Music: Congregational Song Arrangements, Volume 2

The New York Staff Band (NYSB) presents a volume of four new arrangements from the pen of Composer-in-Residence, Dr. Dorothy Gates.

A major role of The NYSB is to support the territory at its major events. These include the Welcome of Cadets and Commissioning, Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings, Star Lake Music Camp and congresses, all of which are on the band’s calendar. As part of these events, the band is often asked to produce special arrangements to make these occasions unique. It is these pieces that make up the contents of this second volume of The NYSB Congregational Song Arrangements Series.

Additionally, in a forward-thinking approach, The NYSB has provided recordings of these arrangements for use in those corps lacking a band, or for any other occasion requiring song accompaniment. These are available online from saconnects.org and nysb.org

Gates is a skilled arranger, giving the four songs a fresh lease of life. On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand by William Batchelder Bradbury features fanfare motifs to open, before each verse and chorus brings something new to the fore with varied scoring, dynamics, and musical decoration. Meanwhile, Dorothy Gates utilises syncopated rhythms in a quirky, yet highly satisfying arrangement of James McGrahanan’s I Know Whom I Have Believed. Pass Me Not by William Howard Doane is given a relaxed gospel treatment - the gently paced swing rhythms propelled by ride cymbal brushes throughout, perfectly capturing the intended feel. Finally, as an added bonus, Dorothy Gates’s appealing ‘fast rock’ take on Joseph P. Webster’s In the Sweet By and By/We Shall Win can be used to accompany either of the two songs stated.

In all, Dr. Gates and The NYSB have produced a volume of varied and continuously engaging arrangements for both the listener and the performers. Whilst not by any means simple, this collection will be accessible to many bands and is sure to prove highly popular amongst The Salvation Army community.

THOMAS DUNNE