Brass in the Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Incarnation, in Garden City, Long Island, New York, was the venue for the 23rd Annual Children's Summer Camp Benefit Concert, featuring the New York Staff Band (Bandmaster Ron Waiksnoris). The concert, held on 6 May 2004, is a benefit which raises money to support the summer camping programs for inner-city youth in the Greater New York area.

Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City, New York

The concert began in a traditional fashion, with the band playing the National Anthem. This was immediately followed by a march, Agape from the pen of Dorothy Gates, a member of the band's trombone section. The band showed its virtuosity with a presentation of the Cossack Wedding Dance (Peter Graham). Derek Lance played a trumpet solo, Tribute, written by the Divisional Music Director of the Pendel Division, Dr. Harold Burgmayer.

The trumpet solo was contrasted by a classic cornet trio, The Heralds (Philip Catelinet), featuring Gordon Ward, Christopher Ward, and Michael Baker. The band chorus sang the upbeat Bound for Glory (Terry Camsey) under the direction of Deputy Bandmaster Gordon Ward. Another solo item followed, this time featuring trombonist Burt Mason, who played a new composition by Dorothy Gates, Come Into Our World. This lyrical setting led into a Scripture reading and devotional thoughts from the band's Executive Officer, Lt.-Colonel Gil Reynders. The band concluded the first half of the program with one of Eric Ball's masterful compositions, the tone poem Song of Courage.

The second half of the program began with another cornet feature, Always Cheerful (Nigel Clarke). Following this ebullient composition, the band presented Paul Drury's arrangement of Bound for the Promised Land. Principal euphonium Aaron VanderWeele performed Ochills, a new solo composed by Robert Redhead. The band's vocal soloist, Raymond Livingston, was also featured, singing Andrew Lloyd Webber's song Love Changes Everything.

The major work in the second half of the concert was The Last Amen, another work by Dr. Peter Graham. The concert concluded in a traditional manner, with the patriotic march The Stars and Stripes Forever and then the band singing Rock of Ages.

Sources:
New York Staff Band
Cathedral of the Incarnation

Posted by Webmaster 14 June 2004 20:47:12