8 Staff Bands in Albert Hall Spectacular

What a wonderful privilege it was to be a part of history in the making in the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate 120 years of the ISB. It was an early start from our hotel as we were to be at the RAH by eight in the morning to commence rehearsals. It was quite a feat to place the seven Staff bands around the ISB that took center stage, but rehearsals commenced and the sound was incredible. Following lunch at Imperial College, just a short walk away, the doors were opened to the public and the crowds gathered for this inspirational day of music making.

Each of the eight Staff Bands gave a twenty minute concert which was prefaced with a short five minute video presentation, which helped in the transition between bands. Many people were moved at the reception given to the Japan Staff Band, and there was an extended standing ovation before a note was played. Standing backstage when the band had finished their performance, many left the stage in tears, overcome by the warm reception they had received. This was typical of the warmth and fellowship felt throughout the day as we were all united as one Army, and fellow musicians from around the world. The NYSB was the last band to present the short concert and opened with Joseph Turrin’s ” Overture For Brass”. Another highlight for many during the afternoon was the band’s next item, featuring the talented Andrew Garcia on flugel horn playing “Children of Sanchez”, from the pen of Chuck Mangione. Next followed a meditative item, “This I Know”, written by Bill Himes, the conductor of the Chicago Staff Band, as a tribute to the late James Anderson. The program closed with a work from Ken Downie, composed around the song “Would you know why I love Jesus?”, entitled “Exultate.”

Thus the afternoon program came to a close, and the enthusiastic audience had a chance to go outside to sample the perfect London day of warmth and sunshine, before returning one hour later for the Brass Spectacular featuring the eight bands together on stage.

The International Staff Band took the stage and the capacity audience greeted each band in turn as they march in from different aisles in the arena to strains of the Aurthur Gullidge classic, “Emblem of the Army.” In Dr. Stephen Cobb’s words of introduction, he emphasized more than once his determination that the brass band should remain a relevant means of musical expression and Christian witness within The Salvation Army, and this night certainly lived up to that.

From the first strains of Peter Graham’s new “Fanfare, Prelude and Fugue” to the last strains of Leslie Condon’s march, “Celebration”, and everything in between, everyone was kept on the edge of their seats throughout this incredible evening. Each of the eight Staff bandmasters conducted a piece during the evening, which was also supported by the International Staff Songsters. Massed items featured a major work from the pen of Dudley Bright as well as compositions from Kenneth Downie. Our own Ron Waiksnoris conducted the massed bands in the classic “Call of the Righteous” and all too quickly the evening was over as a large Salvation Army flag was lowered and complete with fireworks, a rousing chorus of “We’ll keep the old flag flying, flying round the world” rang out.