The Band's visit to York : June 1998

The weekend of the 20th and 21st of June, saw the Chelmsford Citadel Band's long awaited visit to York Citadel. In direct defiance of the weather men (and women) it was warm and sunny throughout the visit, allowing a Saturday afternoon march through this beautiful, historic city, and a further march on Sunday morning to the local hospital, in order to play to the patients.

The weekend got off to a busy start; within 25 minutes of their arrival the band had unloaded the coach, changed and were ready to march away to an open air meeting in the city centre. Both the march and the open-air meeting were greeted by a grab for video and still cameras on the part of the many tourists and shoppers who thronged the narrow streets, none of whom seemed to be bothered by the police escort politely asking them to move aside to allow us to pass through!

At the open-air meeting the item by the timbrels (Chelmsford Band now includes its own timbrel brigade) and a drama item drew particular attention from the Saturday afternoon crowds.

The evening concert included a range of pieces, both old and new. They included Celebration (Condon), the euphonium solo Euphony (Redhead), the cornet solo Share my Yoke (Webb arr Bosanko), the tuba solo Standing on the Promises (Silfverberg), In the Light (Rayner) and concluded with the exhilarating Themes from the Italian Symphony (Mendelssohn arr Goffin). In addition everyone was amazed at the artistry of Mark Cracknell playing of 3 Gershwin Piano Preludes.

However for most of those listening, the highlight of the evening was the audio visual presentation used whilst the band were playing Ray Steadman-Allen's masterpiece Romans 8 - a Brass Celebration. The presentation used words and pictures on a screen to back home the powerful message carried by the stirring music.

The band also presented a musical programme on Sunday afternoon which included such works as Lift up the Banner (Silfverberg), the two cornet solos Jubilance (Himes) & This is my Story (Lundkvist) and the march Crown of Conquest (Steadman Allen).

No-one attending Sunday's Holiness and Salvation meetings could have failed to take away with them a sense of God's love and concern for them. This was enhanced in the best possible way, when we saw, at the end of the evening meeting, someone kneel at the place of prayer, rededicating themselves to the Lord.

Following the conclusion of the normal evening meeting on the Sunday, a short "wind up" was held when a number of "thank yous" were said on behalf of both bands and the two bands joined together, as seen here, to play Wilf Heaton's march Praise.

This how the visit was reported in the Salvationist magazine ...

All in all, this was a memorable weekend for all concerned.

© Chelmsford Salvation Army Band 2005		Last Updated : 13/03/06