October 2012 MMU Newsletter

Issue 38- October 2012

Welcome

Contents

Dear Friends, As always, it was a busy summer of music-making and this is reflected in the newsletter, with reports on International visits.

Star Lake, WMI, Africa, Australia, Sweden and Argentina are all represented in this issue.

It was my privilege to be the special guest at Star Lake Musicamp, reminding me of the internationalism of The Salvation Army. It’s great to see that the traditions of Star Lake are still held dear and that it remains an influence to many people year after year.

I was pleased to visit the Retired Musicians, Fellowship at Worthing recently and I thank them for their hospitality and warm welcome to that fellowship.

News of ‘new’ resources is always welcome, and I would particularly bring your attention to a couple of these. Following a large takeup of the first volume of First things First, a second volume is available from October.

These 20 pieces follow the same format as Volume 1 in scoring etc and will be a very valuable resource.

The original intention was for this book to be a resource for younger players and learner groups. Whilst it still is, it is clear that many groups are using these as worship material from week to week. Some have commented to me that a more generic cover, rather than

Derick Kane the youth focus, may be a good idea. However, as previously stated, these were intended for YP groups.

Maybe in this instance, see past the cover and simply use the music!

The other book to mention is the new learners’ resource. This is a progressive tutor in three volumes, devised by Keith Watts from Birmingham Citadel, and will be available through SP&S. This will be available for B and E instruments with CD backing. I will provide a further review of this at the end of the year.

Please note the announcement regarding the change of venue for next year’s Easter Music Course. Due to the fact that Sunbury Court is unavailable to us next year, we hope to announce a venue for our Territorial Music School soon.

Please contact me if you wish any news to be included in the MMU Newsletter, or wish to be added to the mailing list.

Thank you as always for your support and for all you continue to do.

Derick Kane

Publishing news The upcoming publications here at MMU including new First things First plus latest news from SP&S.

International News International sections on trips around the globe including The International Staff Songsters, Dr Stephen Cobb, and Bandmaster Brian Johnson to Nigeria.

Events Territorial Music School 2012 in pictures and The Household Troops Band visit to Sweden.

Other Interview with Creative Worship Specialist Ira Thomas about her recent rehearsals with Divisional Youth Choruses

INNOVATE RESOURCE DEVELOP ENCOURAGE

Music Ministries Unit Newsletter OCTOBER 2012

Available from SP&S (W) sps-shop.com (T) +44 (0) 1933 445 445 (E) mail_order@sp-s.co.uk

• A progressive tutor for brass instruments • 3 books - Let‛s Play; Let‛s Progress; Let‛s Perform • Available for B b and E b instruments • CD backing included • Let‛s Play (Elementary Course) available now • Let‛s Progress and Let‛s Perform available soon

Due to popular demand • 20 new pieces • Demonstration CD available • Available from October

Upcoming Publications Unity Series - October 2012 (Five-part scoring, concert pitch parts and demonstration CD available 3 issues per year) March - Whitleigh Witness (Ian Feltwell) Sans day carol (Ray Steadman-Allen) As with gladness (David Rowsell) Song Arrangement - Saved, Saved! (Noel Jones)

Triumph Series - November 2012 (Scored for 13 parts, ideal for a smaller band ensemble - 3 issues per year) March - On the winning side (Terry Camsey) Trombone Feature - Sunshine Corner (Ray Steadman-Allen) The healing waters (Ralph Pearce) Nothing but thy blood (Ian Feltwell)

General Series - December 2012 (Full band scoring - 3 issues per year) March - Over vale and hill (Martin Cordner) Cornet Solo - Turn your eyes upon Jesus (Mervyn Clarke) The triumphs of his grace (Norman Bearcroft) Processional - Before his throne (Paul Sharman)

The Assistant Territorial Music Director We have our usual work within the office compounded by tune book responsibilities. I do recommend the new additions to the First things First series. First things First Volume 2 is another fine resource that I know will be welcomed by many brass leaders.

I would like to thank Bandsman Keith Watts for developing the First things First tutor books.

Keith has created a learner plan which understands the basics of playing in a constructive and attractive way.

This summer the ISS were privileged to complete a ground-breaking tour of Argentina and Uruguay, before visiting North America to support the General at the Old Orchard Beach Meetings. Over 16,000 miles were travelled, and two continents visited, in the space of 10 days.

The visit had been planned for many months and was a real step of faith by the South America East Territory (Territorial Commander Susan McMillan and Music Director Omar Perez).

The ISS knew in advance that the church community in Argentina and Uruguay did not have a tradition of selling tickets to concerts, and so we had no idea how many people would come to listen to our festivals. However, the SAE Territory worked tirelessly to use the mission of the ISS to expand the profile of The Salvation Army within the countries involved.

God honoured their efforts and every venue was packed, with many people standing at the back of churches, and even outside the buildingg when the ISS led worship at Buenos Aires Central Corps.

While Argentina is geographically 11 times larger than the United Kingdom it has only 1800 Salvation Army soldiers and officers. It was therefore thrilling to see far in excess of this number of people packing all the venues throughout Buenos Aires, and Rosario, to hear the ministry of the ISS. Having landed at Buenos Aires airport, over thirteen hours after taking off from London Heathrow on an overnight flight, we freshened up and presented our first concert at the San Andres Presbyterian Church. Exhaustion was quickly overcome when we saw the excited faces in the capacity congregation. The South American exuberance shone through and many items were greeted with standing ovations – expressed, without inhibition, either singularly or en masse.

