FORWARD

Gordon Ward, cornet

New York Staff Band

 

The first sound you hear on this CD, is the melody of the chorus which begins, ‘Oh, Oh, Oh, How Good is the Lord!’ and, you also soon realize how good a cornet soloist is Gordon Ward. Gordon produces a lovely straight, round sound which, to me, is the essence of a good player and what I like to hear. The sound is constant and has the same quality in high or low range...full and delightful!

 

The CD is a compilation of solos that Gordon has played through the years from 1982 to 2006. The program commences with a solo which David Catherwood wrote for Gordon in 2003, the title being a play on words, ‘Forward’ (for- Ward) and the music includes all the things that Gordon does so very well.

 

The other composers who have written solos for Gordon and included on this CD are, Peter Graham, ’Pastoral’ in 1986,  ‘Quicksilver,’ a duet written for and played here by Gordon and Ronald Waiksnoris, Terry Camsey with, ‘The Victor’ 2006  and David Catherwood with, ‘When I Remember’ being the first solo he wrote for Gordon back in 1999.

 

The CD has three items going back to the days when Gordon played the Soprano Cornet - 'Pastoral’, ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ and the ever-present ‘Stars and Stripes’ in which the Soprano Cornet is featured in the trio of the march.

 

Gordon and his son Chris are joined by Jeff Barrington for a great performance of Phil Catelinet's ever-popular 'The Heralds'.

 

The main purpose of Salvation Army music is to bring the listener into contact with our Savior, Jesus Christ and this fact is made very plain in the lovely setting of , ’The wonder of His Grace’ by Howard Davies and, ‘At Thy feet’ by Noel Jones. Even the ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ was converted by General Arnold Brown who wrote some very expressive words, ‘Sweet Land of Light’ to that well-loved melody.

 

If you like to hear the cornet played by a master, then this is the CD to get!

 

 

Review by Lt. Colonel Norman Bearcroft (R)