We are now in the
fourth generation of Salvationists (1958). Our tastes and our creative
powers in music and song are beyond all comparison refined and artistic, to a
degree our forefathers never even imagined. Excellent! It was
always my aim and policy to retain and employ such talent, within our
ranks. This is being done, most successfully. We have genius in the
children and grandchildren of our pioneers. What a tragedy if we knew not
how to employ our multiplied talents to our Saviour’s greater praise!
Unhappily, some of our brighter sons and daughters have left us for other
pursuits, where fame and gain are the main incentives. We are rather
proud of them, nonetheless, especially when they are willing, as so many are,
to acknowledge that they came from our humble stock. The Salvation Army
has enriched music in many ways, and in many bands and orchestras where our
uniform is never seen, but I have observed, in my wide travels, that we retain
in our musical forces the great majority of talented young people born of
Salvationists parents. These naturally incline to the higher, more
artistic forms of musical expression, and they prefer worship to a ‘free and
easy’, and a worship service to a meeting. Yet these young people, I am
convinced, are as good Salvationists as their forebears, more talented and, on
the whole, better educated.
General Albert
Orsborn C.B.E.
The House of My
Pilgrimage ps. 118-19
______________________________________
In recent years we
have seen many Salvationist musicians, composers and conductors reaching the
pinnacle of their profession. Symphony orchestras have been enriched by those
whom we trained, the world's very best brass bands are commissioning works to
be penned by those who wear or once wore SA uniforms, and SA bandmasters and
trainers are wielding batons on world stages from Brisbane to Manchester.
Is it unreasonable to
ponder what, if any, expectations we might have of those who've become
prominent in their respective entertainment and arts fields due the army's very
considerable influence and impact on who've they become? Some have left and not
been heard from again. But then there are the Army composers who shared their
gift on both sides of the brass band movement; Eric Ball, Dean Goffin, Erik
Leidzen, and in more recent years, Edward Gregson, Ken Downie, Peter Graham,
Stephen Bulla, James Curnow, Brian Bowen and others.
And Salvationist
bandmasters and trainers who have contributed to and made a mark on the contest
scene include Keith Wilkinson, Howard Evans, Terry Treherne, Sven Wiberg, Torgne
Hanson, Per Olson, Lars-Gunnar Bjorklund to name but a few.
SA instrumentalist
who have excelled in the brass band, orchestral world and professional scene are
too many to mention number number in the dozens in every corner of the world.
Blessings, Sven Ljungholm
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