Advent Gala with the German Staff Band
The Salvation Army's Advent Gala on 25th November began with a highlight: The German Staff Band (GSB) played a rousing brass version of Beethoven's "Joy of the Beautiful Sparks of the Gods", setting the tone for a festive evening full of cheerful and contemplative moments alternated.
In addition to the GSB, which continually thrilled the audience with a variety of Christmas pieces, the Salvation Army's artist collective The Limelight Collective provided the best entertainment with their dance performances. Three Christmas stories, which Sarah Honsberg recited with a lot of humor and feeling, rounded off the artistic program. Colonel Cedric Hills, the head of the Salvation Army in Germany, set a spiritual accent. He referred to Advent as a time of preparation for Christmas and also made a reference to Eternal Sunday.
The colorful mix of music and dance, spiritual impulses and information was well received by the audience. Relatives, friends and supporters of the Salvation Army were there, as were people who use the Free Church's social offerings. Numerous visitors who did not know the Salvation Army before also found their way to the ballroom. One guest summed up the general mood like this: “The evening could have lasted much longer!”
German Staff Band
It was in September 2023 that Howard was appointed as the Bandmaster of the German Staff Band. He follows BM Heini Schmidt, who has been a close personal friend for many years, and who served for 34 years since the inception of the band, retiring in May 2023.
Howard and the band met for rehearsal on the Saturday morning before an afternoon Territorial event at which they were participating. The appointment was made by the T.C., Col. Cedric Hills.
Autumn 2023 News Round Up
The summer was a busy period with both Boscombe Band and BandCom Bandstands in Bournemouth, as well as a couple of weeks in the USA, to join with the Western Territory Music Institute , for their music school. the Nativity. Follow the above link for videos of the performances. The WMI Band major works performed included ‘Turris Fortissima’ (Ponsford) and ‘My Strength My Tower’ (Dean Goffin).
Yet Another Fully Scored!
This is the second part of this feature where talk about ‘The old Wells, by Eric Ball. Details:
Episode 31 features a chat with Stephen Bulla, one of the most sought after composers and arrangers worldwide. We also conclude our analysis of ‘The Old Wells’ (Eric Ball) with Dr Howard J Evans - Pianist and Conductor. This month's resident on Arid Island is Dale Caffull, co-creator of the Salvation Army Music Index.
Episode 31 is available via your favourite podcast providers. There is also another exciting way to listen to Fully Scored, just click on the link.
Boscombe Band Recording
It was with great anticipations that from the 23rd to the 25th June, I recorded the music for a new CD with the Boscombe Band. Its a prequel to the recording released in 2018, ‘An Easter Tale’. This time we recorded fifteen pieces of Christmas music that will trace an Advent journey through to the Nativity. World of Sound were the fine recording company, and they have recorded most of the CD’s I have conducted with the band. There was some fine playing that went down, with such a good atmosphere throughout the sessions.
Another Fully Scored!
I feature again in another episode of this successful venture. I was very happy to talk about ‘The old Wells, by Eric Ball. Details:
In this episode we feature an interview with Lt.-Colonel Trevor Davis, who speaks about his time in ministry and his roles as National Bandmaster, Head of Music Editorial and Territorial Music Secretary. We also chat about his music and role in producing the 1986 song book.
Episode 30 is available via your favourite podcast providers. There is also another exciting way to listen to Fully Scored, just click on the link.
Studio Recital series with
Dudley Bright
Head over to World of Brass play to find this newly added video recital. This was my first work travelling away from home for 14 months! Really super to work with Dudley Bright, we’ve know each other for quite a long time! The first concert we took part in together was in 1983, we were young boys then!
Soliloquy II - In the Cross
After a short period of inactivity, this year has seen the completion of a new work, commissioned by Micah Dominic Parsons. A few years ago I wrote a Soliloquy based on an SA song by George Marshall called: Soliloquy (In the Stillness). This solo follows up the form of that solo, though it is quite different, and was a commission from Micah Dominic Parsons. I am very grateful for the impetus of that commission. The main inspiration is the tune 'Cross of Jesus' by John Stainer as well as a motif from some older Euphonium Studies from the Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. The tune is used in a chorale form, and after an introduction the first section is a reversal of the chorale that appears in the second half of the work. The euphonium exclamations are all derived from the main tune and the study motif. There is one new element in the coda, where the triplet motif is a direct quotation from 'Romans 8 - A Brass Celebration'' by Ray Steadman-Allen, who uses the same tune in this major brass band work. The work begins in quite a dark reflective manner and represents those aspects of the song, without being too specific. The second half obviously reflects the more positive characteristics and finds quite a triumphal nature in the end. The soloist lines throughout have a very declamatory style and can have a freedom in performance."
I’ve been able to undertake two performances of the work; a premiere with Steven Mead, and a socially distanced performance with Micah. Great to do both. Click on the link to view the premiere.
Fully Scored Podcast
In this Fully Scored episode we were joined by Major John Mott who talks about his life, and about the reformation of the Household Troops Band.
We were also joined by Dr. Howard J Evans for the second instalment of his masterful analysis of Ray Steadman-Allen's 'The Holy War'.
'The Holy War' is one of the finest works ever written for brass band. What is also fascinating is the relationship of the published work to RSA’s earlier versions, of which there is a recording that exists with the Tottenham Citadel Band. If you haven't heard it I'd thoroughly recommend a listen.
Oh and of course, there's also the regular feature: Bandmastermind23 Oct
Virtual Accompanying Project
23 Oct 2020 - I’ve been working with cornet soloist Iain Culross this week, preparing accompaniments for this year’s virtual Stockport Community Carol Concert on the 8th of December. Iain and I worked together whilst I was Director of Classical performance at Salford University, and he is currently the Principal Cornet at Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
If you haven’t already registered for tickets to the Stockport concert, you just have to register online here:
Admission is free!!! And the concert also features the marvellous talents of the Melbourne staff band of the Salvation Army, the Canadian staff songsters, the Uganda territorial music brigade, inter-continental brass 2020, and Matt Ramsay.
Visit to Star Lake Music camp
This week should have seen my return from the USA and some vacation after having been the guest at Star Lake Music Camp in New Jersey, for the USA Eastern Territory of the Salvation Army.
I am pleased to announce that after consultation with BM Derek Lance of the Music Department, and conductor of the New York Staff Band, that it is formally agreed that I will undertake the trip to be at Star Lake Music Camp in 2021. I am very much looking forward to this after the understandable cancellation this year. I had a great time as the guest in 2006 and very much look forward to returning to Star Lake, where so many memories have been made for so many people. An iconic place.