Visit of Sunderland YP Band

Visit of Sunderland Millfield YP Band - 29th/30th March 2008

After weeks of preparation, organisation and anticipation, the long awaited visit of Sunderland Millfield Young People's Band to Birmingham Citadel had finally arrived.

The Corps Officer Major Stephen Naylor had prepared the YP band members spiritually, along with the YP band locals. They were reminded that in Mark 10:27 we read, ‘With God all things are possible’.

YP Band Leader David Wilkinson had prepared the YP members musically, along with the help of his locals. This was despite the fact it was David's final year at Northumbria University were he is taking a law degree, combined with legal practice course.

The YP band left Sunderland at 8am. They experienced a fully-packed day of fun and fellowship and I take this opportunity to comment on their victorious football achievement. This left the boys spirits high, and the girls purses empty after their shopping expedition to the Bull Ring!! Appetites were satisfied after an enjoyable meal, and then the band was ready to move on to the Saturday evening festival.

A most inspirational and informative PowerPoint presentation preceded the festival. This was ably prepared by Vanessa Adams who accompanied the band. Vanessa was responsible for the multimedia presentations throughout the weekend.

The PowerPoint presentation introduced the congregation to the City of Sunderland, the corps at Millfield and to the young people. The scene was set and the young folk entered in twos from the back of the hall onto the platform. The deportment of the junior musicians could not be faulted as they took their places on the platform and commenced their playing with the march Zimbabwe Centenary (Norman Bearcroft). This piece highlighted the percussionist Adam Raine as he enthusiastically performed a rhythmic musical interlude on the drum kit. The piece got our feet a-tapping and we knew that we were in for a good evening.

Samuel Innes introduced our first song Come On And Celebrate. We felt that we had a lot to celebrate that evening as we felt the presence of God with us. Kate Myers opened in prayer reminding us of the loved ones left behind in Sunderland. The first soloist of the weekend was Hannah Robson. Hannah played the cornet solo Way Beyond the Blue (Erik Silfverberg). She played confidently and musically, demonstrating some good tonal qualities. The YP band then played the piece Promised Land. This was a classic item, light and entertaining. This piece was conducted by Matthew Raine.

Birmingham Citadel songsters were the supporting section. Their first item was God Is Working, a bright and joyful number which featured a solo by songster Lucy Lamplough.

We then listened to two contrasting pieces from the band. Message Of Love is a medication by Dean Goffin. It is a lovely arrangement based on the tune St Oswald. The players were very exposed in places so the music required some delicate and sensitive playing. The YP band reached this expectation, and the music was most enjoyable to listen to. The contrasting piece was Richard Phillips's composition The Worlds Greatest Love Songs. This piece has three movements. The band did very well to adapt so well to the three different styles of playing, adapting accordingly to dynamics, speed and texture. The piece starts with a big band style of music, followed by a slow gospel style movement and then the piece concludes with a Dixieland theme.

Bandmember Oliver Cook gave his testimony and spoke on how he was able to witness at school.

The next part of the programme was linked together with a theme on pieces of music from the shows. Jasmine Anderson started this section with a piano solo - All I Ask Of You, from Phantom Of The Opera. This beautiful piece of music was played sensitively and set the scene for the next items.

The boys in the band played a piece of music to enable the girls to prepare for the timbrel item - keeping in with the theme, they played Follow The Fold from Guys and Dolls. Before the piece finished, the timbrels marched into the hall wearing old traditional Salvation Army tunics and bonnets.

The style of music changed and the girls played their tambourines to a rhythmic and complex timbrel drill to the music from the Rhythm Of Life, from the show Sweet Chariot. This was a most enjoyable item and the girls performed a slick show.

Julie Chapplow sang the beautiful solo I Don’t Know How To Love Him from Jesus Christ Superstar. The contrast in music was immediately captured as she sang the solo with passion and feeling.

The congregation was again captured by the PowerPoint presentation so professionally directed and presented by Vanessa Adams. In the presentation all the band members had dressed in character like the performers in the show version of Chicago. To complement this presentation the band played the music All That Jazz. The band demonstrated various instrumental techniques characterised by syncopated rhythms capturing the origin of the style with Jazz qualities.

The songsters concluded this section of the programme with their entertaining version of Get Happy. This certainly captured the attention of the congregation - not only was the piece entertaining musically, but visually as the choreography enhanced the song.

Before the devotions were brought to us by YP Band Sergeant David Smith the band played the march Banner Aflame (Nicholas Samuel). This was a lively number with the familiar tunes of St John and The Yellow Red And Blue Stars running through the music. The devotions concluded with the beautiful melody Divine Right.

The penultimate item of the evening was Walk Tall (David E Jones). This music is written in a pop style and included the tune Be Glad In The Lord And Rejoice. This lively number was played brightly and with enthusiasm and sounded a fun piece to play as well to listen to.

To conclude a most enjoyable programme which was well thought out to cater for a congregation of all ages, the band played Rondeau. This music was of a classical mode and was taken from a movement of Jean-Joseph Mouret's symphony Des Fanfare, arranged for brass bands by Peter Graham. It was a light buoyant item.

The programme included lots of varieties and styles of music and included a variety of ways to praise God as we read in Psalm 150 - God was praised with the voice both spoken and sung, with the timbrels and dance, the drum, cornet and brass and piano.

‘Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord’

Praise be to God.