CD: Christmas collection

Christmas collection
The International Staff Band of the Salvation Army
Directed by Dr. Stephen Cobb
Black Dyke Band
Directed by Professor Nicholas Childs
SPS: CD 416

With the release of The Salvation Army’s new Christmas Collection carol book resource, The International Staff Band and Black Dyke Band have joined forces to showcase 34 of the 143 carols and popular Christmas tunes in this new recording project supporting the book reviewed below.

The remarkable flexibility of the arrangements is, of course, that they could be performed effectively with an ensemble as small as a quartet. On this disc, however, the listener is treated to full brass band performances of these familiar Christmas tunes.

Throughout the CD, The International Staff Band deals with the carols of religious origin, performing to the usual high standard that we have come to expect from this excellent ensemble. A good number of these carols are well known - for example, O Holy Night, Mary’s Boy Child and Gaudete are given fine renditions. For secular audiences, such works as Huron Carol, Saviour’s Day, Love came down at Christmas and Still, still, still, amongst others, may feel slightly unfamiliar, yet offer no less an enjoyable listening experience.

Black Dyke Band, meanwhile, performs the more secular works of the Collection. These largely consist of popular Christmas songs, which will be well-known to most listeners. Diverse in style, such works range from It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, to Walking in the Air and Stop the Cavalry. There is even the appearance of the rock classics, so here it is, Merry Christmas and I wish it could be Christmas every day - guaranteed to go down well! The arrangements are certainly pleasing to the ear, with the band bringing out the detail splendidly - particularly effective in this full band setting.

This straightforward, yet pleasantly enjoyable CD project serves its purpose admirably - promoting the music of the new Christmas Collection carol book with high quality performances from The International Staff Band and Black Dyke. The sun may be out now, but Christmas is looming fast on the horizon and, for those wishing to invest in the new music, this disc will be a valuable resource.

THOMAS DUNNE

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This review appeared in the September 2018 edition of BBW. For more reviews, articles and news subscribe to BBW Digital, available to read online (annual subscription: £30), or subscribe to BBW's printed magazine delivered by post: £40 (UK); £68 (Europe); £81 (Rest of the World). Alternatively, receive both the Digital and printed editions combined: £55 (UK); £83 (Europe); £96 (rest of the world) - saving 50% on the Digital edition! Click here to subscribe!