80th Anniversary Reunion Weekend

Anniversary Festival

On Saturday evening, the action shifted to the First Baptist Church of Alexandria, the venue for the Anniversary Festival featuring the current National Capital Band. An appreciative audience of over 250 was present. One of the highlights of the weekend was the recognition of former NCB bandmasters during this event. Former bandmasters present at the festival included Commissioner W. R. H. Goodier (1957–1959), A. Campbell Robinson (1961–1983), Stephen Bulla (1983–1998), Lars-Otto Ljungholm (1998–2002), Ian Anderson (2002–2003), and John B. Jones (2004).

The NCB opened the concert with Fanfare and Flourishes (Martin Cordner). This was followed by William's Himes' Prayer of Thanksgiving (a nod to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday), which was used as an accompaniment for a congregational song. The NCB's Executive Officer, Captain Kelly Igleheart (participating in his first major weekend with the band) gave the invocation.

Two upbeat numbers in contrasting styles followed, Winchester Revival (Kenneth Downie) and the swing-style arrangement Since Jesus (Leonard Ballantine). Several of the band's outstanding soloists were then featured. Principal euphonium Major Tony Barrington played the classic solo The Ransomed Host (Ray Steadman-Allen). The moving vocal solo They Could Not (arr. Brian Bowen) was sung by vocal soloist Deborah Bearchell, accompanied by Christina Anderson on piano with the band joining in the final verse. Deputy Bandmaster Ian Anderson, the band's principal cornet, played William Himes' comtemporary solo Caprice for Cornet.

Stephen Bulla, in addition to being a renowned composer, conductor, and trombonist, is a virtuoso pianist. Over his years with the National Capital Band he has often been featured as a piano soloist, and on this occasion he reprised one of his most entertaining solos, the exuberant Down by the Riverside. The first half of the concert ended with Kenneth Downie's triumphant festival arrangement Christ Is Alive.

The second half of the festival opened with a march composed by Stephen Bulla, Washington Salute 125, which was originally written for a visit to Washington by General Eva Burrows, during the 125th anniversary year of The Salvation Army. More solo items followed, beginning with the cornet duet Quicksilver (Peter Graham), brilliantly played by Ian Anderson and soprano cornet Noel Morris.

The Music Secretary for the USA Southern Territory, Dr. Richard E. Holz, has been a strong supporter of the National Capital Band over the years. Following the cornet duet, he came to the podium to present the former bandmasters in attendance with engraved crystal pieces in appreciation of their service to the NCB.

This was followed by an interesting new vocal arrangement by Stephen Bulla, Shine On Us (Michael W. Smith), sung by Wendy Hopper and accompanied by Stephen Bulla (piano), Randi Bulla (flügelhorn), and former NCB principal Eb horn Connie Barrington.

Traveling furthest to the Anniversary Weekend was former NCB bandmaster Lars-Otto Ljungholm and his wife Ingrid. Ljungholm, Divisional Music Director in the National Capital and Virginia area for 13 years, is now the Territorial Music Secretary in his native Sweden and bandmaster of the renowned Stockholm South Citadel Band. Because of travel arrangements, Ljungholm was not able to stay for the Reunion Concert on Sunday, and so was asked to participate in the Saturday festival. Following the vocal solo, he played the cornet solo I'd Rather Have Jesus, leading into a devotional section of the program.

Two of the hallmarks of the National Capital Band over its long history have been the support for younger players joining the band and a strong spiritual component to the band's mission. At the Anniversary Festival, both of these were illustrated by a personal testimony given by Kevin Affum, first cornet, who is a sophomore at the University of Maryland, preparing for eventual studies in medical school. This was followed by Kenneth Downie's sensitive arrangement Shekinah, conducted by Bandmaster Ljungholm. Band Chaplain Joe DeMato read a portion of Scripture as the devotional period ended.

The major work for the second half of the program was the tone poem A Psalm of Praise (James Curnow), which was featured by the NCB in its performance at the Great American Brass Band Festival in June 2005. The final item was William Himes' arrangement of the Founder's Song, O Boundless Salvation, a four-verse setting with the audience enthusiatically singing. At the last verse, Robert Schramm jumped up from his first baritone chair and grabbed the band's Salvation Army flag, waving it as the congregation and the band brought the piece to a ringing conclusion. Following the benediction, the band played one encore item, the old classic march On the King's Highway (Erik Leidzén).