Introduction Programme Notes

The year 2020 should have been the year that The repertoire is a mix of fine music, mostly UNIFIED - David Edmonds A VOICE TO CALL - Jörgen IJsendorn the Amsterdam Staff Band (The Netherlands) new, some of it already published, but all with Unified was written as a fanfare opening This piece was written by Amsterdam Staff and The Household Troops Band (UK) gave the deeper message of God’s love for us. number especially for The Household Troops Bandsman Jörgen IJsendorn in 2019 at the a unique joint concert. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 virus caused the cancellation of the We hope that you’ll be blessed, encouraged Band by David Edmonds. The music has two request of Staff Bandmaster Olaf Ritman. Two Troops’ visit to The Netherlands and so the and uplifted when listening to this unique distinct characters, the bright unified fanfares melodies are used in this piece; Love, serve and concert didn’t take place. album. We trust it reminds you that together and the more intimate soli horn section. The praise (Ian Feltwell) and Just where he needs me we are Christ’s hands and feet in this world. He words of the tune used sum up perfectly what (Andrew Mair). The title comes from the last However, in January 2020, both bands recorded needs us more than ever! May God bless you. the Household Troops set out to do in all our verse of this song: a number of tracks for an album which would concerts: What can I do to justify my living? have been released at the concert. We’re Olaf Ritman ‘We have come into this place, and gathered What can I be to make this life worthwhile? delighted that we are now able to share these Bandmaster - Amsterdam Staff Band in His name to worship Him. We have come I’ll be a voice to call men to the Saviour, recordings of both bands with you. into this place, and gathered in His name to Just where I am, and win my Father’s smile. worship Christ, the Lord, Worship Christ, the Lord. So forget about yourself, concentrate NOVELLA - Ben Hollings on Him and worship Him. So forget about Soloists: Michel Rosenquist (Euphonium) yourself, concentrate on Him and worship & Steef Klepke Jr. (Cornet) Christ, the Lord, worship Christ, the Lord’. This duet was originally written for the Eminence Brass Quartet to display their lyrical The music takes inspiration from the gospel; qualities through use of simplistic writing, Matthew 18:20 says “For where two or three come meanwhile providing reflective music for the together in my name, I am there with them”. audience to enjoy. THE BREAK OF DAY - Steven Ponsford music is explosive and packed with energy • Theme – Evening of the music where this effect is required.All The Break of Day is based on Matt Redman’s and technical fireworks that one might expect • Variation I – Fantasie Creatures Praise takes the listener on a journey contemporary worship song 10,000 Reasons. from a contemporary ‘opener’. • Variation II – Elegy to the jungle, with its Latin American groove in The flugel horn gives us a lonely first Rhythmically pulsating and driving percussive • Variation III – Scherzo the percussion and reference to the tune presentation of the song. The composer paints effects, overriding saxhorn lyricism and scalic • Variation IV – Partita St Francis, which uses the words ‘All Creatures a musical picture of a sunrise as the music flourishes from the cornets make this piece a • Finale of our God and King’. gradually builds in intensity throughout. firm favourite of The Household Troops Band, Continuing to crescendo, the music is brought and as such the piece has been included in The title of the original song, Evening, comes UNBOUNDED LOVE - Olaf Ritman to a conclusion with a triumphant and bold many of the band’s recent concerts. from its first verse where the words are: This piece is dedicated to soprano cornet statement, to remind us of the words, ‘The sun Hushed was the evening hymn, player Hein Voskamp. Hein passed away in comes up, it’s a new day dawning, it’s time to EVENING VARIATIONS - Olaf Ritman The temple courts were dark, 2018 and was a close friend of the composer/ sing your song again. Whatever may pass and A set of theme and variations, the composer The lamp was burning dim before the sacred ark; bandmaster at his corps. When Hein became whatever lies before me. Let me be singing used Evening by Bramwell Coles as its main When suddenly a voice divine rang through the ill, he asked Olaf to play the tune of this piece when the evening comes.’ idea to create an interesting set of smaller variations in which the melody returns either silence of the shrine. at his funeral. After Hein’s passing Olaf felt the LIVING POWER - Tom Davoren in parts or as a whole. This tune is one of his need to write down his feelings through the Living Power was commissioned by Dr long-time favourites and the idea to write a ALL CREATURES PRAISE - Steven Ponsford medium of composition and Unbounded Love Jonathan Corry and the Enfield Citadel ‘theme and variation’ setting had been in his One of the lesser known talents of The was the gorgeous result. The piece is based Band for the 2016 National Brass Band mind for a long time. Every variation is a mini Household Troops Band is their ability to on the song Prayer to the Power of Love, a song Championship Pre-Contest Festival. The masterpiece in itself and requires full attention create rainforest and jungle animal sound only used in the Dutch Salvation Army. The music is based around the Timothy Dudley- and musical skills from the band. The piece is effects! Luckily this new piece by Steven original melody is by Russian composer Dmitri Smith hymn tune Lord, for the Years. The divided into the following movements: Ponsford features a section at the beginning Bortniansky (1751 - 1825). MY UNCHANGING FRIEND - Ivor Bosanko Redhead takes inspiration from two pieces of Amsterdam Staff Band of Euphonium Soloist: Anthony Smith scripture - Ezekiel 37:5, which says, ‘Dry bones, My Unchanging Friend features two tunes, the listen to the word of the Lord! This is what first, Yesterday, today, forever, which is featured the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to The Amsterdam Staff Band of The Salvation The band’s major goal is to spread the throughout the variations of the piece. After put breath into you and make you live again!’ Army has been at the forefront of that church’s Christian message through music, and it the lyrical opening statement, the music takes and Ephesians 4:3-4: ‘Make every effort to musical ministry since its formal launch aims for the highest standard. On a yearly us to Vienna, with a virtuosic Viennese waltz. keep yourselves united in the spirit, binding in 1961. Prior to that date there had been basis the band visits multiple Salvation Army In the lyrical slow movement at the centre of yourselves together with peace. For there is multiple expressions of brass band service church centres throughout the country to give this work, the soloist conveys the words ‘I want, one body and one spirit’. at the national level, such as the renowned concerts and lead Sunday meetings. It has also dear Lord, a heart that’s true and clean’. After Netherlands National Band (1948-1959), and built an international reputation for its fine another reiteration of the waltz, the soloist and CROSS-RHYTHMS - Steven Ponsford even precursors to the current staff band that music making via frequent tours, including band trade fragments of the melody before a Cross-Rhythms was commissioned for the flourished back in the early decades of the those to the USA, the UK (including Northern final band statement from which the soloist 2016 Bolsover International Brass Band 20th century. Ireland), , Finland, Norway, Denmark, emerges. Summer School, and tries to picture the , and the Czech Republic. various emotions of the Easter story. Three The ASB draws its membership from Salvation CORPUS CHRISTI - Robert Redhead Easter hymns are used here against several Army churches all over the Netherlands, Originally written for the International Staff contrasting rhythms. References to the tune wherein many members also serve as musical Band in 1994, Corpus Christi has become a Rockingham are heard, to which the words of leaders in their local SA centres of worship. milestone staple of repertoire for Salvation Isaac Watts are associated When I survey the Every member of the band is a Salvationist and Army bands worldwide. At its simplest level, wondrous cross, as well as Bramwell Coles’ their musicianship is based on their personal this piece talks about unification of the body moving Here at the cross and John Stainer’s belief in God. of Christ; the Church. To highlight this the triumphant Cross of Jesus. tune Bind us together Lord is woven throughout. Amsterdam Staff Band Personnel