Particularly appreciated were the songs that we sang in Spanish – The Hallelujah Chorus (not too difficult to do!), Anastasis and David Danced.

Andy Stephen (ISS technician) had worked

tirelessly in translating every one of the 66 songs that we had with us into Spanish, for the audience to read as we sang, to ensure that there were no language barriers.

After a good night sleep, we conducted a vocal workshop with a group of 35 Salvationist young people known as The Buenos Aires Singers.

Those at the vocal workshop came from all over the Buenos Aires Division. While The Salvation Army is small numerically in Argentina the average age of the soldiery is very young, and these young people were so anxious to learn that they literally sat on the edge of their seats to listen to what Staff Songster Leader Dorothy Nancekievill had to say. That evening we were privileged to conduct a meeting at the Buenos Aires Central Corps which included the installation of the Territory’s new Chief Secretary, Colonel Fernandez. The massed singing of the song, Somebody prayed for me at the moment of his dedication, in Spanish, was deeply moving and a very special moment for all present.

From Argentina we travelled, by boat, to Montevideo, Uruguay, for a concert at the Anglican Church. We had been told, in advance, that being in the middle of winter this seafront church might be a bit chilly. Nothing could have prepared us though for the temperature that greeted us! Elliot Launn (piano) tried his best to warm his frozen fingers by keeping a cup of hot water by his side but the red noses of the ISS members must have shown how frozen we were. These conditions couldn’t diminish the audience’s enthusiasm though as they sat in sub-zero temperatures wrapped up in their furs and thickest winter coats.

Having warmed up overnight we travelled to the El Atardecer Seniors Home to see the Army’s social work in action and to share our message.

Once again not only was the room in which we sang packed to capacity, but also the overflow room on the other side of the corridor and every available standing space in both rooms.

We just had time to say goodbye before boarding another flight for the 17 hour journey from Uruguay to Boston USA.Those who had not been to Old Orchard Beach before were staggered at the complex and facilities enjoyed there. A fantastic weekend’s meetings followed as we supported General Linda Bond to capacity congregations of 1800 seated, plus up to a further 300 standing at the back.

The young people of Argentina are extremely proud to wear their uniforms, although many cannot afford to buy them. Throughout the vocal workshop The Buenos Aires Singers sat immaculately dressed in summer uniform and after a very brief discussion the ISS locals decided that, in order to encourage our fellow singers, we would donate our red festival tunics to the group. The screams of joy that met the announcement of this gesture will live with us forever. The young people immediately found members of the ISS who were approximately their size and the jackets were then literally taken off our backs.

Legacy It is not possible for me to fully express in detail the countless times that we saw lives being changed throughout this visit. However, I would conclude by sharing the fact that literally hundreds of people knelt at the mercy seats in Argentina and the USA throughout our visit.

In addition, we have since heard that our ministry was so valued in Argentina, that the Buenos Aires Singers, with their new tunics, will now be formally recognised to act as a Divisional Songster brigade (Brigada de Canto de Buenos Aires) which will travel all over the area to minister and support worship wherever they visit.

A ministry modelled on that of the ISS. Whilst in Argentina we were told that the Music Camp ministry in the Territory was under threat this year through a shortfall in funding of $5,000.

We shared this fact with Salvationists in one of the Old Orchard Beach Meetings, and within moments almost $8,000 had been donated to support the young Salvationists of Argentina.

The generosity shown was remarkable and we all felt blessed to be part of one International Salvation Army.

Kevin Fenton-Herring

It was with a sense of both excitement and inquisitiveness that I boarded the plane for Lagos on Friday 27th July to conduct the 5th Nigerian Territorial Music & Creative Arts School.

This was a visit funded by the Leslie Condon Trust, the third time I had been supported on visits to Africa by the Trust. The weekend was spent preparing resources for the School, which ran from Tuesday 31st July until Sunday 5th August, with Territorial Music Secretary Ebenezer Ntuk. The school was to be located at the Igboukwu Corps and School in the Anambra State, a seven hour road trip from Lagos! As well as three brass bands there were studying vocal, guitar, keyboard and contemporary worship.

Students started arriving during Tuesday afternoon and after a welcome meeting students were designated to their various groups. The three bands were graded according to ability into advanced, elementary and beginners. As the camp started the rain poured down as it did for the next six days! It was after ‘the rainy season’ but in spite of the bad weather and the lack of electricity, (we were only able to use the emergency generator for a few hours each day) both staff and students had a great time sharing music, fellowship and worship together.

Work started in earnest on the Wednesday morning with the ‘A’ Band getting to grips with a festival march by Dr Kenneth Downie that had been specially written for the opening of the new corps buildings at Southport earlier in the year.

The march Southport Celebration is built around the hymn tune Southport and proved to be a challenge for the band but one which they rose to very well indeed! Other music featured was Joy in my heart by Ray Steadman-Allen from the American Festival Series, William Himes Soli deo gloria plus Kevin Larsson’s Fill the world with glory. The ‘B’ Band worked on a setting of Praise my soul by Bandmaster Olaf Ritman of the Amsterdam Staff Band plus some settings from the scripture based chorus series. The beginners started to work hard at producing a good sound from their instrument and by the end of the week had learnt enough to perform a very creditable rendition of the hymn tune Ernan.

There is a great thirst for learning in Nigeria, so as well as lectures about How to improve your contribution to your section, Good Leadership and So you want to be a conductor, there was much time spent improving knowledge of the rudiments of music with a session every day on the theory of music. I was supported in this by a number of local music leaders including former Territorial Music Secretary David Nathaniel,

Bandmaster Bassey and Bandmaster James.

