Salvationist Publishing
and Supplies Ltd
Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Ltd
1 Tiverton Street
London
SE1 6NT
Email: mail_order@sp-s.co.uk
Music published by Salvationist Publishing and Supplies, Ltd. (SP & S) is edited by the Music Editorial Unit of the United Kingdom Territory (this organization was formerly the Music Editorial Department of International Headquarters). Bandmaster Stephen Cobb, Territorial Music Director, is responsible for all music activities in the territory, including the Music Editorial Unit.
The Band Journals
Festival Series
The Festival Series is the most technically demanding and musically sophisticated of the SP & S Band Journals. Arrangements in this journal are intended primarily for concert presentation (for many years, this journal carried the restriction "This music must only be used in Music Festivals and other musical services" printed under the title of each piece).
Festival Series pieces are often extended in length, compared with items published in the other series. Technical demands on the band can be great, and a bandmaster attempting this level of music must have good fundamental conducting skills and have some talent for interpretation.
The Festival Series is published twice a year, usually with four items per issue.
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Festival Series Instrumentation Soprano Cornet Solo Cornet (frequently divisi) First Cornet Second Cornet Flugelhorn Solo Horn (sometimes divisi) First Horn Second Horn First Baritone Second Baritone First Trombone (sometimes divisi) Second Trombone Bass Trombone Euphonium (frequently divisi) Bass Eb Bass Bb Percussion (often requires 2 or more players) |
Compositions published in the Festival Series have 17 different parts, all of which are essentially required. All parts except Soprano Cornet, Flugelhorn, and Bass Trombone are best handled with at least two players. The Solo Cornet part sometimes has three or four-part divisi. |
General Series
The General Series is the "workhorse" series of the Band Journals. This was the earliest journal, and has had the most pieces published. Although it has the same number of parts as the Festival Series, the arrangements are less extended and generally less demanding (although the line between the two series is not sharp - there are some very difficult pieces that have been published in the General Series).
This series is published twice a year, generally with four numbers per issue.
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General Series Instrumentation Soprano Cornet Solo Cornet (sometimes divisi) First Cornet Second Cornet Flugelhorn Solo Horn First Horn Second Horn First Baritone Second Baritone First Trombone (occasionally divisi) Second Trombone Bass Trombone Euphonium (sometimes divisi) Bass Eb Bass Bb Percussion (may require 2 or more players) |
Like the Festival Series, the General Series has 17 parts. However, the second parts, and the Soprano Cornet and Flugelhorn parts, are sometimes not required, depending on the arrangement. Divisi is still common in the Solo Cornet and Euphonium parts, but less frequent in others. This music is still intended for use by a "full band" of 25 or more players, but many of the items can be successfully played with fewer. |
Triumph Series
Many years ago, the Salvation Army music publishers realized that not all bands had enough players to successfully cover all of the seventeen parts in the General Series. They started the Second Series, which eliminated the Solo Cornet, Solo Horn, and Flugelhorn parts. The amount of divisi writing was reduced, and the bass parts were made less independent. This series was eventually renamed the Triumph Series.
The Triumph Series is published three times a year, usually with four numbers per issue.
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Triumph Series Instrumentation Soprano Cornet First Cornet (occasionally divisi) Second Cornet First Horn Second Horn First Baritone Second Baritone First Trombone Second Trombone Bass Trombone Euphonium (occasionally divisi) Bass Eb Bass Bb Percussion |
The Triumph Series has 14 distinct parts, reduced from 17 in the General Series. The Solo Cornet and Solo Horn parts were eliminated completely. The Flugelhorn part was combined with the Second Cornet part. The Soprano Cornet and Bass Trombone parts were reduced in importance for most arrangements, and the Second Horn, Second Baritone and Second Trombone parts are optional for many pieces. Bands of 15 to 18 members can be successful with this journal, provided that the parts are correctly distributed. |
Unity Series
Many bands, especially local corps bands, could not muster enough players to use the Triumph Series journal. Beginning in the 1950's, the American Band Journal, published by the USA Eastern Territory, supplied music for groups of nine players or more. However, there was a great need for music for even smaller groups. The Unity Series was one of the answers to this need.
The Unity Series consists of four-part arrangements, with an optional fifth part (euphonium) and percussion parts available. Many different combinations of instruments can be used to fulfill the four parts. Many different types of pieces are included, from marches to meditations to solo items.
This journal is published twice per year, usually with four numbers per issue.
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Unity Series Instrumentation (part numbers in parentheses)
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Although the series is designed for four players, some arrangements require the fifth part. Occasionally, parts are marked for specific instruments, such as "horn only" on the third part. These instructions are intended for when the piece is used in a larger group and can be ignored when using the minimum complement. |
Other Band Publications
Tune Books
The Band Tune Book is the brass counterpart to the Salvation Army Songbook. Unlike most hymnals, the Songbook contains only the lyrics, without music. The Tune Book contains the music. It is published in editions for piano and for brass band, containing over 800 tunes. The brass version is printed in two volumes. In the United States, an extra group of songs is added to the Songbook and Tune Book. This extra set of songs, the American Supplement, is published by the USA Eastern Territory.
The latest version of the Tune Book was issued in the 1980's. The arrangements are based on a four-part vocal model, with extra 'color' parts added for larger groups.
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Band Tune Book Instrumentation (Part numbers in parentheses) Basic Parts
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The Baritone part is written as divisi. The lower alternative is included for the less-skilled player. The actual third part of the arrangement is in the upper voice. The Euphonium part serves a dual purpose. For each tune, the Euphonium part has either the melody (doubling the first part) or the principal counter-melody. When the counter-melody is present, then the melody is printed in cue-size notes. The Trombone parts take advantage of the bright sound of the instrument for 'color' effects. In small groups with no Second Horn or Baritone, the baritone part can be played by a trombone in order to supply the third voice. |
Christmas Praise
Christmas Praise is the official carol book of the Salvation Army. The current edition was published in 1994. Many of the "secular" Christmas songs have ben included in the new edition, which is accompanied by a vocal/piano version. The brass instrumentation parallels the Band Tune Book.
Keep Singing
This is a supplemental song book that was published in 1977. The instrumentation follows the 4-part format used by the Band Tune Book.
