USA East Music NYSB BULLETIN - WINTER 2019/20 | Page 3

NYSB at OOB Camp Meetings 2019
Tom Scheibner, Assistant Territorial Music Secretary
JULY 25-29, 2019 – Beautiful Maine
weather greeted the New York Staff Band
upon arrival at Old Orchard Beach for the
2019 Camp Meetings event at the end of
July this summer. The NYSB was the “duty”
band for the first weekend of this year’s
camp meetings and supported the visit by
the International Leader of The Salvation
Army, General Brian Peddle, accompanied
by his wife, Commissioner Rosalie Peddle.
Continued good weather was the norm for
this year’s event, which made this first-time
visit by the General and his wife even more
enjoyable.
The NYSB began its visit with a series
of rehearsals on Thursday night and Friday
morning and afternoon for its first ‘casual’
program of music along with the Eastern
Territorial Songsters (S/L Gavin Whitehouse)
on Friday night at the Old Orchard Beach corps.
The songsters presented 2 sets of enjoyable
vocal items during the program, while the
band presented a program featuring some
new music, including “Illuminate” (Andrew
Wainwright), “He Watches” (Joel Collier) and
“God is my Shelter” (Kenneth Downie). The
program included some well-known slightly
older band standard items, including “The
Proclaimers” (Kevin Norbury). The capacity
audience in the corps hall enjoyed the
relaxed atmosphere that is always a highlight
of this particular Friday night program.
Following a free Saturday morning
and afternoon to enjoy the beach or other
T H E S A LVAT I O N A R M Y U S A E A S T
leisure activities, the band gathered again
on Saturday night in the OOB Pavilion for the
opening night of the 2019 camp meetings.
General Peddle provided a powerful message
and the band supported his ministry by
presenting Steven Ponsford’s exciting work
“Turris Fortissima” as its selection for the
evening.
The band’s preliminary music made a
strong impact at Sunday morning’s worship,
as Joel Collier’s arrangement of “Great are you
Lord” received prolonged applause, as has
been the case whenever this item has been
used by the band. In the meeting, the band’s
presentation of Eric Ball’s classic work “The
Eternal Presence” was a highlight leading into
another thought provoking message by the
General.
Sunday afternoon’s March of Witness to
the OOB Pier was again blessed with sunny
and hot weather. The program at the end of
the march was again shared with the Eastern
Territorial Staff Songsters and both groups
presented items to a large crowd gathered
at the Pier entrance for this event. Items
presented by the band at the Pier included
“New York, New York” (Goff Richards), “Toccata
Fire” (Stephen Ponsford), “La Virgen de la
Macarena” (arr. Mark Freeh): Trumpet Soloist –
Michael Baker, and “Amazing Grace” (Richard
Phillips). Following this event, the band and
songsters were again on duty for the Sunday
night meeting at the OOB Pavilion.
Monday night’s program at the Pavilion
is typically
a band or
songster
festival
presented
by the guest group. Programs by the
International Staff Band, International Staff
Songsters, Canadian Staff Band and the
Household Troops Band have been featured
in recent years. This year’s program by the
New York Staff Band was in line with the
high standards presented by these previous
groups. Items presented by the NYSB in
the first half of the program included “To
Ask the Lord’s Blessing” (Simon Morton),
“The Call of the Righteous” (Leslie Condon),
“Balkan Dance” (Etienne Crausaz), and “King
of the Seven Heavens” (Philip Harper). The
second half of the program was primarily
dedicated to the presentation of Dorothy
Gates’ monumental five movement work for
brass band (and media) entitled “The Glory
of Jehovah”. First presented in March 2019 at
the Canadian Staff Band’s 50th Anniversary
event, this 25 minute long work tells the story
of the book of Exodus in descriptive fashion
via music and media. The audience received
this presentation with a standing ovation and
sustained applause in appreciation of the
work of the band and composer. To conclude
the festival, NYSB alumni joined the current
band on the platform to sing together the
band’s signature vocal benediction “Rock of
Ages” (William Bearchell).
WINTER 2019-20   NYSB BULLETIN   ‡   3