NY Staff Band

NEW RECORDING—AIR ‘N VARIATIONS

Aaron VanderWeele, euphonium

with THE NEW YORK STAFF BAND

West Nyack , New York —

The New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army is completing production on a new recording featuring the band's euphonium soloist, Aaron VanderWeele. The recording, aptly titled Air ‘N Variations , is the fifth in a line of soloist recordings offered by the Army's USA Eastern Territory . The four preceding recordings have all featured well-known vocal soloists of the Eastern Territory and this edition marks the first to showcase a brass soloist.

Many of the band's fans and brass band enthusiasts, in general, will recall two highly acclaimed recordings by the band featuring well-known American brass soloists—trumpeter Philip Smith (Principal Trumpet of the N.Y. Philharmonic) in My Song of Songs and renowned tuba virtuoso, Patrick Sheridan, in the 2002 British Bandsman CD of the Year, Blazing Brass . In speaking about the upcoming release Bandmaster Ronald Waiksnoris said, “It has been a special experience to work with some of the icons of the brass scene on previous recordings, but in this case, it is particularly exciting to feature one of our own. The New York Staff Band presently has a number of top class players and I am pleased to feature one of them here in the person of Aaron VanderWeele, who has had great success in recent years with the band and with encouraging young people both in the New York area and a much wider spectrum. This recording has music for the old-time bandsman and the newest listeners.”

In a day when soloist recordings are many, VanderWeele's hope for this project remains focused on the ministry aspect, a quality indicative of all recordings produced by The Salvation Army. He shares, “If anyone hears this recording and is only looking for the notes, they've missed the point. Many of the pieces selected for this recording were not done so for their technical flair or jaw dropping display of range or virtuosity—rather, for the message behind the music, in the words. Take for example Lloyd Scott's gorgeous melody, Commitment . This was selected because it talks about God wanting and deserving all from us. Because He gave so much for us and loves us so much, doesn't He deserve it? These are kinds of things I want listeners to contemplate as they enjoy the program.”

That being said, brass band audiences will be delighted with the varied works featured on this latest installment from the band. Some of the highlights are Norman Bearcroft's challenging euphonium solo, The Great Adventure , Robert Redhead's latest major work for euphonium and band, Ochills , and Erik Leidzen's timeless classic, The Song of the Brother . Other titles include Norman Audoire's vintage theme and variations test, We'll All Shout Hallelujah! , the delightful and demanding dance, Hora Staccato and the title track of the recording, Stephen Bulla's tour de force, Air ‘N Variations —the title a play on words tailor-made for the soloist.

Air ‘N Variations will be released worldwide March 2005. To order visit either the New York Staff Band online at www.nysb.org or, for availability in the UK , contact WORLD OF BRASS at the following: Salvationist Publishing & Supplies Ltd., 1 Tiverton Street, London SE1 6NT, Tel: 020 7367 6580, Email order: Mail_Order@sp-s.co.uk , Website: www.worldofbrass.com