International Staff Songsters

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International Staff Songsters (ISS)
Choir
ISS 2017.jpg
OriginLondon, United Kingdom
Founded
  • 1897–1928
    1980–present
Genre
Music directorDorothy Nancekievill
Affiliation The Salvation Army
LabelSP&S
Website www.salvationarmy.org.uk/international-staff-songsters

The International Staff Songsters (ISS) is the principal choir of the Salvation Army. [1] [2] Based in London, UK, the group performs Christian choral music in concerts, [3] worship services and television [4] and radio [5] [6] [7] broadcasts, and has recorded more than 50 albums since its inauguration. [8] [9]

Contents

Members of the choir are Christians who are also members of their local Salvation Army church. [10] The ISS regularly visits Salvation Army centres in the UK [11] and has undertaken several international tours, including the US, [12] Canada, France, Switzerland, Estonia, Australia, [13] New Zealand, [14] Kenya, South Africa, Argentina and Uruguay. [15] Profits from recordings and performances are used to support the work of the Salvation Army. [16] The ISS has performed in diverse locations; from notable venues across the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall, [17] O2 Arena, Llandaff Cathedral, Gloucester Cathedral and Symphony Hall, to squatter camps, prisons and hostels. [15] The ISS regularly performs on the long-running BBC Radio 4 shows The Daily Service and Sunday Worship, [18] [19] and has also featured on the BBC Television programme, Songs of Praise . [20] [21]

History and discography

The ISS was originally established by an official minute issued by the Salvation Army's Chief of the Staff, Bramwell Booth, in March 1897. [22] The group was composed of employees of the organisation's International Headquarters (IHQ) in London [23] [24] and the chief of the accounts department, Herbert Jackson, was appointed the first leader of the songsters. [25] By 1912, it was reported that the ISS had travelled 25,000 miles and sung to audiences totalling more than 1,000,000 people. [26] The ISS also attracted the attention of high-profile music critics, including George Bernard Shaw. [27] In 1922, Jackson was succeeded by his deputy, Railton Howard, before the group was disbanded in 1928 due to "members' conflict of duties". [22]

After a 52-year hiatus, the group was re-formed in March 1980 by General Arnold Brown [28] who appointed Norman Bearcroft as the founding leader of the relaunched group, [29] [30] with membership no longer confined to headquarters employees. On the decision to re-form the group, General Brown commented:

All aspects of the proposal were carefully weighed by Army leaders before the decision was taken. Many recall the effectiveness of earlier, similar groups, and the necessity for another such music section has been seen for some years [...] The purpose will be the same as that of every musical aggregation throughout the Army world – the proclaiming of the message of salvation. It is hoped that the brigade will do it in such a way as to merit the emulation of songsters everywhere. [31]

An inaugural concert took place at the Fairfield Halls, Croydon on 8th March 1980. [32] The group has subsequently had a further four leaders and released a number of recordings, including some collaborations with notable brass bands, including the International Staff Band, Household Troops Band and Cory Band. [9] [33] Most of the group's recordings are produced and distributed by SP&S, [34] although compilation albums featuring the music of the ISS have also been produced by Metro and Hallmark Records.

In 1988, the ISS performed much of the soundtrack of the Anglia Television series Marching as to War with Roy Castle. [35] The ISS is a perennial performer at the Royal Albert Hall for Celebrating Christmas with the Salvation Army, which has been broadcast on BBC Radio London and most other Local BBC Radio stations across the UK. In 2020, the 40th anniversary of the current ISS was marked by a concert with the London Mozart Players hosted by Welsh broadcaster Aled Jones [3] and a special feature on BBC One's Songs of Praise in which JB Gill interviewed current members. [20] In October 2021, the ISS took part in a special service on BBC Radio 4 to commemorate World Mental Health Day. [36]

