The Salvation Army New York Staff Band

Band Visits the United Nations

bandadmin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:17:16 +0000

The Salvation Army New York Staff Band had the privilege of participating in a program at the United Nations General Assembly Hall on Tueasday, February 7, as part of celebrations for World Interfaith Harmony Week.

This was a first for the band. A diverse program with speakers from many countries and many faiths, was led by the President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser,and was broadcast worldwide by web cast.

Rehearsal Update February 8, 2012

bandadmin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:12:21 +0000

Our rehearsal today focused entirely on our music for the upcoming recording. We are set to record next weekend in the Centennial Memorial Temple and the pieces are really starting to come in to place for this.

Rehearsal today began with former NYSB Bandmasters Brian Bowens piece “Consecration”. This is such a classy piece of music with a phenomenal message.

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

After the conclusion of this piece we rolled right into two solos; “Blessings” performed by Gordon Ward and “Carrickfergus” by Ryan McCrudden. Both soloists are in top form and ready for next weekend. We then moved on to a PLC’s “Fire in the Blood”. This is a great piece with high energy and is really starting to take form. This work will also be featured on the Profile Night of PLC on March 4 and the New York Staff Bands 125^th Anniversary Festival at Carnegie Hall.

Today we were fortunate enough to welcome world renowned composer Joseph Turrin to rehearsal. He was able to give us great insight and some good notes on his new piece, “Rejoice and be glad”. The NYSB has had a long relationship with Mr. Turrin and this relationship has provided great works such as “Hymn for Diana”, and “Overture for Brass”.

More work was done “Pressing Onward”, “Voyage to worlds unknown” and “The hope of glory”. The band is coming in to good form for the very large events that we have coming up. If you don’t already have your tickets for our concert on March 22^nd at Carnegie Hall, you will certainly want to get them soon. It is sure to be a great night.

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Rehearsal Update February 1, 2012

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:33:18 +0000

This week’s rehearsal continued to focus in our upcoming recording and the 125th Anniversary Festival and began Wilfred Heaton’s “Just as I am”. Playing this great arrangement never gets old and the words are always powerful:

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy Blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O lamb of God, I come, I come.The New York Staff Band was pleased to welcome Nick Simmons-Smith, the Territorial Music Secretary from the USA Southern Territory, to rehearsal today. He was in town for a gathering of music leaders and took us through Erik Leidzen’s great march, “Pressing Onward.” It was a pleasure to play under his leadership and it is clear that USA South is in good hands.

Next on deck was euphonium soloist, Ryan McCrudden , and the solo Carrickfergus. Following Ryans fine work we moved onto “Way Cry” by Dorothy Gates. This will serve as the opener for our Festival at Carnegie Hall. This is a new take on the great Army song, “Ever is the War Cry, Victory!

In preparation for the Paul Lovatt-Cooper profile night, the band worked on three of his items: “Where Eagles Sing”, “Fire in the Blood” and baritone solo, “Donegal Bay”. Adam Fyn (baritone) sounded superb on this beautiful solo and will be one of the two featured soloists on this night.

Further work was done on Joseph Turrins’s new piece, “Rejoice and be glad”. This lively piece is sure to be a favorite of bands all over the world for years to come. Also on today’s rehearsal was Kenneth Downie’s piece, “The Hope of Glory”. This was the feature work for our most recent tour of Ireland and for ISB 120 and will be the anchor piece for our upcoming recording. If you are interested in seeing the band in action playing this great piece, check out the DVD’s that are available from ISB 120.

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Rehearsal Update January 25, 2012

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:22:23 +0000

The New York Staff Band’s rehearsal for January 25th contained a great deal of work on pieces for the upcoming Profile Night, recording, and 125th Anniversary concert. The band has recently devoted many hours of practice on the works of Paul Lovatt-Cooper, Composer in Residence for the contesting juggernaut Black Dyke Band and this season’s Profile Night guest. Lovatt-Cooper is perhaps most recognized for the exciting and riveting flourishes of pieces such as Fire in the Blood or Vitae Aeternum, but special focus this week was paid to a more subdued and compelling piece entitled “Donegal Bay,” a solo for Baritone, to be performed at Profile Night by Bandsman Adam Fyn, a native of Canada. The stirring melody and warm chords of this heart-felt and spirit-filled solo are sure to please even the most casual of listeners.

Work continued on Kenneth Downie’s “The Hope of Glory” and Peter Graham’s “To Worlds Unknown,” a piece newly composed for the purpose of the band’s coming recording. Both are fascinating and deeply layered musical tapestries, and are sure to add a profound quality to the listening experience of the entire album.

Also new this rehearsal was the completed “War Cry,” an arrangement of the staple Army hymn, “Ever is the war cry, Victory!” reworked in a dynamic and rousing fashion by the band’s own Dorothy Gates. This piece was composed for the band’s 125th Anniversary Concert, and is an accurate representation of the band’s mission, and the mission of The Salvation Army as a whole – with Christ, we have eternal victory!

