Danbury, CT

October 21-22, 2006

Josh Muir

 

The Staff Band traveled to Danbury, CT for a weekend of celebration in our first ministry weekend of the 2006-2007 season.  The Danbury Corps celebrated 120 years of service in the Danbury community and the 30th Anniversary of the corps building.  The Staff Band supported the weekend by providing a small ensemble to play at the Rededication of the building and playing in the Danbury Fair Mall. Several shoppers stopped to hear us play, especially with the crowd favorites “New York, New York” and “Breezin’ Down Broadway.”

 

On Saturday night, the band played a concert in the  Danbury High School auditorium.  The concert was a celebration of the Salvation Army’s work throughout Danbury and the rest of the world.  Commissioner Francis gave an historical account of the Army’s work in Danbury.  The band contributed to the celebration with many rousing and exciting pieces. 

Gordon Ward thrilled us with the solo “Whirlwind”.   For the first time, the band played Call of the Cossacks in its entirety.  The third movement was particularly enjoyable as it featured solos from Gordon Ward, Burt Mason and Aaron VanderWeele.  The second half  of the program featured solos from Burt Mason and Aaron VanderWeele.  The concert closed with an exciting arrangement of “Ein Feste Berg” by Peter Graham called “The Red Machine.”

 

Sunday morning, we all joined together for worship with Commissioners Francis, who returned to their first corps appointment for this special weekend.  It was a wonderful time of looking back at the history and ahead to the future of the Army’s work in Danbury.