Giles Bryant, who also played for the congregational carols, along with the Staff Band, in the familiar David Willcocks arrangements.

The Staff Band’s main contributions to the evening were Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium (arr. Leonard Ballantine), accompanying the timbrels with the march The Carollers (Richard E. Holz), and the world premiere of a new work by Robert Redhead, written for this concert. Entitled Christ Is Born!, it features numerous carols, including A Great and Mighty Wonder (Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming), Huron Carol, A Child This Day Is Born and Unto Us a Child Is Born. Starting simply, the music built to a majestic and glorious conclusion with the peal of bells and rich, sonorous chords echoing off the walls of Roy Thomson Hall.

Also appearing were dramatist Colin Fox, who presented a series of readings; the Territorial Commander for Canada and Bermuda, Commissioner William Francis, who brought a devotional message; and Ontario Lieutenant-Governor David Onley, who brought greetings and thanked the Salvation Army for its valuable work in the community.

Christmas Carol Concert

A week later, the Staff Band was off to St. Paul’s Church for the 31st annual Christmas Carol Concert, an event which is always packed to capacity for both performances and helps the Toronto Star provide gift boxes to 45,000 underprivileged children in the greater Toronto area.

Once again this year, conductor emeritus Giles Bryant was in fine form, leading the massed choirs and congregation in the usual carols with band and organ. The Staff Band’s contributions were A Great and Mighty Wonder (Kenneth Downie) and O Magnum Mysterium. Both items were very well received.

Source:
Canadian Staff Band 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

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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

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Away In a Manger (Cornet Solo)

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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

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The New York Staff Band at historic Faneuil Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, November 2018

NYSB Massachusetts Ministry Weekend

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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

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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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