On the weekend of 6–7 March 2010, the Canadian Staff Band (Bandmaster John Lam) visited the Meadowlands Corps in Hamilton, Ontario. Formerly known as Hamilton Temple, the corps is one of the oldest in the Canada and Bermuda Division. It was relocated to a new subdivision several years ago – hence the change in name – and now has a fine new building in which to worship.
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Following afternoon rehearsals and a roast beef dinner, the evening concert was a joint presentation by the Staff Band and the Meadowlands Corps Band, which is under the direction of Bandmaster (and Staff Band alumnus) Ron Heintzman. As the Meadowlands Band played Land of Freedom (Stephen Bulla), the Staff Band marched in from the back of the hall to welcoming applause, then proceeded into Living Flame (Jeff Christmas), their first item of the night.
Other items presented by the Staff Band in the first half included the festival march Milestone (William Himes) and James Curnow’s Variations on Terra Beata. Two soloists were also featured – Major Kevin Metcalf (cornet) played Pleasure in His Service (Bruce Broughton) and A Joy Untold (Terry Camsey) was presented by Steve Pavey (euphonium).
The Meadowlands Band gave a pleasing interpretation of Mozart’s Overture from “The Magic Flute” (arr. Michael Kenyon). They also presented a new item, Tunes 4 Tiny Tots by Christopher Goff, featuring a collection of Sunday school choruses from bygone days.
In the second half, the Staff Band presented Hallelujah! (James Curnow), Canadian Folk Song Suite (Morley Calvert), Ralph Pearce’s new trombone solo Incarnation featuring soloist Craig Lewis and Robert Redhead’s major work Corpus Christi. The two bands then came together to present three contrasting works – Shekinah (Kenneth Downie), Paean (Dudley Bright) and the benediction God Be with You, arranged by Noel Brooks, which ended the program.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
On Sunday, the Canadian Staff Band led the morning worship at Meadowlands Corps. The Staff Band presented a variety of musical selections, including Martin Cordner’s Let Everything Praise! and the premier of a new meditation, In Quiet Confidence, by Major Ken Smith, which uses the hymn tune “Rutherford” which is associated with the words “In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear.”
Participation from the local corps included two songs led by the worship team and the songsters’ presentation of Here I Am to Worship, led by Songster Leader John Avery, who is a member of the Staff Band. Following the cornet solo Don’t Doubt Him Now (arr. Craig Woodland), performed by Steve Brown, Major Kevin Metcalf’s message focused on the gift of music and how we are to use it to glorify God and bring others to Him.
The afternoon musicale took the form of an Old-Time Salvation Praise Meeting, with plenty of congregational singing and a variety of items presented by both the Staff Band and a massed group of songsters assembled especially for the occasion. Band items included the march Lowell Anniversary (Stephen Bulla), Songs of the Pioneers (Kenneth Smith), the xylophone solo Joyous Rhythm featuring Leigh Rowney, It Is Well (arr. William Himes) presented by Cameron Rawlins and Dean Goffin’s classic The Light of the World. The massed songsters, under the direction of Bandmaster Heintzman, presented three contrasting items – How Sweet the Name (James Curnow), Sing for Joy (Richard Phillips) and Eric Ball’s timeless setting of In the Secret of Thy Presence. It was an afternoon thoroughly enjoyed by all with the congregational singing of O Boundless Salvation (arr. William Himes) bringing the weekend to a stirring conclusion.
Source:
Canadian Staff Band web site