Saturday Evening Festival

The band, under the leadership of Bandmaster Keith Wileman, got the Saturday evening festival off to a fine start with an excerpt from Turris Fortissima (Steven Ponsford); followed by Matthew Ingram’s cornet solo, I Love You, Lord, played by Adrian Wileman.

Bandmaster Keith Wileman then introduced himself and the band, adding that for the most part the music would be performed without introductions; the titles etc being shown on the overhead screen.

Norman Bearcroft’s The Better World has established itself as a favourite in the euphonium solo repertoire, and it was performed here by Matthew Ingram.  This difficult solo was well played and well received.

We were then transported (metaphorically, alas) to some distant sun-drenched island, as the band played Island Dreams (Martin Scott Thomas).  As you might imagine, there was a Caribbean/Hawaiian feel to this piece (some nice percussion work) that made it very easy to listen to.

Birmingham Citadel’s songster brigade, under the leadership of Lesley Nicholson were not simply ‘on duty’ to give the Sheffield band a rest, but to add, as they always do, a very valued contribution to the programme.  I’ve lost count of the times I have been moved and blessed by their singing, in a way that, whilst being spiritual is so strong as to seem physical.  And tonight was no exception.  Down Any Road, At Any Cost, did it again for me.  The song that followed – Hallelujah Anyhow – is more in the, if you like, entertainment category.  And entertain it did!  The hand-clapping was infectious; soon everyone was joining in.  The good rhythm section well deserve a mention.

Next, a trombone solo: This I Know. There is a quasi-jazz feel to this piece and in places requires the soloist – in this case Ian Wileman – to perform some fairly nifty ‘sliding’.  The solo is based around the tune: Hundreds And Thousands (Gowans/Larsson).

Dean Jones’ well crafted Glorifico Aeternum was the next item.  The last movement, based on The King Of Love My Shepherd Is, brought the first half of the programme to a fitting climax.

During the brief interval the band left the stage to mingle with members of the audience.  A nice touch.  Not that any ice needed breaking – far from it – but I’m sure both visitors and hosts felt some benefit from being able to chat, even for a few minutes.

We were encouraged to take our seats by three tenors.  Not The Three Tenors, but a decent enough substitute, all things considered!  The song: Banners And Bonnets (Meredith Wilson).

And then it was straight into an army classic, Les Condon’s Celebration. What other gems might have come from this highly respected Salvationist, had he not been promoted to Glory at a relatively young age, we of course will never know.

Time then for the congregation to take part.  Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven was the chosen song.  The manner in which a congregation join in the singing is a fair indication of whether they are enjoying themselves.  Clearly this one was!

A touch of humour is never out of place in programmes of this type, and can come in a variety of forms.  Tonight’s ranked pretty high.  Sounding at first like rowdy gatecrashers, shouting, and banging a drum, four bandsmen, dressed in Victorian style army tunics and sporting moustaches of some magnitude, burst in from the rear of the hall.  To the front they marched where, not without some tomfoolery, they performed for our entertainment (their own too I’m sure) The Army Band, barbershop quartet style. Predictably perhaps, some of the hirsute monstrosities – somewhat precarious from the outset – began to show a reluctance to take any further part of the act and were discarded, much to everyone’s merriment (if only shaving was that quick and easy!)  The four performers were: Adrian Wileman, Matthew Ingram, Neil Beecham and Damian Wileman.  Thanks lads!

Next, the supple wrists of percussionist Ben Hartley were called upon in the performing of a xylophone solo Joyous Rhythm.

Breezing Down Broadway by Goff Richards was the next item.  The valid point being made, that secular pieces such as this can play a part in attracting people to the army by first attracting them to the band.

There then followed a devotional period commencing with Lost In Thee by the late Jim Wright, a former bandmaster at Sheffield Citadel.

The aptly chosen Bible reading was Jeremiah 29:11 which speaks about the many and varied talents God has bestowed on us his children and how he wants us to use them.  Undoubtedly there is a lot of talent within this fine army band.

Self-accompanied at the piano, Damian Wileman sang Breathe; a beautiful song and very fitting for the moment.  Damian’s sincerity was self-evident.  I’m sure this item blessed all present.

Elsa’s Procession To The Cathedral (from Wagner’s Lohengrin – the same opera from which, incidentally, also comes the ever-popular Bridal march – ‘Here comes the bride’) provided a smooth link between this part of the programme and the penultimate item.  This is a good example of an orchestral score transcribing well for brass band.  The early, thin scoring can pose problems for individual players, but the band handled it well.

Fittingly the band’s penultimate item was the march Sheffield Citadel (Herbert Mountain).  As the march progressed, the sections got to their feet piecemeal until, in the final few bars, they were all standing facing the audience giving us a full and effective brass ‘broadside’.  (A sound I love.)

By way of a benediction, bringing to a close what had been a very enjoyable evening, one which provoked different emotions at different times, the band sang a setting of Jude (Ian Wileman).

It is, alas, no easy thing these days to fill a hall for events such as this.  That said, it was a reasonable sized congregation and – more importantly perhaps – an appreciative one.

Billets and hosts were introduced to one another, and everyone went their separate ways with high expectations for the morrow.  We were not to be disappointed.

Words: Ian Clarke (Birmingham Citadel)
Photos: Gordon McKee