Govan Citadel Band Recordings

Here is a list of studio recordings of the Govan Citadel Band. Soundtracks from some of the pieces from the CD's will soon be available to download in MP3 format.

Song of the Eternal - 2000
Govan Citadel Band’s First CD Recording

 

1. March  “Rousseau”   (Ray Ogg)
2. Selection   "The Light of the World"  (Dean Goffin)
3. Cornet Solo  "Glorious Ventures"  (Howard Evans)
4. Selection  "Knowing You"  (Peter Graham)
5. Festival March  "Salvation’s Song" (William Gordon)
6. Trombone Solo "The Word of Grace"  (Norman Bearcroft)
7. Tone Poem  "Faith Reborn" (Leslie Condon)
8. Band Song  "Marching On"  (Johnson / Cuell)
9. Hymn Tune  "Deep Harmony"  (Handel Parker)
10. Bagpipe Feature  "Highland Cathedral"  (Korb & Roever)
11. Tone Poem   "Song of the Eternal" (Leslie Condon)
12. Benediction  "The Father’s Blessing"  (Kenneth Downie)
13. Band and Organ  "The Lost Chord" (Sir Arthur Sullivan  arr. Langford)


Below you can read the review  by Kenneth Downie about this recording as published in the Salvationist.

Listening to Govan Bands Latest Recording “Song of the Eternal” - Released to coincide the its tour of Canada - I had no difficulty imagining an enthusiastic response to its version of the traditional Scots ‘Highland Cathedral’, complete with bagpipes. The band is to be congratulated on its imaginative programming. This track is sure to be a big hit with listeners on both sides of the Atlantic.

The choice of repertoire featured on the CD is a large plus for me. With so many bands more than adequately covering up-tempo, if not positively glitzy items, it is refreshing to be offered music of a more substantial nature. At the same time, though, the CD is not lacking in variety - including short pieces as well as the major one by Leslie Condon which provides the disc with its title.  Another advantage  in entering this ‘Lollypop - free zone’ is that the music provides scope for the conductor to do his job and actually shape performances.  Bandmaster Allan Ramsay does this to good effect and to the benefit of the message behind the notes. A good example is Dean Goffin’s ‘The Light of the World’ which is played with breadth and sensitivity in a very musical manner. Such a performance would traditionally have enhanced a Sunday night worship service. I was left wondering whether enough meeting leaders of today would find a place for music like this.

The two soloists featured, in addition to bagpiper Dougie Pinock, are Jamie Hood (cornet) and Luke Williams (trombone). Both give excellent accounts of their very different  items - ‘Glorious Ventures’ and ‘The Word of Grace’. The inclusion of Band song, ‘Marching On’, provides pleasant contrast, while the two marches ‘Rousseau’ and ‘Salvation Song’ are performed with panache. Although both originating in North America, from the pens of Ray Ogg and Bill Gordon respectively, they are poles apart idiomatically and act as a foil to each other.

Repertoire of a more reflective nature includes ‘Knowing You’, ‘Deep Harmony’ and ‘The Fathers Blessing’, while the two major works are ‘Faith Reborn’ and ‘Song Of The Eternal’. It is interesting that both of these were written by Leslie Condon who - in common with most Salvation Army composers, such as Eric Ball, Erik Liedzen and George Marshal  -  suffered some degree of neglect from programme makers in the years after his death. If this marks a revival of interest in Leslie Condon's music then I for one am very glad. I wonder whether  the example set by some of our finest contesting bands has had an influence here. Surely those Army bands that can play this kind of repertoire should do so, and thus encourage intelligent listening from our audiences. This would be so worthwhile for conductors, players and listeners alike

The playing on this CD is not faultless but is am example of an excellent corps banc probably operating at the edge of its collective ability and producing something very rewarding - a good example for others to follow. The final amen comes from Sullivan's ‘The Last Chord’ in which the band is joined by organ to produce a noble climax.

Govan Band deserved great credit for this recording. As a bonus the artwork on the CD is quite stunning.

Govanband.com