ABJ 79 (340-343) Christmas 2017

Band Music for Evangelism
Edited by Dr. Dorothy Gates

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for so many reasons: We spend more time with family and friends, we are more generous and kind to each other, and there are usually Christmas cookies to be found somewhere in your surroundings. While these are all enjoyable reasons, the one true reason it's the most wonderful time of the year is because we celebrate the birth of our Savior! We celebrate His birth with singing and playing music and The Salvation Army has a long history of providing music that will help to share the true meaning of Christmas in your community.

This 79^th edition of the American Band Journal offers a variety of new content and a new composer. Salvation Army music icons Stephen Bulla and William Himes offer Winter's Snow and Do You Hear What I Hear? These interesting additions will bring new life to any band's repertoire. Ruben Schmidt brings an exciting arrangement of Come, All Ye Shepherds that will both present a challenge to the band and also be enjoyable for the audience. The last piece in this edition brings a new composer into the series. Eric Dina, the Divisional Music Director in the Northeast Ohio Division of The Salvation Army, takes inspiration from John Coltrane in this new rendition of Greensleeves.

Enjoy this music and be blessed!

Derek W. Lance
Territorial Music Secretary