December 2016 - Week 4

On Wednesday 21st December, the band was invited to play at Southampton General Hospital. We played for just under two hours and the music performed was well-known carols such as Away in a Manger, The First Noel and Silent Night. It was well received by the nurses on duty, along with patients who came out to listen. Whilst it was a little hot, the event was thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part!

On Friday 23rd December, 16 band members visited Eastleigh Borough Council offices to play for members of the public and those still working! Traditional carols were played on request: "Little Donkey", "Unto Us A Boy Is Born" and "Once In Royal David's City" for example. However, some other arrangements such as "Christmas Swingalong" and "Jingle Bells" both arr. Derek Ashmere were also well received. We finished off with the "Yuletide Rag" arr. Richard Phillips, which is a particular favourite of the bands that follows the tune "Deck the Halls". We also played a number from the Sounds of Christmas including Silent Night, A Starry Night, Away in a Manger, Have Yourself and others. We played fora grand total of 2 hours spreading cheer around our community!

On Christmas eve 30 members of the band made the short trip to play at Bishopstoke Methodist Church for the annual informal carol concert led by Stan Roberts. This year’s event was fairly traditional however due to electrical issues only a few lights were working which added to the whole atmosphere. The opening carol was ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ from the Salvation Army’s New Christmas Praise book. This was followed by ‘Mid-Winter’ from Sounds of Christmas by the Salvation Army, and ‘Come and Join the Celebration’ by V Collinson arr. Simon Farrenden. These were followed by ‘Silent Night’, ‘Ding Dong Merrily’, ‘Good Christian Men Rejoice’ and ‘Away in a Manger’. The band then played ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, ‘Hark The Herald’, ’12 days of Christmas’, ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Rudolph the red nosed Reindeer’. The evening was concluded with ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ from the New Christmas Praise book.

On Christmas morning the band was out to play for the final time over the festive period. A good turn out of 21 members played outside to welcome people to church on Christmas day. The band then moved inside to play the carols / hymns for the morning service led by Rev. Peter Cornick. The service started with 'Christians Awake' from the Salvation Army's New Christmas Praise book. Next we played 'Come and join the Celebration' by V Collinson, arr. Simon Farrenden. All the remaining carols were accompanied by music form the Salvation Army's Sounds of Christmas book, these being 'A Starry Night', 'Mid-Winter', 'Away in a Manger' and finally 'The Ever Lasting Light'.