APRIL 4, 2021 – As Easter approached this year, the reality set in that normal worship gatherings and celebrations would once again be limited to restriction and precaution. Over the last few months, the New York Staff Band have been able to produce pre-recorded concerts that have been a wonderful ministry and have provided a time of praise.
The concert began with See, What a Morning by Dorothy Gates, a Celtic-style selection using the song by Stuart Townend of the same name. This was followed by Easter Festival Prelude by Kenneth Downie and Courageous by Kevin Norbury. These pieces are all published in the American Band Journal. Even though they are scored for a smaller ensemble, these performances prove how valuable the ABJ publication is to the brass band world.
The concert included two soloists that are younger members of the band. Anthony Barrington, who graduates from the world-famous Juilliard this year, played the cornet solo Before the Cross by Edward Gregson. Originally a songster selection published in the Musical Salvationist in 1965, Gregson’s reworked cornet solo has become one of the most beautiful additions to the solo repertoire in recent years. Anthony did a magnificent job. Mackenzie Dalrymple performed Nothing But Thy Blood, arranged for horn solo by Harold Burgmayer. This sensitive treatment was a welcome addition to the contrasting program and Mackenzie displayed expert phrasing to complement the well-known lyrics from Richard Slater and Donna Peterson.
The oldest and most famous work on the program was the Easter classic from Dean Goffin, The Road to Emmaus. From the opening motif to the final notes, this selection depicts the disciples’ reactions to the heart-stirring events of those days that followed the Resurrection.
The concert also featured three world premieres. Under Bandmaster Derek Lance’s leadership, the band has held three composer competitions and continues to commission and program new music from writers around the world. I was thrilled when my new work, The Conqueror, was the winner of the 2020 composer contest. The piece is built on the hymn Thine is the Glory using the familiar tune Maccabeus. While the piece never presents the tune in its full form, all the musical motifs and over-arching story of the music is derived from the tune and lyrics. In short, the message conveyed throughout the piece is that in God’s plan, the death of Jesus on the cross provides salvation to all who believe. He was indeed the conqueror. He was and is the conqueror of sin. Special thanks to the NYSB for the thrilling performance of my piece and for the way they continue to support composers.
The second world premiere in the program came from composing veteran, Kevin Norbury. Brass band audiences will be very familiar with some of his earlier works. Fantasia on an Old Dutch Hymn Tune is his latest composition that draws similarities to some of his other works but also showcases new composing techniques and harmonies. In the finale section, Norbury’s fragmentation of the tune (Dutch Carol TB604) paired with the sense of rhythmic build creates momentum that normally would conclude a piece with high energy. Instead, Norbury enjoyably strips away the rhythm and ends with a grand chordal finish, referencing the glorious words by George Ratcliffe Woodward, “But now hath Christ arisen, arisen, arisen.”
The third premiere and final piece of the program came from Joel Collier who is no stranger to SA bands. His writing has continued to evolve, and you will hear many of his compositions in programs around the world. Epainos, the Greek word for praise, is a large-scale work that pushes the band in terms of technique, range, and musicality. The well-known hymn Praise to the Lord bookends the work in both a smooth, sustained harmonic approach as well as a fanfare. In the middle section, Collier uses the worship song O Praise the Name (Anástasis) which was made popular by Hillsong in 2015. This song has been chosen for obvious reasons as there are parallels between the lyrics of the two songs, but it also provides an opportunity to utilize a modern song in the brass repertoire. The music seamlessly transitions from the old hymn to the new song thanks to Collier’s careful craftmanship. The final statement of the piece references the words, “O praise the Name of the Lord, Our God.”
The entire program, perfectly timed at just over an hour, displayed lyrics throughout in addition to introductions from Bandmaster Lance. Newly appointed Executive Officer, and long-time member of the band, Lt-Colonel Kathleen Steele brought an Easter devotional with Scripture references from Matthew 28. She reminded us that, “We are an Easter people, no longer walking in sin and death, but walking in new life with a hope of Glory.”
The message of the band came through loud and clear throughout this concert. While I personally would have loved to take it in live, it brought me a lot of joy and appreciation for this music ministry. More importantly, it reminded me of the cross and allowed me the opportunity to reflect and rejoice on the ultimate sacrifice that our Savior paid for each one of us.
Report by Marcus Venables (Music & Gospel Arts – Canada & Bermuda Territory)
