58th Annual Spring Festival in Bristol

The Bristol Easton Corps celebrated its 58th Annual Spring Festival on the weekend of 9 – 10 May 2009. Special guests for the weekend were Hendon Band (Bandmaster David Rudd) with guest soloist Philip Cobb and Lt.-Col. Ian Barr, from the Territorial Headquarters.

The Saturday evening festival featuring the Hendon Band was a highlight of the weekend, commencing with a contrast of styles in the march Salvation’s Song and Kenneth Downie’s beautiful arrangement of the classic Salvationist song In the Love of Jesus. Other items by the band included Song of Courage (Eric Ball) and Amazing Race (Andrew Mackereth). The band’s “big item” was Stephen Ponsford’s tone poem Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). This descriptive piece, inspired by the famous statue of Christ with outstretched arms that overlooks Rio de Janiero, Brazil, features Latin rhythms and idioms. This was the first time that the band had played this major work in a public concert.

Supporting the Hendon Band during the festival were the combined Songster Brigades of Bristol Easton and Batch Citadel, who contributed by singing Eric Ball’s Magnificat and Praise His Holy Name (Keith Hampton).

Philip Cobb displayed his usual virtuosity with the solos Jubilance (William Himes) and Flourish.