Bandmaster Solo Horn Euphonium Bandmaster Olaf Ritman array of musical directors that helped build Olaf J.Ritman Wiebrands Eikenaar Michel Rosenquist the Netherland’s fine brass band tradition, Henry Barink* Band Sergeant including such well-known musicians as Executive Officer Simon Smedinga Major Cor van Beijnum 1st Horn Bernard Verkaaik, Cor Nieuwland, Dick Rob Stastra Eb Bass Krommenhoek and Howard Evans. In 2011 he Soprano Cornet Ronald Slijkhuis led the ASB in their herald contributions to the Daniël Rosenquist Band Secretary 2nd Horn International Staff Band’s 120th anniversary Tour Manager Hanneke Vredenburg Gerard van de Staaij Treasurer celebration. The ASB featured as one of the Solo Cornet 1st Baritone eight recognised staff bands drawn from Steef Klepke Jr. Jorijn van Hese Bb Bass around the world. Michel Arnoldus Pieter Koopmans Arend Pietersen 2nd Baritone René Loch Olaf has developed into a fine arranger and Martijn Schuurbiers Carl Rosenquist Colour Sergeant Percussion composer, with a growing number of his works 1st Cornet Leslie Stastra published by the SA in its brass band journals. Robert Wolf 1st Trombone Raymond Switters In recent years he has been in demand as Rick van der Schuit Edwin Outhuijse Hielke van Schaik a guest conductor and teacher, including Jörgen IJsendorn 2nd Trombone Road Management not only in Europe, but also in the USA at 2nd Cornet Mirjam Potters Wim & Marlene Spek well-known summer camps like Star Lake Emanuel Bron Olaf Ritman, the current Bandmaster of the Musicamp and the Western Music Institute. He Fred van der Woude Bass Trombone Librarian ASB, first joined the band in 2000 on Solo also serves at his local SA corps band as both Mark Onstwedder Rein Quint Cornet, and then became Deputy Bandmaster Bandmaster and pianist. In his daily life he is a Flugel Horn Pelle van der Zee in 2006. When accepting his position as Staff teacher in Information Technology, married to Bandmaster in 2009 he joined a distinguished Marleen and proud father of Julian and Meike. *Shortly after recording our part of this album Henry Barink was after 12 months of struggling with his health. We feel blessed to know that he was able to participate in this recording.