An undoubted highlight of the week was the showing of the ISB 120 DVD. There were gasps and cheers as the New York Staff Band Percussionist Robert Jones did his incredible drumming display at the Cadogan Hall during Ol man river and much awe and wonder as the eight staff bands played together in the Royal Albert Hall and then marched down The Mall. The gasps and cheers were not quite as loud as those in the Olympic Stadium but pretty close! Having been able to enjoy the ISB 120 in person it was terrific to be able bring something of the worldwide Salvation Army to the students. and it was thrilling to see their enthusiasm.

After an unscheduled audience with the local King (regaled in robes and crown) in his palace the final concert took place on Saturday evening in the presence of the Territorial Commander Commissioner Akpan. This featured all the musical groups including guitar and keyboard plus the drama group.and the students excelled in their performance.

There is a continuing struggle for musical resources in Nigeria, as in other Territories in Africa and so an added bonus of my visit was that due to the generosity of both individual donations together with fundraising done by the Southport Citadel Band a full band set (including scores) of Marches and Hymn Tune Arrangements were able to be donated to the Territorial Music Department. I was also able to leave a roll up keyboard, two cornets and a baritone. Under the leadership of TMS Ntuk I am sure that the music ministry in Nigeria will be enhanced by these added resources.

music schools. In previous years I have been privileged to visit the Territories of Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Republic of Congo and Ghana.

Whilst each Territory is different there is one very strong common denominator, the immense desire to improve and develop individual skills so that the ministry of The Salvation Army can be enhanced through music. The enthusiasm and determination to progress is boundless and is only held back by lack of resources. I never fail to return from such visits thanking God for the resources that we enjoy here in the UK. I pray that we may never take them for granted and look forward to the day when we might have so many young people wanting to learn to play that we have the problem of not enough instruments!

Thank you to the musicians of Nigeria for once again enthusing me about the place of brass banding in Salvation Army worship!

Brian Johnson Bandmaster Southport Citadel

This was the eighth time that I have been able to travel to the continent of Africa to lead

Music Ministries Unit Newsletter OCTOBER 2012

Territorial Music Director Stephen Cobb in conversation with Derick Kane on his recent trip to Australia.

The purpose of this visit was brought about as a direct inspiration from the ISB120 weekend.

Dr Ron and Jeanette Smart had the vision to do something for Sierra Leone and, at the same time, enhance the music programme in Sydney.

Dr. Stephen Cobb

Earlier this year Ron visited the the village of Jui in Sierra Leone, and saw first-hand the opportunity to build a school for local children.

My first weekend was in Melbourne where the structure of the Saturday was not unlike the model of ISB120. Four corps bands came together and each presented a 30-minute programme. I was invited to conduct each band in one item during their programme. I found all the bands in good shape and enjoyed working with them.

Warwick Tyrrell

Rebecca Raymond

In the evening the bands joined as one massed band to present a concert along with vocal soloist Rebecca Raymond (vocal soloist with the Melbourne Staff Band). Rebecca gave excellent contributions, communicating in a wonderful way with the audience.

The Territorial Commander ( ??????????) spoke movingly of the evening and announced that the Territory would match the money raised.

I moved on to Sydney to conduct the ‘Top-Brass’ band, made up of Salvationists, Brass Band musicians, and professional musicians.

We had three rehearsals preparing for a concert at Sydney Congress Hall.

The band played to a very high level. In particular, I would like to mention Steven English (Soprano Cornet), whose playing of Philip Sparke’s ‘Flowerdale’ was both beautiful and outstanding.

Rebecca Raymond again showed her outstanding gifts and ability to communicate through her singing, as well as Warwick Tyrrell who performed brilliantly on the Trombone and on the didgeridoo, giving the concert real a wow factor!

It was wonderful to see Sydney Congress Hall full to capacity and to experience that special Salvation Army atmosphere.

Captain Nesan Kistan (Sydney Congress Hall), gave the message from the Scriptures, which preceded the announcement that $100,000 (Aus), had been raised by the initiative of Ron and Jeanette Smart. A wonderful achievement!

On a personal note, it was good to meet up with Colin Wood, Noel Jones, Gary Todd, and Rob Beasy.

On the final Sunday afternoon, I led a rehearsal with the Sydney Youth Band, where a 1 1/2 hour rehearsal became a 3 hour rehearsal, such was the enthusiasm and appetite to play. A rehearsal that reminded me that I could have been anywhere in our ‘army’ world. It showed again to me hope for our music-making through these committed young people.

Dr Stephen Cobb

Songs in the heart 1 Pressing Onward 2 Songs in the Heart 3 Post Bellum Rhapsody 4 What a friend 5 Concertino for Band and Trombone 6 EFG March 7 Sinfonietta 8 Hummouresque from folk songs for band 9 The children’s friend 10 The song of the brother 11 Abide with me 12 Manhattan 13 The old rugged cross 14 None other name

Available from: www.worldofbrass.com - The Music of Erik Leidzen - Leyland Band with Kevin Ashman(Cornet), Davur Juul Magnussen (Trombone) and David Childs (Euphonium)

A day after TMS, our bags were packed and we were waving goodbye to our family at Manchester Airport. A mammoth flight awaited but also 3 weeks of excitement and musicmaking. After a short stopover in Paris, we boarded the 12-hour flight to Singapore where Andrew experienced having to use his First Aid skills during the night with a female passenger; unfortunately there was no Dr on board this flight! After having some donuts and coffee, we embarked for another 9 hours, before landing in Adelaide. Now, I knew that this wasn’t the English Summer we were heading to; I knew Australia were experiencing winter, but I really wasn’t prepared for the 1 degree temperature that hit us as we met our host Hugh Ballantyne at the airport. I could only smile smugly that I had managed to persuade Andrew to take a jacket with him!

