SA band wins first place in Annual Contest of English band
Herbert Booth
No organization in Great Britain, musical, military or religious, could muster from its own constituency a better band, comprising better musicians, than that which the Salvation Army could call together when occasion required. That is saying much, but in proof no further evidence is needed than the well known fact that for several consecutive yearsthe picked band of the Salvation Army won first prize at the Annual Contest of English bands. That contest was the Derby of British musicians. From all over the United Kingdom they came to compete. The Lancashire and the Yorkshire Workingmen's Band, the Stalybridge Old Band, led by Alexander Owen; the great military bands of the Black Watch and the Coldstream Guards, Dan Godfrey's, most famous band in England.
No organization in Great Britain, musical, military or religious, could muster from its own constituency a better band, comprising better musicians, than that which the Salvation Army could call together when occasion required. That is saying much, but in proof no further evidence is needed than the well known fact that for several consecutive yearsthe picked band of the Salvation Army won first prize at the Annual Contest of English bands. That contest was the Derby of British musicians. From all over the United Kingdom they came to compete. The Lancashire and the Yorkshire Workingmen's Band, the Stalybridge Old Band, led by Alexander Owen; the great military bands of the Black Watch and the Coldstream Guards, Dan Godfrey's, most famous band in England.
The winning of the prize by the Salvationists occurred too frequently, and too much was at stake to justify the supposition that either sentiment or chivalry influenced the award. It followed that any original and distinctive contribution to religious music the Salvation Army might make must be essentially good. The standards of musical leadership and practice in the Army could not tolerate anything inferior. At the same time it was necessary that the field-music of the Army should be of comparatively simple melodic structure, popularly appealing, adaptable to the capacity of the inerudite (learned). It was required to be tuneful, yet worthy; singable, yet dignified. Above all it must give true expression to those "unfolded capacities of emotion" given release in Christian experience.[1]
Two Herbert Booth songs
Two Herbert Booth songs
[1]Ottman, Ford C. Herbert Booth Songs Of Peace And War p.55
At the Cross sung and played by Kjell Edlund former SA officer, Sweden
Lord, through the blood of the Lamb that was slain,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
From all the guilt of my sins now I claim
Cleansing from Thee, cleansing from Thee.
Sinful and black though the past may have been,
Many the crushing defeats I have seen,
Yet on Thy promise, O Lord, I now lean,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me.
From all the guilt of my sins now I claim
Cleansing from Thee, cleansing from Thee.
Sinful and black though the past may have been,
Many the crushing defeats I have seen,
Yet on Thy promise, O Lord, I now lean,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me.
From all the sins over which I have wept,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
Far, far away by the blood-current swept,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
Jesus, Thy promise I dare to believe,
And as I come Thou wilt surely receive,
That over sin I may never more grieve,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me.
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
Far, far away by the blood-current swept,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
Jesus, Thy promise I dare to believe,
And as I come Thou wilt surely receive,
That over sin I may never more grieve,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me.
From all the doubts that have filled me with gloom,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
From all the fears that would point me to doom,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
Jesus, although I may not understand,
In childlike faith now I stretch forth my hand,
And through Thy Word and Thy grace I shall stand,
Cleansèd by Thee, cleansèd by Thee.
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
From all the fears that would point me to doom,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
Jesus, although I may not understand,
In childlike faith now I stretch forth my hand,
And through Thy Word and Thy grace I shall stand,
Cleansèd by Thee, cleansèd by Thee.
From all the care of what men think or say,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
From ever fearing to speak, sing or pray,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me;
Lord, in Thy love and Thy power make me strong
That all may know that to Thee I belong;
When I am tempted, let this be my song,
Cleansing for me, cleansing for me.
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