The ASB would like to thank Wolter Lommerde for helping out on trombone. Bandmaster Carl Saunders Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and , The Household Troops Band of The Salvation Army as well as all over the UK. In addition, in 1998 Carl appeared as a soloist at The Royal Albert The Household Troops Band was formed in it was from the ashes of The Household Troops Hall. 1887 from a group previously known as the Life Band that the International Headquarters Staff Guards. An advertisement in the Salvation Band (now known as the International Staff Carl was a founder member of The Household Army newspaper read: ‘If you’re Band) was formed. Troops Band when it was re-formed in 1985, young, if you’re saved, if you’re physically fit, if you can play a brass instrument … are After a brief reformation in 1985 and again in playing soprano cornet for that historic tour. prepared to leave home and family for six 1992, a new band was formed in 1996 under the Since then he became the Principal Cornet of months active service for God and the Army leadership of Major John Mott. the band and in 2008 was appointed Deputy … then be at Clapton Congress Hall on 12 Bandmaster. Carl has recorded many solos March 1887.’ The band was formed of 25 brass The Household Troops Band of today is with the band, and in October 2010 he took on instrumentalists, each wearing a white pith different to other Salvation Army bands. the leadership of The Household Troops Band military helmet (the normal military headgear Members of the band still wear the distinctive as Bandmaster. He has since conducted eight of the day), a red Guernsey, blue trousers and white pith helmets, which attract so much recordings with the band. gaiters. The Bandmaster was Staff-Captain attention, and the band does not hold regular Harry Appleby and the tour lasted six months rehearsals. and was followed by another tour to Canada in Carl Saunders performed his first solos at the Carl is one of four ‘Troopers’ who have been October 1888, which saw the band become the The Household Troops Band takes its mission age of five at The Salvation Army in Cardiff, members of the band for over 23 years. Under first Salvation Army band to cross the Atlantic. to spread the Word of God through music very the city in which he was born and grew up, and his leadership, the band have taken part seriously and five members have gone on to in which he still lives. in events at Symphony Sounds in the UK, a While they were away, a second group of become full-time officers in The Salvation partnership with the Canadian Staff Band, players was inaugurated and on 14 October Army. The band is also privileged to be invited He quickly developed as a soloist in his the Great American Brass Band Festival, the 1889, in the country village of Whitchurch, to take part in the prestigious Lord Mayor’s position of Principal Cornet of the Cardiff prestigious Old Orchard Beach event in the Hampshire. The first Troops Band returned Show in each year, an event with a Canton Band. He has performed in many parts USA, as well as other events in Europe and home to Britain in 1891 and later members of live audience of tens of thousands and a TV of the world including the USA, Norway, The the UK. both bands amalgamated. In 1893, the band audience of millions. was dissolved to make way for a new band, and The Household Troops Band Personnel

Bandmaster Flugel Horn Euphonium Carl Saunders Peter Elliott - Liverpool Anthony Smith - Easton Christian Marklew - Consett Executive Officer Horn Lt. Col. David Phillips Neil Blessett - Bass Tom Nock - Boscombe Andrew Piper - Leicester Soprano Cornet Catherine Wallis - Coventry Paul Drury - Bo’ness Jason Beattie - Peter Noble - Winchester Andrew Miller - Milton Keynes Band Sergeant Cornet Baritone Rob Wallis - Leek Daniel Robson - Sunderland Chris Shanks - Bellshill Treasurer Matthew Frost - Birmingham Will Neeve - Canterbury Ryan Coates - Croydon Percussion Hannah Robson - Sunderland Trombone Richard Brown - Chalk Farm Martin Bennett - Nottingham Mark Sharman - Jono Tonks - Wrexham Darrell Scholes - Croydon Birmingham Seb Farrall - Coventry Craig Finch - Croydon Daniel Thompson - Cameron Shanks - Bellshill James Ord - Leicester Sunderland Millfield David Edmonds - Dunstable Paul Mcgregor - Paisley Josh Snell - Colour Sergeant Gavin Brown - Stockton Librarian

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