Hugh and his wife Chris had organised our first leg of the journey at the Ingle Farm Corps in Adelaide. We headed to their home for much needed showers, an English breakfast and for Andrew, a sleep, and me, some retail therapy in the local shopping mall. That evening we were privileged to lead rehearsals with the Band, Songsters, YP Band and Junior Singers in preparation for the weekend’s musical activities.

Fortunately, jet lag had yet to kick in, but we were very grateful the chance to relax and acclimatise on the following day.

We were able to visit some of Adelaide’s beautiful countryside but we did smile that our hosts had taken two English Salvationists to a wine growing area and a German Village! A highlight for us on this particular stop, was to be taken to The Botanic Park; the very spot where The Salvation Army had started in Australia and we were able to reflect and give thanks for the commitment of those early Salvationists who had commenced the work in that land.

As a teacher, it was a great opportunity for me to get into an Australian school and so it was that we headed to the Torrans Valley Christian School. I was able to lead their Senior Choir in a singing workshop and rehearsal as they were joining in the concert on the coming Saturday.

It was a great experience and seeing the Daily Devotions timetable set up in the staff room left me feeling what a blessing it must be to work in that Christian environment.

We had a wonderful weekend at the corps. This place is a real hive of activity and there are huge plans to rebuild the hall; exciting times are ahead. Friday night sees a youth church of 90 young people meeting for bible study and worship and the corps employ over 50 people.

The spirit was really in that place. A packed congregation joined together for the Saturday evening concert where much of Andrew’s music was performed and people came back again on Sunday as we led worship on ‘The Heartbeat of God.’

everyone, but it works at Camberwell as they were certainly the largest group I worked with in Australia. Having said that, all of the groups with whom we worked numbered over 30.

Next stop was Melbourne where we were met by our friend, Bandmaster Ken Waterworth. Ken is the Territorial Music Director and Bandmaster of The Melbourne Staff Band. Ken took us to our hosts for the next week; Darren and Denise Waterworth and their sons Ben and Jake. Our first official engagement that evening was a rehearsal with The Melbourne Staff Songsters, where Andrew led them in a rehearsal of his own music and I enjoyed singing, being accompanied by them in an arrangement written for myself and the group by MMU sub-editor Simon Gash.

We really enjoyed being in the Waterworth home and felt very much part of the family. Thursday was roast night and as Darren and Denise were working, it was cooked by me and Ben’s girlfriend. As she is also English we were able to introduce them to the delights of Yorkshire Pudding! I think it went down well. Andrew and I weren’t able to indulge in the usual ‘post roast nap’ though as it was on to Box Hill band practice to rehearse for the Saturday evening festival. After a relaxing Friday, getting to know the finer points of Aussie Rules Football and catching up on the Olympic excitement at home, we spent an uplifting weekend at The Box Hill Corps. I was accompanied by the band in Get Happy! and We’ve come this far by Faith and the MSS in Father, Creator and Andrew conducted both sections in some of his own music. Sunday saw us at the hall at 8.30 ready to lead a contemporary worship service, followed by a more traditional meeting at 11.00.

Tuesday in Melbourne meant that we were looked after by Nigel Mapes, who had emigrated from Norwich Citadel a few years ago and Neil Roper. Both these gentlemen are in the MSB and were able to fill me in on some of the things they had got up to with Andrew during the band’s visit for ISB120! We were able to go up the Eureka Tower and see over the whole city for miles around and were also fed very well!

The evening started with a visit to Ringwood Corps to lead the Songsters in rehearsal and then we were whisked off rather quickly to Box Hill Corps where we joined their Songster Brigade for the last hour of their practice. This became the pattern for the next night. Andrew was collected by Major Howard Davies and taken to the corps at Warragul, where he spent the evening with their senior music sections.

Brian Hogg, the MSS leader was my chauffeur for the evening and together we headed off to Waverley Corps Songster practice and then to the corps at Camberwell. This corps do things slightly differently. They had felt that numbers in their Songsters were declining and so made the radical decision to only rehearse once a month. The Songster Leader makes a recording on CD which each Songster gets and they then run through the songs for Sunday before the meeting. I don’t suppose this model is for

Thursday morning saw us leading morning prayers at Territorial Headquarters which was followed by a very nice morning coffee with the Chief Secretary and the rest of the cabinet in Melbourne. Andrew enjoyed seeing the Music Department here too, although I didn’t think it looked much different!

That evening we joined together with massed bands and Box Hill Songsters at Greenwood Corps for a Songs of Praise. We also met composer Noel Jones here and enjoyed sharing together with Salvationists from another part of this vast territory.

On returning ‘home’ we were met by a surprise farewell supper to which many of the friends we had made whilst in Melbourne attended and it was a wonderful end to this leg of the journey.

We were going to Sydney for a holiday next but were extremely sad to leave Melbourne behind.

It was an end to a thoroughly enjoyable trip for us and we pray that our efforts brought some blessing and challenge to those we met and shared with.

Sue Blyth

Music Ministries Unit Newsletter OCTOBER 2012

Territorial Music School 2012

Star Lake Musicamp 2012 - Derick Kane It was a great thrill for me to be invited to SLMC as guest conductor and soloist. Firstly, to put my thoughts in context, my last visit to Star Lake musicamp was in 1972 (yes – that is correct!).

