A scintillating account of Martin Cordner's 'Call of the Gospel', featuring sterling work from Richard Woodrow on flugel, kicked off an opening sequence given without introductions.  

'Tu es Petrus' provided a nice contrast, with its sustained, seamless playing, before the young voices of the Territorial Youth Choir were heard to good effect in 'Cleanse My Heart'.

Warm sounds

Paul Sharman's 'Inclusion', effectively links together songs such as 'When You Needed a Neighbour', 'Whosoever Will May Come' and 'In Christ there is no East of West'.  From the haunting opening from the lower band, through the varied rhythmic treatment of the melodies to the warm sounds at the end, it was a compelling reading.

The TYC continued with the lively 'A Melody in my Heart' and the more reflective 'Bow the Knee', with clear diction communicating well with the audience.

Family connection

Kenneth Downie's 'Concerto for Euphonium' was written for Robert Childs twenty years ago, and it was fitting that the composer was present to hear David Childs give his own exemplary rendition. 

Commanding the opening movement, he made the most of the lyrical writing of the central section before negotiating the finale in style.  He then made the following 'Elfriede' sound deceptively easy, whilst in introducing 'Myfanwy', Stephen Cobb suggested that it could be taken on various levels, as a melody in its own right, or associated with various sets of Christian words.

Accomplished soloists

There was a poignant moment as the TYC presented 'When the Roll', arranged by Len Ballantine for three of the International Staff Songsters.  The trio of original singers were present, with two of their daughters taking solo roles.  They soon overcome nerves to give a thrilling performance which was followed by the Ray Steadman-Allen classic, 'Remember Me'.

The band closed the first half with Dudley Bright's tribute 'Fantasy on Glory to His Name' - a well-crafted work full of references to other RSA pieces.

Gypsy showcase

'Gigue - Alleluia Amen' opened the second half with slick playing.  David Childs then presented a stunning 'Zigeunerweisen', full of character and rubato in the slower sections, whilst the pyrotechnics were always subservient to the musicality. He continued with 'A Little Prayer', arranged by his father on the occasion of David’s seventeenth birthday.

The Territorial Youth Choir brought a reminder of Christmas with 'Carol of the Bells’; a swingle-singers style opening leading to complex part-singing, before an account by the male voices of the 'Anthem from Chess'.

David Childs and Philip Cobb have been friends for some time, and it was fitting that Paul Sharman had produced a sparkling duet for them.  Entitled 'Battleground' it set one against the other; alternating lightning fast runs with glissandi and other effects. It brought the house down.

Final affirmations

The choir closed with the final movement of Richard Phillips' 'Anastasis', with its opening and closing spoken with the confident statement 'Hail the Day that sees Him Rise'.  

The evening ended with 'Glorifico Aeternum', with its rhythmic treatment of 'Now Thank We All Our God', a sensitive setting of 'Somebody Prayed for Me' and the final reassurance of 'The God of Love My Shepherd Is'.

Peter Bale