NYSB Christmas 2021 Report
By Simon Morton , Assistant Territorial Music Secretary / NYSB Bb Bass
DECEMBER 10-12 , 2021 – The Christmas season is always a busy time for SA musicians and for The New York Staff Band , this year was no exception .
With many of the band members spending time caroling with their home corps bands or going out on a kettle somewhere in town , the staff band started its own Christmas engagements with an ensemble playing in the middle of the iconic Times Square , NYC .
On Friday evening , December 10th , two days after the bands final rehearsal of the season , another ensemble from the band gathered at the Palisades Mall in Nyack , NY to kickoff the annual NYSB Christmas weekend . The band was fortunate to play inside the mall on the lower level with plenty of shoppers stopping to listen from the balconies above , helping to bring some Christmas cheer and reinforce the Christmas kettle effort for the local area .
The following afternoon , the whole band arrived at Montclair Citadel , NJ to rehearse a few items in preparation for the evening festival with special guests , Boston Brass . A nice crowd gathered at the hall that was decorated with several Christmas trees and wreaths , really setting the mood for a night filled with inspiring music celebrating the advent season .
The New York Staff Band opened with Peter Graham ’ s march “ The Wonder of Christmas ’ before presenting a newer Marcus Venables work entitled “ Glory in the Highest ”. There were a couple of opportunities for the congregation to sing along with the band in “ Hark the Herald Angels Sing ” and “ O Come . All ye Faithful ”.
Two of the more poignant moments in the program came from two new works , “ Away in a Manger ” ( Dorothy Gates ) and
“ Winter ” ( Simon Morton ). Both pieces are featured in the newest Christmas American Band Journal available at USE Trade . Boston Brass presented music in two different sets on this occasion . The first set featured non-Christmas music , but dazzling nonetheless ! A special mention goes out to tubist , William Russel for his non-stop bass parts and pyrotechnics not typically heard on the tuba , in addition to his own New Orleans style arrangement of “ The Grinch ”! All members of Boston Brass were absolutely superb but it was Costa Rica native , Jose Sibaja that stole the show with his blazing licks and range on Trumpet .
The New York Staff Band joined forces with Boston Brass to complete the concert with PLC ’ s “ Christmas Finale ” and in good SA tradition , the staff band sent the crowd home to the evergreen Erik Leidzen march , “ Christmas Joy ”.
12 ‡ NYSB BULLETIN WINTER 2022
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