Sandhurst Silver Band

Sandhurst Band performed its second Christmas concert of the season at St Paul's Church, Camberley on Saturday 17th December.

For some in the band it was a big evening of music after an equally big day where members of the band had also been entertaining Christmas shoppers at Bracknell (Princess Square) and Basingstoke (Festival Place). However there was no evidence of any tired lips - or lack of Christmas cheer! - as the band performed their traditional year closer to a capacity crowd.

Opening with a new arrangement of carols and festive favourites from our MD, Ian McElligott, simply entitled 'Christmas!' got the audience in the right mood for a unique blend of entertainment - and not all of it was festive either, guaranteeing something for everyone from Santa himself to Scrooge!

The band featured a performance of a new solo entitled 'When Annie met Lydia', which again was written by Ian and dedicated to his wife, who had apparently complained that she 'hadn't had anything written for her before'. That matter was swiftly put right and the feature played with style by our solo euphonium player, Matt Spriggs. Later in the concert, a clever combination of 'Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring' combined with 'The Coventry Carol' offered a more reflective side to proceedings.

The highlight for many of the concert was the eagerly awaited premiere of Ian's composition 'A Celt in Jerusalem'. The music, with some stunning backdrop art work from our chairman and principal Eb Bass Neil Jobes, depicts the events leading to Christ's crucifixion and subsequent raising from the dead. The basis for the music is the hymn tune 'The Wonderous Cross' and evokes many passions and emotions as it concludes. It was certainly well appreciated by all in the church and its vicar, the Revd. Mark Chester, to whom the work is dedicated.

The second half of the concert was split into two sections - the first of those featured 'Big Mac's Little Big Band' where a selection of band members got together with a keyboard, bass guitar and array of percussion to perform three new features, entitled 'Runnin' Free', 'Still Waters Run Deep' (a saxophone solo, performed by Neil Jobes) and 'A night in Havana' which featured more than a subtle nod to Chuck Mangione.

The concert then concluded with full band sets of 'Eye of the Tiger and the Final Countdown' before the 'Post Horn Galop' was performed in a new arrangement for two post horns, played by Jon 'Barny' Bowden and John Pearson, using traditional post horns. After a tribute to Abba in the form of an arrangement of songs from the popular musical hit 'Moma Mia', the audience were encouraged to sing along in a spirited rendition of 'Christmas Festival' to close the night off with a bang.

The band would once again like to thank Revd. Mark Chester and all his colleagues at St Paul's for their support of the band for this concert, and we look forward to the next opportunity that we will have to perform there.