RSA Remembered

On Saturday September 12th at 7pm the ISB will be sharing the Birmingham Conservatoire's Adrian Boult Hall with the International Staff Songsters. On this occasion it is to celebrate the life and music of Lieut-Colonel Dr. Ray Steadman-Allen OF

Ray Steadman-Allen, affectionately known as "RSA", was Promoted to Glory in December last year. He was a musical 'giant' and his vast contribution of choral and brass music he gifted to the Salvation Army will be remembered for many years to come.

Bill Himes OF will compere the concert, which has aptly been named RSA Remembered and will give the ISB and the ISS a chance to feature a number of RSA classics.

Our tribute to RSA will come in the form of two of his most classic works, The Tone Poem 'The Holy War' and Victorian Snapshots 'On Ratcliffe Highway'. Iconic works like these cemented RSA's reputation as a brass band composer of the highest order.

The Holy War, first conceived in the 1950's was premiered by the ISB in 1965, at the Royal Albert Hall and was also featured by the ISB in 2007 at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon commemorating the 85th birthday of RSA. The work was influenced by John Bunyan's allegory of the same name, a sound picture is painted of spiritual warfare between the forces of good and evil.

On Ratcliffe Highway written by RSA in 1978 is a collection of “sound pictures” inspired by a sketch of the Salvation Army’s Whitechapel Band marching through the notorious East End thoroughfare in the 1880s. It includes snippets of popular songs of the day such as Champagne Charlie and What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?

RSA Remembered is set to be a wonderful evening of great music. We look forward to seeing you there as we celebrate the life and music of a true Christian Gentleman.

For further details visit the Adrian Boult Hall Box Office.

http://www.birmingham-box.co.uk/event/rsa-remembered/