I was chosen as a mere teenager to represent the then Scotland Territory as the Leidzén Scholarship winner.

I have stayed at Star Lake on a few occasions over the years on ISB visits, however, you can imagine my feelings, driving in to musicamp after a 40-year gap! Memories came flooding back – Ray Steadman-Allen as guest conductor, playing in the Star Lake Band under Bandmaster Derek Smith and RS-A, Philip Smith (Cornet), Stephen Bulla (Trombone), playing The Holy war, The Conqueror and waking up one morning with my bed outside! You get the nostalgic picture!

Under the leadership of Territorial Music Director Ron Waiksnoris, Star Lake continues to flourish, and be a place where young musicians find musical fulfilment, high quality teaching and spiritual uplift.

The Instructors Band & Chorus met for rehearsal on the Friday afternoon, preparing music for the Saturday evening welcome meeting and Sunday morning worship. We then departed for the School for Officers Training for the finale of the Territorial Arts Ministries Conservatory. It was good to see this and to see and hear the young people there expressing themselves in various creative ways.

For those who have been to Star Lake, the Tabernacle (where most events are held), is a special place and holds a unique atmosphere.

You firstly think of all the young people who have been part of that place, the special guests, the music played and sung, the decisions made, and then consider the effect that place may have in that week.

Sunday mornings at Star Lake are special, giving everyone an opportunity to worship, praise and reflect. What a great treat it was to have a visit on Sunday evening from the New York Staff Band. A great effort by the NYSB in the middle of August! An excellent opportunity also to influence young musicians with the music and message of the Staff band, and for some listeners to think ‘maybe one day’. We shouldn’t underestimate the aspirations of others.

The students at SLMC are there for a music filled week, and I personally, appreciate, the way traditions have been maintained. It is a music – camp.

So, as we get in full flow with the schedule – 4 bands, 4 choruses, theory classes, timbrels, solo preparation, masterclasses, recitals, leadership

classes are all well-organised and well-led.

There is preparation to be done for Soloist Night, Preview Festival, Festival of Voices and Brass, and the Grand Finale Festival, and finally on the Sunday afternoon, the Awards Festival (complete with massed bands!).

Each morning worship session was led by my wife Hazel and myself, exploring scripture and applying it to daily life.

One aspect of each morning was the presentation of a specially-written Euphonium solo, and I am grateful to composers and arrangers who contributed to this. My own musical role at Star Lake was as soloist and conducting the Star Lake Band and Chorus. This was a real privilege, particularly as I think of the names that have stood in front of these groups. They were a real joy to work with and, along with all the other groups, showed a great commitment to what they were doing and engaged in performing to their very best.

My Star Lake Chorus choices included Jesus Victorious (Richard Phillips), Love Grace & Power (Andrew Blyth), and The Quiet Heart (June Collin). Star Lake Band items included Fusion (Martin Cordner), Finale from New World Symphony, and The Present Age (Leslie Condon).

On a personal note, it was great to meet up with some visitors during the week, Lieut Colonel Norman Bearcroft, Vernon Post, who, in the Finale Festival gave an insight into his Star Lake days. Another visiting guest was Professor Peter Graham. It was great to see Peter, and much more to see him in action. Peter gave a composition masterclass to a packed Tabernacle, enthralling us with his compositional beginnings and techniques.

Bandmaster Waiksnoris had suggested to me that Peter and myself should do an item together in the evening festival, and I gave him the idea that maybe we could come up with a new solo. Peter was thrilled with this news! In the afternoon, with Peter at the piano and me with my euphonium (we decided that was the best way round!), we experimented with an idea or two. PG suddenly said ‘I’ve got it! – what about variations on the Star Lake ‘pep song’ (the pep song to Star Lakers is well-known and sung every evening at camp). So Star Lake Variations was born. With piano interjections that included Leidzén, Dvorak, and The Simpsons, a unique performance, for Star Lake 2012 was given (with over 2000 youtube hits as I write!).

There was time at Star Lake for social activities, and I will always remember dancing Hawaiian style by the lake (not just me! – it was a Hawaiian evening, complete with a hog roast and barbecued shrimp!)

On the Monday afternoon, all staff and campers boarded buses and departed to the Yankee Stadium (home of the New York Yankees), to watch the ballgame that evening. Now I must be careful here, all the staff and campers had been allocated seats in the Stadium (and what a stadium it is). However, upon arrival, my wife Hazel, myself, and Ron Waiksnoris were escorted to the special welcome lounge and met the Territorial Commander, Commissioner Hedgren and other Divisional Staff. We were led on to the pitch (along with 4 representative campers) where the work of The Salvation Army was acknowledged to a full stadium, and the Star Lake Musicamp were given a special welcome. A great occasion and profile as crowds cheered for The Salvation Army in the Yankees stadium. We were then led to our ‘executive’ box to enjoy the game, but enough said I think, except – Yankees won 6-2.

A great time then at SLMC, meeting many friends, and making many new ones, a deep appreciation for what Star Lake means to many people worldwide. My thanks to Territorial Music Director Ron Waiksnoris for his kind invitation, and for his belief in the ideals of musicamp.

Thanks too, to all the other music leaders and counselling staff that make Star Lake a place of fun, a place of music-making, a place of teaching and learning, and, in common with such music activities in many places, a place of growth and renewal, where many individuals decide, I’ll follow Thee.

