STYLE: Brass Band RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 41319-13360 LABEL: Salvationist Publishing & Supp 24882 FORMAT: CD Album ITEMS: 1 RRP: £13.95
Reviewed by Anthony Longville
This release is built around the music of four American Salvationist composers, William Himes, Bruce Broughton, Stephen Bulla and James Curnow. The composers were all brought up in the Salvation Army tradition. Bruce Broughton to take one example has gone on to compose for a variety of television and film scores. The exhaustive liner notes show that pieces performed here range from as early as the 1960s. The opener "Praise Him" is based around the hymn "Praise Him (Jesus Our Blessed Redeemer)", the recognisable theme emerging. "Higher Plane" takes a similar approach to gospel hymn "Higher Ground". Bev Shea's "I'd Rather Have Jesus" is performed in full, building movingly from a solo cornet to rousing crescendo and back again. Pieces that sound unfamiliar to the listener yield surprises. The popular forces hymn "Eternal Father" is woven seamlessly into "Images For Brass". Each composer is profiled in the notes and the inspirations behind the pieces recorded. Rousing stuff indeed!
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