Sounds of the Seasons 2009 - Program

As promised, I am providing the details of last evenings CSB concert. I will attempt to provide the program notes as well. So, unless you are a band geek, you might want to skip this post altogether.

Festival Prelude - "Praise Him" (Stephen Bulla)

A scintillating opener based on a well known gospel song of Fanny Crosby (1820-1915):
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!

Welcome & Prayer - Lt. Colonel Richard Vander Weele

Transcription - "Melodies of Dvorak" (arr. Steadman-Allen)

The music of the Czech composer Antonin Dvorad contains a wealth of lovely melody. Some of the best known, such as the Slavonic Dances are included. The closing section is a kaleidoscopic panorama in which tune succeeds tune in a rising tide, reaching full flood in a brilliant finish.

CSB Chorus - "He Leadeth Me" (Paul Kellner)

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - "Scherzo for Trombone and Band" (James Cheyne)

In the composer's words, this exciting work was "written as a portrait of Herb Bruce, illustrating various aspects of his playing, his technique and his soloistic excursions." In fact it is a tour de force for trombone, requiring fluid lyricism and virtuoso technique.

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - "Song to Lotta" (Jan Sandestrom, arr. Himes)

The composer wrote this haunting melody for a close friend's daughter, Lotta, then a little girl, who had begun studying trombone. It was presented on her birthday with her father accompanying on piano.

CSB Chorus - "Soon and Very Soon" (Karl Strand, soloist; arr. Jack Schrader)

CSB Chorus - "Then Will the Very Rocks Cry Out" (arr. Mark Hayes)

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - "Let The Beauty of Jesus" (William Broughton)

A brief but beautiful ballad based on a chorus of Albert Orsborn (1886-1967) the sixth General of The Salvation Army:
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity,
Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

Meditation - "The Blessing" (William Himes)

This music was written as a processional for the wedding of the composer's son and is based on the groom's favorite hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," by Robert Robinson (1735-90). Hence the music expresses solemnity, tenderness and majesty, building to the seeping grandeur of the bridal entry to coincide with the hymn text, "Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for they courts above"

Offering & Intermission

"Concertante for Cornets and Band (Stephen Bulla)

Written especially for the Salvation Army's Southern Territorial Band, this section features uses as its principal them Hans Leo Hassler's (1564-1612) Passion Chorale.

Sing-Along - "Be Thou My Vision" (arr. William Himes)

Dedicated to Commissioner Andrew S. Miller, leader and friend

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - Trombonology (Tommy Dorsey, arr. Larch)

This big band classic and showpiece for trombone was written by Tommy Dorsey in 1947.

Trombone Solo (Herb Bruce) - Nessun Dorma (Giacomo Puccini, arr. Cheyne)

Nessun dorma ("None shall sleep") is from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera "Turandot" and is one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera.

Scripture - Commissioner Barry C. Swanson

Overture - "Vitae Aeternum" (Paul Lovatt-Cooper)

A fresh new work which incorporates three Salvation Army songs on the theme of faith and the assurance of eternal life: "God came in Jesus to live among us," "I will praise you, Lord" and "Holy Spirit! Promised presence fall on me."

Encore! - "Lord, Lord, You Sure Been Good to Me" (Herb Bruce, soloist, Eric Alexander)

Take an old spiritual, set it to a blues progression and mix in a contagious Dixieland street beat, and the result is this delightful jazz feature.

Closing Prayer - Commissioner Sue Swanson

CSB Chorus and Alumni - "Choral Benediction" (William Himes)

Sounds of the Seasons 2009

"Sounds of the Seasons" is the title the CSB has given to the annual concert we sponsor on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. In the "old days" we simply called it the Thanksgiving Concert. But in the "old days", it was actually held on Thanksgiving evening. The name change doesn't really do that much for me but I'm sure glad that we don't do it on Thanksgiving anymore!

As has been the case for many years the concert is held on the campus of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois at Edman Chapel. This was our first concert in Edman Chapel since the college completed renovations to the building. While probably not visible to most of the audience it was nice to have nearby warm up space, real backstage facilities for men and women and a remodeled loading dock.

The guest artist for the concert last evening was trombone soloist, Herb Bruce. To quote from the program "Herb Bruce is a trombone phenomenon who has performed internationally with such greats as Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Wayne Newton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Burt Bacharach, Liza Minelli, Amy Grant, Al Hirt, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Bernadette Peters and the Temptations. He has several recording credits on movie and television soundtracks and on countless CDs, including the acclaimed Spiritual to the 'Bone recordings in which he played top trombone. Herb has performed with premier Salvation Army brass bands around the world and this is his first appearance with the Chicago Staff Band." While that's all the "formal stuff" let me just say that he's a great trombone player and a fantastic guy to work with.

