Product Description
Kenneth Downie
This work was composed for the Canadian Staff Band for their 25th Anniversary celebrations in 1994, and was premiered at the Spring Festival in the Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto. This was a unique occasion, as it was the first time that there had been a Salvation Army festival comprised of four Staff Bands (The International Staff Band, The Canadian Staff Band, The New York Staff Band and The Chicago Staff Band) as well as the Bandmasters from the remaining for Staff Bands (Japan, Germany, Amsterdam and Melbourne).
The music centers on the song I'll stand for Christ, and as such it is hoped to encourage the contemporary Christian to 'stand up and be counted', rather in the way that the early Salvationists did. The song is especially appropriate in that it was written by Fred Fry, who became the first Salvation Army bandsman.
The music starts with a strong, fanfare-like motif, as if calling the Christian to action. At bar 20, the Solo Cornets gently remind the Christian that 'In the Army of Jesus we've taken our stand', whilst at bar 26 the Cornets and Trombones have a reference to Stand up, stand up for Jesus. Further references to I'll stand for Christ in the First Cornet, Flugel Horn and First Trombone appear at bar 32, before the tune is presented in full at bar 40. At bar 70, the Flugel Horn brings a more reflective solo based on the opening fanfare. Once again the music builds, but all the time there are constant reminders of I'll stand for Christ (Cornets and Tenor Trombones from bar 75).
At bar 83, again the Cornets and Trombones refer to the tune Stand up for Jesus, which is acting as a constant reminder to the Christian. Many times in the following bars comes the reply 'In the Army of Jesus we've taken our stand' (for example First Cornet and First Trombone bar 91).
Despite being composed in one continuous movement, the music now enters what is in effect the middle movement. Here, the message and the features tune are that God will take care of you (bar 140). Bar 170 sees a quiet recapitulation of the opening fanfare, which leads into the final 'movement', returning to the message from the Christian of I'll stand for Christ, safe in the knowledge that whatever the world brings our way, God will take care of you.
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Produced by The Salvation Army, SP&S, UK
