Samenvatting
Ever heard the sound of a mighty marching Salvation Army band without actually seeing them? You hear the sound several streets away and it becomes louder the longer you wait. When it finally reaches your eye side, it gives you an instant thrill. First the proud red-yellow-and-blue flag followed by the trombones, basses, euphoniums, baritones, followed by the horns and cornets separated from the first part of the band, by only the percussion section. It gives you instant goose-bumps.
So, what is the reason that this kind of banding differs from any other musical ensemble?
Uit het boek
Ever since I became aware of brass music, I have been fascinated by it. The unique sound of it - in my case a Salvation Army brass band - isn’t comparable with that of any other musical combination and therefore it appeals so much to me that it almost controls my life. This fascination has stayed with me throughout my life from its be-ginning at a very young age. At first, it was of course a very humble beginning but it soon became a way of life, rather than a hobby. It gave me so much, and even took me literally around the world. And I still do not want to be without it, and I hope I never will. The more I discover in it and about it, the more I want to know. The writing of these musical memories is probably the peak of my interest in the brass idiom and it has been almost impossible to recall all the musical highlights in my life, despite my efforts.
Over de auteur
"I was born in 1968 into a Salvation Army family. This resulted in a huge interest in brass band music as from a very young age. Membership of both the corps band and the Amsterdam Staff Band gives me much pleasure as part of my extended hobby. Together with Paola, my wife, we have two daughters, Melody and Brittany. Daily life sees me working for a large Anglo-Dutch company, in the area of sensory science."