Submitted by
Name: Chris Ablett
Name: Chris Ablett
Comments:
What a fine set of recordings bring back the old Army days where this type of music saved many souls
What a fine set of recordings bring back the old Army days where this type of music saved many souls
Added: Nov 7, 2009
Name: Neil Carter
This is most certainly for me the most blessèd site on the whole Internet, a treasury, a goldmine of sacred memories. So many of the 78s I remember from when I was being brought up as an OK in a very active 1950’s Officer’s household, and so much Army music, in fact probably only Army music, was available to be played on an old single play 78 turntable. Strange how at the time, listening to Roland Cobb playing Love’s Descent didn’t seem as exciting as Minneapolis IV, but how it now brings back so many happy memories. At the time the names of James Williams, Derek Diffey, Derek Smith, and William Fenwick meant little while listening to their cornet solos, duets, and trios, since when I have listened to so much of their work, and been in awe of their dedicated music making abilities. There is far more music here than I can ever listen to now, but while I enjoy so many of the classic Marches, the FS pieces, and the Congress, or Royal Albert hall, or Centenary celebrations - I was there, I was there.- the music that now means so much is reliving so many devotional songs, and most of all the Sunday Evening Selections. Imagine hearing General Albert Orsborn introducing his own writing of Shepherd Hear My Prayer, and listening again to My Humble Cry, and In The Cross and Sweet Hour of Prayer or Ivy Mawby’s Grant Us Thy Peace, how many times must I have sung that wonderful song? And then there are those Sunday Night Selections. In Quiet Pastures, Divine Communion, Just As I Am, Horbury, By Love Compelled, Light Of The World, Constant Trust, and now, just this weekend, on the newly posted LP LRZ 4003, Eric Ball’s Songs in Exile. There is NO music like the Army’s soul saving music. God bless the Composers, Bands and Songster Brigades whose dedication has brought us so much blessing down through all these years. And God bless Ian Barton for so much hard work, above and beyond anything which could be attributed to a labour of love, for bringing all this music back to us in the twenty first century. Finally, if I were to list the two compositions which bring me personally closest to the Lord, it would be Ray Steadman Allen’s Trombone Solo, The Eternal Quest, played so many times with Ian Hankey and The Wood Green Band, (SLRZ4015 - Ian Hankey with the ISB) and finally, the one song and tune which moves me like no other, General Albert Orsborn’s song, I Know Thee Who Thou Art. (BAB3509S - The Calvary Track - Joyous Proclamation, The Royal Albert Hall), sung at the close of my Corps Cadet lessons, sung at my Wedding, sung at my daughter’s Dedication, sung at my parent’s Funerals, and instructed to be sung at mine, when my time comes. Ian, thankyou is not a big enough word. Neil Carter Oxford UK