TROOPS IN SWEDEN In August this year the Household Troops Band was privileged to travel to Sweden to take part in the Eksjö International Tattoo.

Eksjö (don’t ask any Trooper how to pronounce it because none of them know) is a quaint garrison town in southern Sweden – situated about 60km east of Jönköping – and is noted for its unspoilt 16-century architecture. In other words it’s in the middle of nowhere and there’s very little to do … apart from every two years when the tattoo comes to town.

Arriving at the garrison in the dead of Monday night to be presented with paper bags filled with a pre-packed salad (complete with white sauce of no discernable flavour); a bottle of water and an apple; having been told to grab a pillow case, two sheets and a blanket and to go and make their beds in the dormitories, the Troopers could have been forgiven for wondering what they had let themselves in for.

The following morning was to reveal a little more. The band was allocated a rehearsal room and they set about reacquainting themselves with the music they would perform during a 12-minute slot at the tattoo – ‘Soldiers of Christ’, ‘Vitae Lux’, Ray Farr’s ‘Toccata’ and ‘Marching

Onward’. Next stop was the parade ground to learn … hold on a minute, who are we trying to kid?… to make up the marching routine for the tattoo just two nights later. Eventually, a routine – similar to the one performed at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010 – was settled on. There wasn’t much else to do other than practise, practise, practise under the watchful gaze of the band’s host, coach driver and former Swedish military officer Orka, who was heard to remark (in a Scandinavian accent) ‘Your playing is excellent, but your marching…’ no words followed, just a confused-look and a waggle of his hand.

At the tattoo, the Troops joined bands from Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden.

There were four performances in total: Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday afternoon. During each performance each band provided a 12-minute programme of music and marching before joining together for a finale under the baton of Lieutenant-Colonel Torgny Hanson (bandmaster at Stockholm South) in his guise of Inspector of Military Music of the Swedish Armed Forces. Over the course of the three days the band performed to thousands of spectators in the region as well as those who tuned in to watch the tattoo on Swedish national

television.

Also during the week the Troopers received two welcome breaks from the monotony and boredom of the garrison and the parade ground with visits to the Army corps in Jönköping and Tranas. In Sofia Church, Jönköping, the band provided a lunchtime concert to an audience of more than 300, which included a selection of music from the ‘red’ and ‘multi-coloured’ Favourites books. Following the concert, the Troops marched through the streets of Jönköping to hold an open-air service that was witnessed by hundreds of bystanders and passers-by. The visit to Tranas included a march and an open-air, which again was watch by hundreds of onlookers.

It would probably be fair to say that this was the tour that got off to something of an inauspicious start and warmed up as it went along and the Troops left Sweden with happy memories, new friends and some stories to tell. While their marching might not have as polished as the other bands, the Troops didn’t let God or the Army down. They presented something tangibly different to the other ensembles and, we hope and pray, sowed Gospel seeds to thousands in the process.

Justin Reeves

ANNOUNCEMENTS EASTER MUSIC COURSE Date: April 1-5 Venue: King’ s Park Conference Centre, Northampton Special Guests: Lieut - Colonel Trevor & Margaret Davis Also featuring: Bedford Band, Winton Songsters & much more!

TMS 2013 Date: 27 July-3 August Venue: To be announced

Interview with Ira Thomas Following recent visits to Youth Chorus rehearsals Ira shares something of that experience.

Were you well received at rehearsals?

I couldn’t have been made more welcome in every division that I visited.

Both the young people and their leaders clearly went out of their way to make this whole experience work and I cannot thank them enough.

to What was your favourite song rehearse?

Sorry, I don’t have a favourite as yable there were challenging and enjo these but g components to everyone son , ting stand out particularly: - Everlas and ive because it is such an express spend emotional song which you could can hours on the many nuances that ha suc be discovered. It also creates ds, han lovely, hypnotic mood - I lift my ily eas s beautifully written so that it sing to ple straight away and compels peo heart, worship immediately - Cleanse my pel gos ate not only because of its passion ds wor chords but also because the in faith clearly help us to walk together Danced, id and ask for forgiveness - Dav en as it is such a lot of fun but hidd –a id beneath that is the story of Dav still but man who was hugely flawed, the chosen by God to be the ‘line’ for ing! nish coming of Jesus Christ – asto Hope for us all!

What was the main purpo se of your visit?

The main focus was obviou sly to prepare each group musically, encour aging them to prepare the songs in a sim ilar way. But, it also gave me an opportuni ty to speak about who the great man Wi lliam Booth was, a little about the Congr ess and a ‘bigger picture’ of The Salva tion Army but always to understand more of the words they would be singing. In our unit (MMU) we are committed to keepin g in touch with our divisional music groups but this event gave us the opportunity to spend time with many of them.

you How many youth chorus rehearsals did attend?

Massed 13 of our 18 divisions were involved in the 12 Youth Congress Chorus, so that meant one joint rehearsals, as we did manage to organise one and 425 young people took part.

How many miles do you estimate you travelled?

It seems incredible now, but 3,794 miles.

How did they vary musically?

Those groups that have a greater percentage of musically trained young people, especially those with Salvation Army background, obviously had a clearer picture and a more immediate understanding of the musical shape required, but each group tackled every song with great enthusiasm. Learning 7 or 8 songs in one session is very exhausting – and there were moments when they couldn’t take in any more. Due to the dates of visits, some groups had been wellrehearsed prior to my seeing them; others we just started from scratch.

tors in the Were there common denomina things you had to rehearse? n listen to The music that young people ofte ‘holding ally today doesn’t always require voc we lly the line’. So, musically and physica ver deli the needed to consider how best to for the songs we were asked to prepare Congress.

