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Birmingham Citadel Band and Songsters
William Booth Memorial Halls Band and Songsters
Staff Songster Richard McIntosh, Chelmsford
Major Bill Cochrane
Easter celebrations are special to all Christians. I’m sure we can all relate at some time to experiences at Easter when we reflect on what God has done for all of us. We can share many memories and special moments.
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This Easter was yet another year to add to those memories. Although different to perhaps the more traditional way of spending Easter Monday by, for example, the rolling of Easter eggs, a good time was had by all at the William Booth Memorial Halls as the congregation sat back and enjoyed performances from a wide range of music.
The programme started well with the Birmingham Citadel Band playing Fanfare to Worship by Steven Ponsford. The lyrics from the main theme of the music reminded us of the band's intentions and purpose in playing this piece of music - that we had met to worship God first and foremost, and in doing this they were demonstrating their musical skills.
The theme that was set by the band was reiterated by the congregation singing enthusiastically the opening song Crown Him with Many Crowns.
The first item from the William Booth Memorial Halls Songsters was I Know a Fount. This choral item was sung displaying sensitivity to the audience.
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Major Ray Brown sealed God’s blessing on the proceedings before the songsters blessed us as they sung in a passionate manner The 23rd Psalm and Rejoice the Lord is King, music for both pieces by Kevin Norbury.
Soloist Richard McIntosh did not disappoint the audience’s anticipation as he sung with such control demonstrating the importance of articulating the words to communicate the songs that had such a powerful Easter message.
Birmingham Citadel Band then contributed two contrasting numbers demonstrating distinctive qualities derived from the combination and interaction of the musical elements. The lively composition The Name by Martin Cordner set our feet a-tapping as we associated the words of the song Blessed be the Name of the Lord with the music.
William Booth Memorial Halls Songsters inspired us and caused us to reflect on the two contrasting songs. The first being the adaptation of the existing words of More than Wonderful arranged by Leonard Ballantine and the quickstep number He is Jehovah arranged by Gary Rhodes. This performance was enhanced by the foot movements from the songsters.
The first half of the programme was concluded by Birmingham Citadel Band performing Leslie Condon’s composition Easter Glory. The three days that changed the course of world history were depicted through the music the band played in this suite. It was real soul-stirring music. The three movements included the day of death, the mourning and the resurrection respectively. Through the powerfully descriptive music was depicted the thoughtful assimilation of the gospel. With the development of spontaneous musical ideas while performing, the band played with good intonation reminding us of the triumph of the Resurrection. The emotional impact was overwhelming as the suite concluded with the Easter Hymn Christ the Lord is Risen Again.
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We then had a welcome interval while William Booth Memorial Halls Band took centre stage and the Birmingham Citadel Songsters took their places.
Birmingham Citadel Songsters set the second half of the programme off to a very high standard by the vocal sounds from their contrasting songs. These were accompanied sensitively by percussion, bass guitar and piano. The audience listened attentively and the clarity of words brought great blessing especially in the song You Are My King. Deputy Songster Leader Stephanie Lamplough’s distinctive vocal qualities gave excellent support to the melody by interacting a solo line setting an echo effect with the songsters. During You are My King, Lucy Lamplough and Lucy Adams performed a worship dance expressively portraying the message of the lyrics through dance.
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Major Bill Cochrane shared some thoughts with us as he read from Matthew’s Gospel. Then William Booth Memorial Halls Band played the swing number by Leonard Ballantine Shall We Gather. This bright number with its decorative patterns, an adaptation of the original melody, set our feet tapping.
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It was during the playing of Shall We Gather that some of the Birmingham Citadel Songsters slipped out to prepare for what was to come next - the medley Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. An ensemble of musicians provided accompaniment: Gavin Lamplough and Daniel Robson on trumpet, Mark Sharman on trombone, Anna Lamplough on saxophone and Graham Lamplough on keyboard along with the songsters' backing group. Together they provided a suitable polyphonic accompaniment.
The front line songsters (or dancers!) were colourful in their appearance as they set the scene resembling the bright colours of Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat by wearing coloured tee-shirts. The audience was taken by surprise by their sleek movements and rhythmic dances. The very fitting choreography created by Stephanie Lamplough really enhanced the performance.
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The songsters sang demonstrating such enthusiasm that the spectator was captured with anticipation and wonder as to what would come next. The entertainment qualities were very high and enjoyable.
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There was some excellent choral singing demonstrated in the singing from the songsters. We were not merely entertained but were reminded of the Bible story we all know so well.
Some of the talent in the brigade was explored and demonstrated. The cowboys, Matthew Mynott, Edward Dickson, Graham Andrews and Adam Hayward sang the song expressively - complete with outfits including sparkly cowboy hats. They sang and acted the parts well.
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Adam Hayward took off a really ‘cool’ resemblance to Elvis in Pharaoh's Dream whilst the backing girls, Karen Hayward, Helen Mynott and Jean Harris put in the harmonies.
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Again the songsters demonstrating wonderful choral singing, sung in phrases to express the words meaningfully of the beautiful song Close Every Door to Me during which Stephanie Lamplough gracefully demonstrated her skill in dance to combine with the singing displaying sensitivity to produce a meaningful performance.
The audience really enjoyed the calypso number brought to us by George Dickens, Dean Heeley, Zedekiah Gudza and Davison Muropa. They really entered into the part with their smart Hawaiian shirts.
The grand finale Go Go Joseph resulted in rapturous applause showing the audience's appreciation of this adaptation of Joseph.
Again we were blessed by Richard MacIntosh as we listened to his singing. His message in song was so profound as his sound intonation was able to express the words of the songs meaningfully. His accuracy in pitch was demonstrated as he sung unaccompanied, before Songster Leader Lesley Nicholson added a piano accompaniment to his second song.
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The highlight from the William Booth Memorial Halls Band was their performance of Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral. Although this opera written by Richard Wagner in 1850 was written for an orchestra, the transcription of this piece for a brass band does not lessen the appeal of the original, as adapted by William Himes. The band played the soul-stirring music portraying this dramatic event with variations in timbre and texture unfolding to a glorious climax.
The final two contrasting songs from the songsters again were a good choice. You Raise Me Up, arranged by Roger Emerson and Joyce Eilers Bacak, a popular secular song with a powerful message, was brought to us with much feeling. Lydia Stone-Fewings enhanced the performance with her accompaniment from the deep tones of the cello. Then last but not least the foot-tapping Too Hot Down There.
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Before the benediction was announced the band concluded by playing the new march Notts One by Steve Sutton, who was present in the festival.
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I remember thinking in the final minutes during the playing of the band in this fine old Salvation Army hall while glancing up at the portrait of our Founder William Booth that he would have been so proud of everything that had taken place in God’s honour that evening.
Words: Miriam Helena Robson, Middlesbrough Citadel
Photos: Gordon McKee