Proms 2011

A NIGHT AT THE PROMS - 22ND JANUARY 2011

A full house at Birmingham Citadel enjoyed a high spirited musical Global tour during the Annual Proms Night. National flags, costumes and multimedia added a spectacular backcloth to the band music which included incredible jungle sounds from the bandsmen in excerpts from ‘The Lion King’ representing Africa. Gavin Lamplough (cornet) and David Taylor (euphonium) also featured pyrotechnic solos with an international flavour. Guest soloist Sue Blyth (Gainsborough) added her own charisma with such songs as “His eye is on the Sparrow.” and “I Dreamed a Dream.” The first half ended with a specially commissioned piece written by Birmingham Citadel Band’s principal cornet Gavin Lamplough called “Around the World in Eight Minutes”. The brief was to “visit” as many countries as possible in eight minutes of music and so, with the help of members of Birmingham Citadel in National Dress, we were taken to ten countries in all including Mexico, France, Greece, Holland and the USA. A fitting visual spectacular to end the first half.

The second half had all the traditional ingredients associated with the Proms including a convincing portrayal of Britannia by our soloist in full regalia including a rather precariously perched golden helmet. The many non Salvationists in the audience joined in with enthusiastic flag waving.

Divisional Commander Major Samuel Edgar was the genial compere.