1371: March – Greater Things (Steve Kellner)
This march was written for the 125th anniversary celebration of Tampa Corps, Florida – the ancestral corps of the composers family, there have been Kellners there continuously since the 1920s. The theme of the anniversary was ‘Just getting started’ so the song Greater Things (S.A.S.B. 525), by General Orsborn, seemed a natural fit. The second song used, Christ is the answer (S.A.S.B. 828), was a Salvation Meeting favourite in the corps when Kellner's parents were growing up in the 1940s and 50s. The march is purposely written in a ‘throwback’ style, that of the Triumph Series marches Steve Kellner grew up playing.
1372: Praise Fever (Steven Ponsford)
This music was written at the request of Salvation Brass, following their use of an earlier Triumph Series piece of Steven Ponsford's, Praise Party (T.S. 1126) which had become something of an anthem for the group. As the title might subtly suggest, this piece should have a definite late 70s disco feel to it.
1373: Never a friend like Jesus (Alan Williams)
The title of this attractive work is taken from the final line of the popular refrain, written by Edward Henry Joy. The piece features a blend of dynamics and textures, with various instruments contributing to the overall atmosphere. The progression builds toward a climax, before gradually returning to a quieter conclusion.
1374: Horn Solo – A miracle of grace (Kenneth Downie)
Kenneth Downie always enjoyed listening to this Singing Company song, and wasn't surprised that its popularity propelled it into the Salvation Army Song Book (S.A.S.B. 857) so that it can now be appreciated by people of all ages. A collaboration between mother and son, Flora and John Larsson, the song contains three verses of four lines, and the first three lines of each verse start with the words ‘I’m going to’. This suggests a tone of determination, which is probably why the composer chose to start with nine notes of the same pitch. This is not what any textbook on songwriting would generally recommend, but it works. Ivor Bosanko’s 'His Provision' adopts a similarly unorthodox approach which unbelievably starts with eleven notes of the same pitch, yet is one of the most effective songs in the repertoire of Salvation Army Songsters.
