The International Staff Band - Live in Cornwall can only be purchased by telephoning our band chairperson, Kay Cook, on 01209 831512

Album recorded at the Hall for Cornwall

Inlay Card

It's uncanny how a chance conversation can be the catalyst for a remarkable sequence of events that result in something unique and very special, but that was the case with the ISB's visit to Cornwall.

By chance, Derek Johnston's call to The Salvation Army's Territorial Headquarters to inquire about the availability of some music was answered by Territorial Music Director and ISB Bandmaster, Dr. Stephen Cobb. That conversation led to a sequence of events that eventually resulted in the idea of Derek's band (Hayle Town Band) inviting the International Staff Band to visit Cornwall for a weekend. Fuelled by Stephen's deep affection for Cornwall - and by Derek's boundless enthusiasm for brass banding - it wasn't long before suitable dates had been allocated and the fantastic Hall For Cornwall, in the shadow of Truro's magnificent Cathedral, was chosen as the venue for what was to be a remarkable Saturday night concert of brass band music.

The atmosphere inside the packed hall was truly electric as the curtain rose at 7.45 pm on Saturday 20 May 2006. For the audience, that moment revealed the ISB resplendent in red festival jackets ready to launch into their opening item. For the band, it revealed a packed concert hall buzzing with anticipation from an enthusiastic and expectant crowd. The opening notes of the programme made it was clear that this was going to be one of those very special nights that don't happen too often, and therefore remain in the memory for years to come.

I think I can safely say that nobody in the Hall for Cornwall could have asked for more from an evening like this. The audience's response to the ISB's music was quite incredible, with item after item being greeted with cheers and applause. The band, clearly inspired by the audience's remarkable reaction, delivered a scintillating programme of Salvation Army brass band music at its best.

Those of us involved in making the concert happen hope that members of the audience will feel that this CD recording of some of the highlights is a worthy souvenir of a very special concert. And for those of you who missed it? Well, we hope that the recording has captured at least something of the atmosphere and excitement of what was a very, very special night.

Salvation Army history generally acknowledges 7 October 1891 the date on which the International Staff Band was formally brought into existence. Since that day, the ISB has sought to promote the highest standards of Salvation Army banding and, more importantly, to spread the message of the Christian gospel by presenting the best in Christian ministry through the medium of music.

With membership drawn from Salvation Army centres as far afield as Blackburn, Bristol, Norwich and Maidstone - and many other centres in between - the band meets weekly in London to rehearse. It undertakes regular weekend engagements at Salvation Army centres around the UK on a monthly basis and takes part in many major Salvation Army events. It has performed in many of the world's major concert halls, featured on national television and radio broadcasts in various countries and shared the stage with some of the world's finest musicians.

The Band's current bandmaster is Doctor Stephen Cobb. The Cobb family has a long history of involvement with Salvation Army music, and particularly with the ISB. Stephen's own association with the ISB goes back over thirty years, many of those spent as the band's principal cornet player - a position previously occupied by his father Roland for many years.

Since Stephen's appointment as bandmaster of the ISB, the band's profile in the world of brass banding has risen dramatically, resulting in a number of appearances at major brass banding events such as the National Brass Band Championships' Gala Concert and the Royal Northern College of Music's Festival of Brass. The members of the band share with their bandmaster a passionate desire to raise the standard and profile of Salvation Army music-making throughout the world and to use the powerful medium of music as a way of expressing and sharing their Christian faith.

Recorded at The Hall for Cornwall - Truro on 20th May 2006
Recording Engineer: Michael Moor
Produced by PM SOUND
Cover photograph: Truro Cathedral
© Paul Martyn Sound Productions 2006
Website: www.pmsound.co.uk
Email: pmsound@tiscali.co.uk
Printing by: FRANCIS ANTONY LID ~ St Austell