I'd estimate that there were about 1,900 people present for the concert and they were very receptive to each musical presentation.

Bandmaster Himes shared the fact that 28 years prior, to the day, his son had been born on the same day as a CSB Thanksgiving concert. After wishing his son a happy birthday, the band played "The Blessing", the processional Bill Himes originally wrote for his son's wedding.

An amusing offertory presentation included an ensemble from the CSB playing "White Christmas" in a style reminiscent of Lawrence Welk accompanied by several bubble blowing young people that had been selected from the audience.

There were too many other highlights of the evening to recall them all here. And, in the interest of time, the full listing of program items will be included in a second posting to immediately follow this one.

Before I do that, I want to thank all of you who were able to be in attendance and we look forward to seeing you again at our concert next year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving which is November 27, 2010.

CSB Visit to Port Huron, MI

The CSB had a great visit to Port Huron, MI this past weekend. We were invited to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Salvation Army in Port Huron.

After a six hour coach ride from THQ to Port Huron we set up in the relatively new performing arts center of Port Huron High School. Following a short rehearsal we went across the street to the Salvation Army Citadel where we had dinner with those gathered for the festivities of the weekend.

The 7:00 pm concert was very well attended by a very receptive crowd. Many friends from all over the state of Michigan came to hear the band and to support the Salvation Army in Port Huron. Details of the concert will follow at the end of this post.

On Saturday evening most of the band were housed with host families from the corps and many reported enjoying that additional opportunity for fellowship. Sunday morning we returned to the Salvation Army and attended Sunday School that featured the Port Huron Youth Band, a 125th retrospective video and words of reflection from Bandmaster Himes who graduated from Port Huron High School before going to the University of Michigan. Bandmaster Himes recalled the value that the Port Huron Corps has always had for their young people and what that has resulted in down through the years.

At 10:45 we joined in worship with the Corps providing song accompaniments and special music. The message of the morning was provided by Colonel Steve Hedgren who is currently the Chief Secretary of the Salvation Army USA Eastern Territory. Colonels Steve & Judy Hedgren served as the corps officers of the Port Huron Corps 25 years ago during the celebration of the 100th anniversary.

We quickly packed our bus, grabbed some lunch on the run provided by the corps and headed back to THQ in Des Plaines. While many hours were spent on the bus we were blessed to have been involved in a meaningful celebration of faithful service. Thanks, Port Huron.

The remainder of this post lists our concert play list for the Saturday evening concert. If you're not a band geek, I won't be offended if you stop reading now.

• Festival Prelude – “Praise Him” (Bulla)
• Flugel/Cornet Solo – “Blessed Assurance”, soloist – Ben Kinzie (Bulla)
• Trombone Solo – “The Guardian”, soloist – Brett Tolcher (Graham)
• CSB Chorus – “Then Will The Very Rocks Cry Out” (arr. Hayes)
• CSB Chorus – “Soon And Very Soon”, soloist – Karl Strand (arr. Schrader)
• “Lord, Lord, You Sure Been Good To Me” (Alexander)
• Transcription – “Melodies of Dvorak” (Steadman-Allen)
• Offertory – “Round-up” (Cordner)
• “Concertante For Cornets & Band” (Bulla)
• Euphonium Solo “Rhapsody For Euphonium and Band”, soloist – Jeremy Rowland (Curnow)
• Hymn Setting – “Amazing Grace” (Himes)
• CSB Chorus – “Fairest Lord Jesus” (Phillips)
• Overture – “Vitae Aeternum” (Lovatt-Cooper)
• CSB Chorus – “Choral Benediction” (Himes)

Schedule for Port Huron, MI Visit

If you follow our schedule you probably realize that we will be in Port Huron, MI this coming weekend, November 14-15. We will be there to help celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Salvation Army being in Port Huron.

If you are interested and in the area here is what we will be doing:

Saturday, November 14
7:00 pm Concert
Port Huron Performing Arts Center
1925 Lapeer Avenue
Port Huron, MI

Sunday, November 15
10:45 am Worship Service
The Salvation Army
2000 Court Street
Port Huron, MI

For ticket or other information please contact the Salvation Army in Port Huron at (810) 984-2679.

As always, if you're at either the concert or the worship service be sure to come up and say hello.