Army song book history celebrated in rousing afternoon
Army song book history celebrated in rousing afternoon
25 November 2016
Captain Darren Kingston performs Champagne Charlie at the Historical Society’s celebration of the history of The Song Book of the Salvation Army.
A capacity crowd filled the Hurstville Citadel on Sunday afternoon, 13 November, to celebrate the history of The Song Book of The Salvation Army, an event presented by The Salvation Army Historical Society, Sydney Chapter.
The Song Book of The Salvation Army has been a great source of inspiration, spiritual direction and worship for Salvationists for 135 years.
Evolving from the Revival Hymn Book of 1866 through to the 2015 edition of The Song Book of The Salvation Army, its history is perhaps best traced through the eyes of its Salvation Army songwriters. Among the writers celebrated were William Booth and pioneer Salvationists William Pearson, Richard Slater, Herbert Booth, Arthur Smith Arnott, Robert Johnson, John Lawley, Albert Orsborn, as well as more contemporary writers such as Harry Read, John Gowans, Chick Yuill and Howard Davies.
The event was supported by Hurstville band and songsters, vocalists Mandy Williams and Darren Kingston, accompanist Margaret Ross and presenter Janette Smart. It commenced with the singing of Thou Christ of Burning, Cleansing Flame, which first appeared in the War Cry of 14 April 1894, reflecting William Booth’s passion for the redemptive work of The Salvation Army, and the need for his people to be fired up with a holy passion.
The afternoon reflected a wide range of music from the song book. Hurstville band, under Bandmaster Steven Reay, presented The Heaven Bound Throng. The music features, as its theme, We’re on the Homeward Trail, written by pioneer Salvationist Arthur Smith Arnott, son of the famous biscuit maker.
Richard Slater’s iconic song of dedication, And Is It So? A Gift from me Dost Thou, Dear Lord, Request? was treated to a sensitive rendition by soloist Mandy Williams, pianist Margaret Ross and the Hurstville band. Mandy also closed the afternoon with the deeply moving words and music of His Provision, by John Gowans and Ivor Bosanko.
Darren Kingston provided light relief with his lively presentation from the music hall of Champagne Charlie which morphed into the classic Army song, Bless His Name He Sets Me Free. Expressing the joy and enthusiasm often found in the musicals by John Gowans and John Larsson, Darren delighted the capacity crowd with There’s Only One Flag for Me.
Hurstville Songster Brigade, under Julie Townsend, moved the audience with Many are the Things I Cannot Understand and If Crosses Come. An up-tempo contemporary number, Promises One by One, provided an insight into the development of modern Christian music.
The afternoon concluded with a return to Booth’s great song, Thou Christ of Burning, Cleansing Flame, to a new melody by Lex Loizides. This composer had already noted that he was “particularly pleased that The Salvation Army had adopted the new melody with such enthusiasm”.
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