Croydon Citadel Brass Band in Wisconsin

[David Spies]

------- Forwarded message -------
From: Judy <wagenblast@itol.com>
To: zwolanek@execpc.com
Subject: Brass band to perform in Madison
Date: Tue, 19 Apr 2005 11:36:40 -0500

We appreciate your sharing this with your members.
Thank you.

Judy Wagenblast for the Salvation Army in Green Bay


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 18, 2005

English Salvation Army Brass Band Performs In Madison

The Salvation Army Brass Band from the Croydon Citadel in England will
perform in Madison as it tours Wisconsin and the U.P. of Michigan next
week.

A free community concert will be held at First United Methodist Church in
downtown Madison.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. on Monday night, April 25, in the church
sanctuary at 203 Wisconsin Avenue.

The Salvation Army's Croydon Citadel Brass Band comes to America with a
long
list of musical awards and accomplishments. Established in 1883, this band
regularly appears in London's Royal Albert Hall and throughout England and
Europe. Members are non-professional musicians and are members of the
Croydon Citadel Salvation Army church. It is one of the most accomplished
Salvation Army brass bands in the world. Conducted by Paul Graham, the
Croydon band will play contemporary and traditional secular and sacred
music at the Madison performance.

Brass bands have been very popular in England since the 1800's, and also in
Australia, New Zealand and Western Europe. While they were also popular in
the nineteenth century in the U.S., performing for summertime concerts in
the park, political rallies, parades and weddings, interest in them fell
off early in the 20th century in favor of large concert bands which included
woodwinds and orchestral brass instruments. However, in the last 20 years,
interest in the brass band tradition has resurged and now there are more
than 200 bands in the North American Brass Band Association.

The group's 10 day tour culminates with a North American premiere
performance of Handel's Easter Messiah at the Weidner Center in Green Bay
on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at the Weidner Center
ticket office at 1-800-328-8587 (toll free).

This 4/30 performance with the Dudley Birder Chorale of St. Norbert College
will be the first time that the Messiah transcription for voice and brass
has been performed in North American though it has been performed several
times in England, Australia and New Zealand. The Dudley Birder Chorale is
composed of more than 150 adult who audition to join on the basis of vocal
quality and musicianship. Under the direction of St. Norbert College
professor and musical director Dudley Birder, the group performs great
choral masterworks locally and on tour.



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For more information, contact:
Rev. Keith Schroerlucke, 608-256-9061
Salvation Army: Paul Ross at 920-497-7053

[WorldofBrass.com]

My colleague at work, Kevin Coates, is the Deputy Bandmaster of this band and has put an amazing amount of work into their 10 day trip to the USA.
Say 'hello' to him if you get the chance, he plays soprano cornet!

[David Spies]

I went to the Madison concert. The band was OUTSTANDING! If you can at all go to the Weidner concert in Green Bay, DO IT! They are wonderful musicians and great people!

I did happen to meet Kevin Coates, although before I read the post. He sounds great, as did all four soloists. An antiphonal hymn setting was really amazing.

Congratulations to the Croydon Citadel SA Band for a great concert Monday evening, and best wishes for a great tour.

David Spies
Solo E-Flat Tubist
Madison Brass Band
www.mbbonline.org