Black Dyke Band
Conductors: Nicholas Childs & Stephen Cobb
Doyen: DOY CD254
Total Playing Time: 73.05 mins

The third volume of Black Dyke’s survey of Salvation Army marches covers festival marches, the works arranged in order of chronological publication.

Nostalgic opener

Bramwell Coles has sometimes been referred to as the Salvation Army’s Sousa, but in many ways his music has more in common with Kenneth Alford, with strong tunes and flowing countermelodies.

‘Departed Heroes’, from 1923, has an appropriate air of wistfulness about it.

Breaking new ground

Although published in 1948, Wilfred Heaton’s ‘Praise’ was written some time earlier, breaking with convention in terms of form and harmony, whilst Leslie Condon’s more traditional ‘Celebration’ has long been a favourite with both bands and audiences.

The readings here pick up a lot of detail that is sometimes obscured, with nicely pointed trumpeting towards the end of the latter allied to the trombones on particularly good form.

Edward Gregson’s ‘Chalk Farm No 2’ marked the centenary of the birth of Bandmaster Punchard, and there are clear similarities with his ‘Variations on Laudate Dominum’, not least the 5/8 and 7/8 rhythms, the prominent writing for the trombones and the touch of bitonality in the trio.

The briskest tempo of the whole collection is reserved for Ray Steadman-Allen’s ‘The High Council’, with the composer ingeniously blending together three different melodies.

Goffin

New Zealander Dean Goffin’s ‘Crusaders’ takes as its theme the tune ‘Ascalon’, known as the crusader’s hymn, which is convincingly realised by Nicholas Childs in a sympathetic rendition.

So too Brian Bowen’s lively ‘Southern Cross’ written for Australia’s Box Hill Citadel’s Jubilee, and featuring the tune ‘March On!’ by Scandinavian Salvation Army pioneer Klaus Østby, which shows considerable sophistication in its treatment of the elements employed.

’Choose Freedom’ was penned for the centenary of the Melbourne Staff Band, with Kenneth Downie basing much of it around his vocal opus ‘The Mighty River’.

The whole band is given plenty to keep them occupied, with a soaring soprano line.

North America

James Merritt’s ‘The Canadian’ is an imposing display vehicle, whilst Leidzen’s ‘Steadily Onwards’ combines Nordic melancholy allied to American optimism, with a particularly attractive melody in the trio.

Swedish American Emil Söderström was known for his originality and willingness to defy convention.

His rather quirky ‘March of the Hours’ incorporates numerous references to time, including the Westminster chimes.

Big band and Broadway

One of the key features of James Curnow’s ‘Faith is the Victory’ is the prominent use of percussion, including timpani, with a subtle influence of Eric Osterling on display, particularly in the chattering cornet responses to the sustained euphonium melody in the middle section.

William Himes also makes much use of percussion in ‘Milestone’, together with modal harmonies, open 5ths and driving rhythms.

Although written before his stay in the USA, Peter Graham’s ‘The Ambassadors’ shows clear transatlantic influences, with its breezy approach and unexpected harmonic twists.

Commissioned by the New York Staff Band, it features ‘Marching through Georgia’, with its Salvation Army words ‘Shout aloud Salvation’.

Stephen Bulla provided ‘Montclair Citadel’ for the New Jersey Montclair Band, with elements of a retro style whilst retaining an up-to-date feel, featuring the tune ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’.

Erudite

Ronald Holz’s erudite notes guide the listener through the musical journey with his customary inside knowledge of the music, and the production is up to the expected standards.

There are just one or two instances where a little more time in the studio could have led to a retake, but all in all it is an excellent selection, with some interesting insights from performers approaching the music with no pre-conceptions.

It certainly serves to whet the appetite for the next volume.

Peter Bale

Contents

1. Departed Heroes, Bramwell Coles, 6.47
2. The Canadian, James Merritt, 7.16
3. Praise, Wilfred Heaton, 3.03
4. Crusaders, Dean Goffin, 7.36
5. Steadily Onward, Erik Leidzén, 3.59
6. Celebration, Leslie Condon, 4.08
7. March of the Hours, Emil Söderström, 3.57
8. The Southern Cross, Brian Bowen, 4.50
9. The High Council, Ray Steadman-Allen, 4.15
10. Faith is the Victory, James Curnow, 4.16
11. Chalk Farm No. 2, Edward Gregson, 5.07
12. The Ambassadors, Peter Graham, 3.22
13. Milestone, William Himes, 4.06
14. Choose Freedom, Kenneth Downie, 5.39
15. Montclair Citadel, Stephen Bulla, 3.16