Do you think our Youth Choruses are in good leadership hands?

I think they are in exceptional hands – there was a unity in the way each group was loved and cared for by their leaders/team. Working with children and young people has always demanded great commitment, but today, the necessary procedures can be daunting, but these were carried out diligently and never invaded upon the real reasons for having a youth chorus.

What impact did the youth choruses have at the recent congress?

There is a natural energy that seems to emanate from young people and you cannot ignore the change they make to any atmosphere. Seeing a whole bank of youngsters in red T-shirts standing in front of me, singing for all they were worth was so powerful and inspiring. I would like to thank the many people who have taken trouble to say ( via emails, texts, word of mouth, telephone calls etc) how moved they were by them. I really felt I had the easiest job of all.

What encouraged you the most during your visits?

Young people often have a very bad press, by their own admission too, but it was so encouraging to see young people worship with such an open heart and with each other. Watching them involve themselves at the Congress and, being engaged in everything gives massive hope for the future and I was once again reminded never to underestimate how powerful they are.

in all our youth for the young musicians What advice do you have groups? so much, is changing and developing These years when your life g music, kin ma e together as you can, try and spend as much tim believe. Don’t you y and exploring what enjoying each other’s compan and healthy new ny get involved in as ma ignore anything and try and l tell you that wil to ak . Anyone you spe can you as er eth tog s nce experie stage of your and moments enjoyed at this the relationships you make . you ve lea t a lifetime and never life make memories that las in.

Thank you to all of you aga

Music M i Ministries Mi i i Unit U i Newsletter N l OCTOBER 2012

Latest Latest news news from from SP&S SP&S With the weather very much in the autumnal phase, this season has already been a busy one for us with a number of new recordings brought to market and several more to come in the next few weeks.

The International Staff Band has spent more time than usual in recording locations during 2012 with Volume 4 in the band’s Heritage Series, Music from the 1960s already proving popular and selling well. Early in September, the band’s next album, From the Heart, became available. This is an album of reflective music by Kenneth Downie and is partly new recordings and partly compiled from previous albums. This was closely followed by the band’s repertoire album of 2012, Fire in the Blood, which was launched at Regent Hall recently and quickly established itself at the top of

our download sales chart for September in just a matter of days! The final album on which the band is involved is the second solo album from Hendon bandsman and London Symphony Orchestra principal trumpet, Philip Cobb, on which it provides the accompaniment to trumpet, cornet and flugel horn solos. Many of you would have been impressed and no doubt moved by Philip’s playing at the Olympics closing and Paralympics opening ceremonies in a stadium packed with crowds of 80,000 and global television audiences of many millions. The challenge for us is to try to capitalise on Philip’s ever burgeoning reputation by selling more albums, particularly to those who may not have heard a Salvation Army brass band before and the message it brings.

The International Staff Songsters’ 2011-2012 season carried right through to the end of July with a week long tour of Argentina and Uruguay and participation in the Old Orchard Beach meetings in Maine on the way home! With just a few weeks break before rehearsals recommenced, the brigade also took in a visit to New Horizons before its first weekend visit of the new season to Exeter Temple.

The group’s next album, In the Name of the Lord, is currently in production and delivery is expected into our warehouse any day soon.

first album for thirteen years, Divine Legacy.

Featuring music regularly played by the band, the album is dedicated to members of the band who have played a part in its 125-year history.

Finally, the new album from Enfield Citadel Band is enhanced by spoken introductions to the three major works by General Shaw Clifton, a former corps officer at Enfield.

When Commissioner Frederick Coutts was elected General of The Salvation Army in 1963, he expressed the hope that The Salvation Army might show a more modern approach in bringing the message of Christian faith to the ‘man in the street’. There is little doubt that, named almost by accident, The Joystrings managed to do that during the five years in which they, literally, took the world by storm. Restrung was one of our best-sellers last autumn with much favourable feedback received, including eight on Amazon.co.uk. One reviewer declined to award the album five stars because it omitted one of the group’s most popular songs, A starry night. What he didn’t know was that it was being saved for the future release of Christmas Collection which came into stock recently.

Hopefully Amazon’s marketing machine will kick in and Mr C A Smith will award this album five stars in due course!

Christmas! is the straightforward, no nonsense title of the latest album from saxophonist and Birmingham Salvationist, Anna Lamplough. Anna is a very accomplished musician and we are delighted that she has chosen to record this album for the SP&S label.

Finally, there are three albums from corps sections which I want to tell you about. Firstly, it is some years since Hendon Songsters made a recording and How sweet the sound features the brigade in songs which it uses regularly in worship at the corps. Winton Bournemouth Band is currently celebrating its 125th anniversary year with a busy programme of events culminating in a concert with Black Dyke Band at Poole’s Lighthouse centre.

This occasion also sees the launch of the band’s

The title track of The Bandsman’s Tale is a lean and incisive work which Elgar Howarth conceived as a gift to his cousin, Bill Weaver. Doffing a stylistic cap to Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale, the story is told of a ‘back-sliding’ bandsman who finds redemption through the words of the Founder’s Hymn. This recording of The Bandsman’s Tale is believed to be the first by a Salvation Army band anywhere in the world.

