Govan Citadel Band 1966 Song of the Brother

Описание: In 1966 Govan Citadel Band of The Salvation Army undertook a landmark tour of The USA and Canada. The Band Sergeant Wilf Marriott was the featured soloist on the LP playing Erik Leidzen's virtuoso air and variations euphonium solo "Song of the Brother".

The Salvation Army had arrived in Scotland in 1879 and the shipbuilding town of Govan (now a district of Glasgow) quickly became a major centre of it's operations and ministry due to the dense population and extreme poverty in the area.

The Band had been regarded for many years as one of the foremost Salvation Army bands in the UK and it's reputation had been enhanced further by tours to both Denmark and Holland prior to undertaking it's tour of North America in 1966.

Bandmaster George C. Brown was, at the date of his appointment in 1949, only the 3rd Bandmaster of the band in over 50 years giving the band a stability, tradition and continuity that was reflected in the high standard of music making of the band and it's soloists.

The LP recording standard was not of the highest quality however (even for 1966) and to avoid any loss of the sound integrity it is presented here with minimal removal of the various clicks etc. that reflect the age of the vinyl record. Recorded in the Salvation Army hall in Govan (which in those days had a far from ideal acoustic for recording purposes) my own father recalled that only one microphone was used by the recording engineer!

However, despite those limitations this is a valuable record of what is regarded by many as the "golden age" of Govan Band. Playing on narrow bore instruments that had only recently been adjusted to low pitch (A = 440 Hz) and with nearly 40 players the standard of playing and tightness of ensemble is remarkable, more so when coupled with the customary driving tempos set by Bandmaster George Brown.

On the tour the band's programmes featured the following other bandsmen:
Vocal soloist: Robert Leitch
Cornet: John Baillie
Piano: Malcolm C. Cassidy
Tuba: James McConnell
Violin: Kenneth Kilgour
Trombone: Alex Williams

It is perhaps surprising that the band did not include another of Eric Ball's major works on to the LP- his masterpiece "Resurgam" . To mark the tour the International Music Board of The Salvation Army had given permission to Govan Band to perform the piece although it was yet to be published by the 'Army'.

"Resurgam" was for many regarded as synonymous with Govan Band.

The full content of the LP was:

March: In The King's Service (Erik Leidzen)
Euphonium solo: Song of the Brother (Erik Leidzen) - Soloist Band Sergeant Wilf Marriott
Tone Poem: The Triumph of Peace (Eric Ball)
Selection: In Quiet Pastures (Ray Steadman- Allen)
March: The Path of Glory (Goffin)
Selection: Moments With Tchaikovsky (Bramwell Coles)
Selection: Visions (Marshall)
Hymn Setting: What A Friend (arranged Erik Leidzen)