FEBRUARY 15, 17-18, 2023 – The New York Staff Band was excited to be back at the Centennial Memorial Temple in NYC to record its next album to be released shortly. Although the original plan was to record a solo album with two of the New York Philharmonic principals – Chris Martin and Joe Alessi, trumpet and trombone respectively, this project had to be tabled due to scheduling conflicts. The band easily pivoted however, and under the leadership of bandmaster Derek Lance, planned to release an album of newly composed and commissioned music.
The recording of newer music has been a standard practice of most staff bands over the years, allowing other bands in the SA to get a feel for new or soon to be available music for their repertoire. Works from Marcus Venables, Dorothy Gates, Andrew Wainwright, Philip Harper, Paul Sharman and Emilee Bennet will feature on this new recording.
Once again, the band was pleased to work with Phil Bulla of Platinum Productions along with the “ears” of bandmaster Harold Burgmayer who listened in to make sure each detail and nuance was captured. After some work setting up mics, running miles of cables and loading in the band equipment up a lot of stairs to the Temple platform, everything was just about ready to go.
The first day of recording took place during the band’s regular rehearsal time on the Wednesday afternoon and found the band laying down most of the devotional tracks. Even though there are far fewer notes in these pieces, they are by far the most difficult to record as the control and stamina needed to produce a good quality sound, at all times, is always a challenge for each player, no matter the skill level or instrument!
Friday evening saw the band gather back at the CMT in preparation for a marathon night of playing and recording but something each member was eager to do. There is always a great sense of camaraderie in these sessions as each player wants the other to get the best “take” they can, and often encouraging one another. The night wrapped up quite late with a solid amount of the remaining tracks laid down. Several of the band members stayed in NYC overnight as the red button would be pushed early again the next morning. Some of the guys took the subway up to Times Square while others braved a brisk 30 block walk in a stiff winter wind!
Saturday morning came quickly as the band prepared for perhaps its biggest challenge of the recording – a new and fiendishly difficult commission from the well-respected Australian composer, Brenton Broadstock. His new major work ‘Prayers and Tribulations’ was written in response to the COVID pandemic that the entire world suffered through. From the title, its probably quite obvious how the piece plays out. Moments of despair and chaos interspersed with moments of peace and solitude. The “tribulations” almost go from bad to worse with the “prayers” represented by the chorus, ‘In Thee O Lord, Do I Put My Trust,’ getting more involved each time before the music seemingly becomes too much and the piece ends with the final breath prayer.
The band thoroughly enjoyed working on this new recording and its prayer is that the music will speak to the heart of the listener, and allow the Lord to move through it.
Simon Morton (NYSB Bb Bass)