Our in-house graphic designer, Andrew Wainwright, continues to do a great job as Editor of our monthly magazine, SA Bandsman. Subscriber numbers continue to grow month by month but, as a line from a song says, ‘there’s room for many-a-more’! SA Bandsman is available as a free-of-charge monthly supplement to our weekly British Bandsman (the leading international brass magazine), or on its own, once a month, for just £16 a year. To subscribe to SA Bandsman, call Sara King on +44 (0)1933 445 442 or subscribe online by visiting; http://www.britishbandsman.com/ bb-subscriptions-sabandsman/.

Thank you for taking the trouble to read Latest news from SP&S. We look forward to serving you however you choose to shop with us.

Carl Woodman Head of Marketing Salvation Army Trading Company Limited Direct Line; +44 (0)20 7367 6598 Email; carl.woodman@sp-s.co.uk www.worldofbrass.com www.worldofbrasstunes.com www.sps-shop.com www.spstunes.com

www.salvationarmy.org.uk/music

Western Music Institute 2012 (reprinted from New Frontier) r

Annual music event sees increase in attendance.

The Western Music Institute (WMI) had a record number of delegates attend its annual event.

In total 200 staff, staff kids and delegates were present at the occasion. While the numbers were good, we were at capacity and finding space for all of our classes was a challenge.

Our guests included Richard and Lyn Phillips, from Kettering, U.K., and Vanessa and Jeremiah Gamble, from Minneapolis, Minn., who created rapport with delegates from the start.

This year we offered—for the first time—dance and drama major tracks, along with band, girls vocal and praise and worship. Interest in both subjects was high and we even received audition tapes prior to WMI starting.

For the third year in a row, Sunday morning consisted of assisting local corps with its worship service. This year we visited Glendale, Burbank, Santa Monica and the young people who were attending Camp Gilmore.

Ivor Bosanko, Andrew Mackereth, Bramwell Coles and Richard Phillips.

Richard Phillips presented a special evening for us. Being a gifted pianist, he captured our interest with an excellent concert. However, it was much more than just a concert: it was a worship experience wherein he shared about himself and his experiences with God. He used the song Somebody prayed for me to illustrate that when things are not going well in your own life and you can’t pray, someone is right there lifting you up to the throne of Heaven. Melodies from Barry Manilow and The sound of music also made it a memorable evening.

Despite seriously high temperatures for most of the week, we all worked hard to maintain the high standard of music-making that is expected at WMI.

Captain Erica Helton was our chaplain, guiding us through morning chapels, sealed orders and devotions. Taking her theme from Ezekiel 36:26, she explained we can turn a heart of stone into a heart of flesh, then told us how.

Many varied styles of music were rehearsed and presented, from Katy Perry’s Firework to music from The Wizard of Oz, as well as music from

The soloist recital and mid-week concert were inspiring events, not only showing the considerable talent gathered together, but also

the true love and praise for God that our young people have.

After an elective night and our final worship time together, we took a brief rest before heading out for our final festival at Pasadena Tabernacle Corps. The corps hall was filled to capacity and, by the indication, may not be large enough to hold us in 2013.

Already, WMI seems a distant memory and plans for 2013 are underway. We accomplished our purpose to give the young people in attendance the tools and encouragement to do these things at their own corps and, by so doing, bring honour and glory to God.

By Neil Smith

Worthing Musicians Fellowship

Creativity

It was a pleasure to make my third visit to the musicians’ fellowship at the Worthing Corps. This group meets monthly and is always a really encouraging event. On this occasion, the programme included Ira Thomas (vocal & piano), and a Euphonium Quartet (Derick Kane, Stephen Kane, Iain Parkhouse, and Simon Birkett). Items from the quartet included, Russlan and Ludmilla, Danny Boy, and Swedish Hymn. Ira contributed vocal and piano solos, as well as leading us in a devotional time, reminding us of the words, O Jesus I have promised.

(from Songster Leader Ann Howlett-Foster – Cambridge) It’s so wonderful to see/hear/feel sometimes taste the tremendous range of creativity included in music-making in The Salvation Army, particularly in the variety of ways we present music in festivals.

My thanks go to this unique fellowship for hosting us, and we wish them well in their future activities and ministry. (n.b. you may have a group in your corps that could meet for a similar monthly activity – maybe worth a thought!).

DK

I am sure you would agree that appropriate creativity is just as relevant in our weekly contribution to worship (not that festivals are not worship). Some of us are more comfortable with this than others.

Why not try something simple like briefly introducing the theme or focus of your chosen piece, inviting worshippers to perhaps close their eyes and listen for a word or section that prompts some reflection in them.

Work closely with the meeting leader to see where this might best fit in the meeting, giving some thought to ‘what comes next’.

Time to reflect on God’s voice is a beautiful gift.

(We are keen to hear and share your creative ideas, so please send them to us)

www.salvationarmy.org.uk/music

Database of Songster Music from 1886 to 2012 including Musical Salvationist, Gems 1 - 8 and Sing To The Lord.

Sing to the Lord Children’s Voices Series backing tracks

• Alphabetical Titles • Music Composer Alphabetical • Words Writer Alphabetical • Vocal Solos, Female Voices, Male Voices, Vocal Duets, • YP Page, Brass Accompaniments • Journal Issue (month/year)

All contained on 1 Compact Disc Enquiries to howard.parris@onetel.net

Volumes 1-8 available on CD - £10 (including p&p).

Will be charged (with corps officers’ authourisation to corps account. Limited sets available!

Contact derick.kane@salvationarmy.org.uk to order.

Christmas Carols – selected backing tracks

40 Carols for congregational singing • from ‘New Christmas Praise’ • 20 piano backings • 20 brass backings • £10 (including P&P) Contact derick.kane@salvationarmy.org.uk for more information