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Prelude to Christmas

With Trumpet and Voice

held at The Salvation Army Maidstone

Featuring

The South London Fellowship Band – Conductor Derick Kane

&

Maidstone Citadel Songsters – Songster Leader Victoria Cole.

Following last year’s popular concert with Maidstone Songsters, the Band once again joined with the brigade for a Prelude to Christmas evening.

The perennial car park that is the M25 played havoc with the Bands Musical Director, Derick Kane’s journey so the evening started with the March Shining Star by Peter Graham under the baton of the Maidstone Bandmaster Stuart Atkinson. Featuring as its theme O Come All ye Faithful and with snippets of God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen it got the evening off to a great start.

After the welcome and introductions the programme was slightly altered to allow Derick to get his breath arriving during the March. After a reading based on Isaiah called the ‘The Promise and the Waiting’,  the Songsters first item was Come Let us Worship the Lord, a joyful rendition.

With the Bandmaster back in the harness the Band played an arrangement from the American Band journals of Sweet Chiming Christmas Bells by William Himes featuring the usual bell effects synonymous with this carol.

The Songsters next set comprised of two pieces, Worship the King composed by Billy Smiley and Bill George, arranged  by Andrew Blyth, this is a personal favourite of mine and features ‘O come let us adore him’ in the middle. Their second song was Hear the Angels Sing, a lovely arrangement with music by Andrew Wicker. Both were well sung.

The Band’s next two items were Once upon a time at Christmas , an original melody – composed by the SLFB Band Secretary and Maidstone’s very own Roland Little  arranged by Derick Kane. Gentle and relaxing sums up the song perfectly. In contrast Christmas Dance,  which was featured as  a Euphonium Solo last year was rearranged for the Band and features “ I saw three ships” – a toe tapping arrangement well played and well appreciated by the congregation. This was followed by a second Advent Poem based on Luke 1-7.

O Holy Night is a Christmas carol beloved by many but not so loved by Bands who have to contend with a 12/8 arrangement which is prone to mishaps. Derick Kane composed a 6/8 version featuring in his words ‘The Three Wise Men’ aka the Trombone section of Maurice Horwood, Tim Scott and John White. Unusually the arrangement gives the cornet section a complete rest giving a completely different sound  and feel.  Beautifully played by the trombones  this will surely feature in future Christmas concerts.

Continuing the Christmas story the third reading was entitled the Angels and the Shepherds based on Luke 2: v1-7.

Warren Brooks arrangement from 2017, Carol of the Bells was featured in the Salvation Army Carol Concert at the Royal Albert Hall by the ISB this year. An exciting arrangement that gives all the sections chance to shine requiring energy and drive. The band played it with control and gusto and was enthusiastically received by the audience. Continuing the Bells theme the Songsters then sang “I heard the bells on Christmas which uses the phrase “Peace on Earth, Good will to men” throughout. Superbly accompanied on piano by BM Stuart Atkinson this is a lovely song by Jean Baptiste Calkin arranged by Dave Williams

The concert then entered into a time of reflection that commenced with a few words from Major Gordon Downey. This was followed by the  Maidstone Songster leader Victoria Cole beautifully singing Joy Webbs “Come into our World” with sympathetic backing from the Songsters and a helpful visual presentation. Reminding us again that we need Jesus to “Come into our World” and everyone’s lives.

The congregation then had their opportunity to sing As with Gladness before the Band played The New Born Babe. Arranged by Bruce Broughton this is a beautiful arrangement based on a Bach Chorale which the Band played with great control.

The final reading was entitled the Word made Flesh and based on John 1: 11-14. Our thanks to the Songsters who provided these readings with real clarity. Ending the time of   reflection the Songsters sang “Its Simply Jesus” by Andrew Maycock that asks the question “What does Christmas mean to you”. A pertinent choice to remind us about the true meaning of Christmas.

The Band then played Robert Redheads Suite – The Joy of Christmas. The music contains three carols “Joys Seven” “Past Three O’clock” and “O Little town of Bethlehem” The first of  these  is rarely sung today but for those with a quest for knowledge the tune used is that of Manchester. The suite concludes by using Past three o’clock again to great effect. This is always an enjoyable item to play and listen to.

The Songsters final item of the evening was John Rutters arrangement of The twelve days of Christmas. As with all his music, there are some vocal challenges, particularly the need for each of the vocal parts to be secure when often in the top of their range. It was well sung and received appreciatively by the audience.

The Band’s penultimate offering was Sweet Little Jesus Boy. Based on the Negro Spiritual, this was arranged by Joy Webb and transcribed by Christpher Cole and is, incidentally the following number in the General Series after the Joy of Christmas. A lovely reflective arrangement and not used as much as it should be.

The evening concluded with the Carol A starry night, loved by many, especially the younger generation as it is widely used in schools.

Following a word of thanks and benediction from the Corps Office, Lieutenant Bethany Perkins, the Band played out the congregation with another American series composition, the March Medley Seasons Greetings, by James Anderson. Three carols are featured, Rudolph the Red-Nosed reindeer, Masters in this Hall and of course We wish you a Merry Christmas which received loud applause.

So ended a great evening of Christmas music, the old, the new, with Trumpet and with voice. We look forward to celebrating in the same way next Christmas.

Paul Newman

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