Rehearsal Update January 18, 2012

bandadmin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:23:58 +0000

Rehearsal today began with a reading of the classic Salvation Army selection, “Just as I am”. The marvelous work has been used as the center piece for our worship services in the last few months and will continue in our 125th year.
Most of the bands efforts these days are centered on the bands 125th Anniversary Festival at Carnegie Hall and the recording that we have scheduled in February. Another exciting event that is planned is ”Profile Night 33” on March 4 at 5:25pm at the centennial Memorial Temple in Manhattan. For 33 years the Greater New York Division has put on a concert to feature a specific Salvation Army Composer. This year the music of Paul Lovatt-Cooper will be featured and this should be a great night for all. In preparation for this event, the band spent some quality time rehearsing “Vitae Aeternum” and “Fire in the Blood” which will also be featured on our Anniversary Festival on March 22.
Gordon Ward, the bands principal cornet player, did some nice work on David Catherwoods solo, “Blessings”. He, along with Ryan McCrudden playing “Carrickfergus” will be the featured soloists on our upcoming album. Both of these solos were featured on the bands recent trip to Ireland.
For those of you who have purchased the ISB 120 dvd’s, you will be happy to know the NYSB will be doing a studio recording of Ken Downies, “The Hope of Glory” and Steve Bullas march, “Diamond Jubilee”. Although these items have been in our folders for some time, it is still such a great thrill to work on these great pieces and to relive the events of the past year.
Please visit back in the coming weeks as we take you through our 125th Anniversary Season. If you haven’t already purchased your ticket for concert at Carnegie Hall, please do. They are going fast and you certainly won’t want to miss this great night.

GNY Profile Night

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:12:15 +0000

Sunday March 4, will prove to be an exciting date on the calendar as the Greater New York Division hosts a concert, now in its thirty third year, featuring original works from Salvation Army composers.
This year the music of Paul Lovatt-Cooper will be featured by the NYSB along with the Greater New York Youth Band and Chorus. Paul is an accomplished musician and one of the most sought after young composing talents of his generation. As well as his role as Composer in Association with the world famous Black Dyke Band he is also the Guest Conductor of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, Percussion Tutor with the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain and Percussion and Composition Tutor at the Brass Band Summer School.
Paul was born and raised in The Salvation Army by parents who were officers. He was quickly introduced into music by all of his family members who were all keen musicians. Music was studied at the University of Salford under well known names as Professor David King and Professor Peter Graham. He is in high demand as a soloist, conductor and composer and has travelled around the world.
While the final program for the evening has not been announced, his major works, “Enter the Galaxies”, “Home of legends” and “Vitae Aeternum”, will be performed. His latest exciting composition, “Fire in the Blood”, written to celebrate the 120Th Anniversary of the International Staff Band, and first performed this past June in the Royal Albert Hall, will also be featured.
You won’t want to miss this exciting night. We hope to see you there.

Band Supports General at Season Opener

bandadmin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:22:29 +0000

The band was given the awesome privilege of supporting General Linda Bond to start off the new season as she made her first visit to the United States as the Army’s International leader. The occasion was at the invitation of the American Bible Society to launch the new “Freedom Bible” global edition and a commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11.
The band also supported the General and National Commander, as well as our own Territorial Leaders, at the Welcome of Cadets at a capacity crowd filled Centennial Memorial Temple.
The busy weekend also included an open air concert outside on 14th Street, as well as a memorial service with special guest Dr. Charles Stanley.

Rehearsal Update- January 11, 2012

bandadmin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:07:57 +0000

Today’s rehearsal was met with much excitement because of all the new pieces that were on our stands for the upcoming events. Peter Grahams new work “To worlds unknown’ arrived today and the band gave a good first read. Peter’s new piece will serve as the grand finale for our 125th Anniversary Festival and we certainly look forward to getting into this new work. From this new piece we moved into an old but great cornet solo, “Songs in the heart”. This will be played by Philip Cobb, the Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra, at its 125th Anniversary Festival at Carnegie Hall.

Also arriving today were new pieces by Joseph Turrin (Rejoice and be glad) and our resident composer/arranger Dorothy Gates (War Cry). Both of these new works will be included on our upcoming album and 125th Anniversary Festival.

In June of 2011 the New York Staff Band had the great privilege of being part of ISB 120. This was a landmark event in the Salvation Army and in the brass band world. One of the great parts of this weekend was to hear all the new pieces that had been written for this event. The anchor piece for the International Staff Band was Paul Lovatt Cooper’s new work, “Fire in the Blood”. Because of the great response that this piece received, Bandmaster Waiksnoris has chosen to use this exciting new piece for our festival. We trust that it will receive a similar response in the coming months.

Our rehearsal concluded with Brian Bowen’s piece “Consecration”. This is a beautiful arrangement of the song “Take my life and let it be”. The New York Staff Band had a special time of prayer today for Brian Bowen and the Bowen family as they mourn the loss of their son. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them in this difficult time.

Greater New York Division Annual Luncheon

bandadmin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 19:18:05 +0000

The band supported the Greater New York Division Annual Luncheon on Thursday, December 1.
In the photo with the band are award recipient Mariano Rivera, Yankee star closer, along with Michael Kay, Yankee play by play TV announcer and the emcee for the luncheon.

NYSB 125th Anniversary Concert

bandadmin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:49:56 +0000

The New York Staff Band will be celebrating its 125th anniversary by having a concert at the world famous Carnegie hall. The special guests for the evening will be The Kings Singers and the Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra, Philip Cobb.

Tickets are available now at the Carnegie hall box office and are available from $10-$50.

You will not want to miss this once in a lifetime event.

http://www.carnegiehall.org/Event.aspx?id=4294978886