Judd: Variations on a Celestial Theme

Judd: Variations on Laudate Dominum

Based on the noble hymn tune of the same name by Sir Hubert H. Parry, there are seven variations, the seventh of which is a fugato. The theme is not presented in full until the end, when it is heard in its full majesty and the music brought to a tremendous and climactic conclusion.

Judd: Variations on Maccabeus

This set of variations was composed for the ISB's tour of Australia, New Zealand and Japan in 1995. Handel's majestic tune is associated with the great resurrection hymn 'Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son' and melodic fragments of the tune form the basis of the four variations. The tune is heard in its entirety at the beginning and near the end and the piece finishes with a vigorous coda.

Judd: Victors Acclaimed

Bramwell Coles became known as the Salvation Army 'march king' a label he began to earn with his first march written in 1906! This march, written in 1945 to mark the end of World War Two, saluted his seven children all of whom returned unscathed from service in the armed forces.

Judd: Victory for Me

Completed in the 1970s, this is a Ravel-inspired bolero treatment of the tune 'My beautiful home' which is associated with the words 'There's victory for me'. It is fresh, inventive and wonderfully scored with a cheeky 'throw-away' ending.

Judd: Visions of Geronitus

The hymn tune Gerontius was written by John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876), an Anglican clergyman and prolific hymn writer. The composer chose to write variations this hymn tune which is invariably associated with Cardinal John Henry Newmans words taken from his visionary poem The Dream of Gerontius, which deals with the journey of the soul from this world to the next. The stanzas of the hymn are taken from the poem which Elgar set to music in his great masterpiece of the same name.

Judd: Wade in the Water

Wade in the Water is a Negro Spiritual made popular in 1962 by the Ramsey Lewis Trio. Further versions followed in 1968 by Big Mama Thornton and in 1997 by Eva Cassidy. The song is thought to be a coded message for slaves escaping to freedom and tells the fugitive to walk in the water, instead of on the land, where tracking dogs cannot follow human scent. This version for brass band is in swing style.

Judd: War Cry

'War Cry' was written at the request of Bandmaster Ronald Waiksnoris for the New York Staff Band's 125th Anniversary concert in Carnegie Hall, New York, in March 2012. He wanted a piece to open the concert with and so 'War Cry' was born. It is based on the song, 'Ever is the War Cry'. You will find the piece is quite militant in nature, which is a direct reflection of the text of the song.

Judd: Wisbech Citadel

This homage to a Salvation Army corps in Cambridgeshire is Albert Gays most popular Salvation Army composition although he wrote several other excellent marches like His Royal Banner and Western Valley. The bass solo quotes a vocal march dating from The Salvation Armys Musical Salvationist 1916; The Call to War.

Judd: You know that we love you!