DateLeaderDiscography
1897–1922Herbert Jackson–
1922–1928Railton Howard–
1980–1990Norman BearcroftIntroducing... the International Staff Songsters (1980)
So This Is It...My Day For Living (1981)
All God's Creatures Sing (1983)
Be Of Good Cheer (1985)
On Reflection (1986)
Christmas Greetings (1987)
The Spirit of the Army (1988)
The International Staff Songsters of The Salvation Army (1988)
Alleluia (1989)
Unto the Lord (1991)
The Power and the Glory (1991)
1990–1998Len BallantineLet It Shine (1993)
Moment By Moment (1994)
Sing for Joy (1995)
Let The Morning Bring... (1996)
Sing Noel (1997)
If... Then (1998)
1998–2001Peter AylingDistant Shores (1999)
In The Army (2000)
2001–2003Andrew BlythIn This Quiet Moment (2002)
Until The End Of Time (2002)
Total Praise! (2003)
2003–presentDorothy NancekievillRest (2003)
A Greater Wonder (2004)
The Gift (2005)
Grace Alone (2005)
Freedom (2006)
Praise His Name (2007)
Introit (2008)
Know My Heart (2009)
Heart Songs (2010)
The Power (2011)
In The Name of the Lord (2012)
Heart Songs Volume II (2013)
Sing to the Lord – 20th Anniversary (2013)
Good News! (2014)
A Choral Symphony (2015)
My Lord Has Come (2016)
Compelled by Love (2016)
Anastasis (2017)
A Gowans Legacy (2018)
When Love was Born (2018)
A Gowans Legacy VolumeII (2019)
Rejoice in the Lord and Sing! (2020)
Symphony (2020)
Blessings (2022)
Lord, You are the Song (2023)
Alpha & Omega (2024)

Associated groups

Founded in 1891, the International Staff Band (ISB) is the premier brass band of the Salvation Army. Also based in London, the ISB regularly performs with the ISS at Salvation Army events in the UK.

Between 1960 and 1968, a Salvation Army female vocal group called the National Songsters operated in London. [37]

The ISS has served as a model for the establishment of other 'Staff Songsters' which fulfil a similar function to the ISS and represent the Salvation Army in various countries, territories, and cities around the world:

Staff SongstersLocationDate established
Melbourne Staff Songsters Melbourne, Australia1987
Sydney Staff Songsters Sydney, Australia1989
Canadian Staff Songsters Toronto, Canada2016
India Eastern Territorial Staff Songsters Aizawl, India2005
Amsterdam Staff Songsters Amsterdam, Netherlands1956
Central Territorial Staff Songsters Chicago, United States2020
Eastern Territory Staff Songsters New York, United States2018
Southern Staff Songsters Atlanta, United States2022
Western Territory Staff Songsters Los Angeles, United States2012

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References

  1. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL STAFF SONGSTERS AND THE CLYDEBANK SALVATION ARMY – Early Day Motions – UK Parliament". Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Gariepy, Henry (2009). Christianity in action : the international history of the Salvation Army. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. ISBN   978-0-8028-4841-3. OCLC   368048440.
  3. 1 2 "Aled Jones hosts Salvation Army choir's 40th birthday concert". Rhinegold. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Redfern, Aimi (16 August 2020). "Trentham Gardens proves a stunning backdrop for Songs of Praise". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Sunday Worship". BBC. 21 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Sunday Worship, 12/02/2012". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Sunday Worship, I am with you". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  8. ↑ Lt-Col Jonathan Roberts (10 March 2020). "The General praises influence, message and excellence of International Staff Songsters at 40th anniversary concert'".
  9. 1 2 "ISS Recordings". The Salvation Army. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Blyth, Andrew James (2015). Music practice within The Salvation Army its History, Significance and Relevance in the 21st Century. Salford: University of Salford.
  11. ↑ "Provost pays tribute to work of the Salvation Army". Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  12. ↑ "International Staff Songsters wow West". Caring Magazine. 9 May 2003. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  13. ↑ THQ, The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory. "International Staff Songsters lead Easter weekend services in Melbourne". Others Magazine. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "The International Staff Songsters in New Zealand". New Zealand Choral Federation Inc. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  15. 1 2 "International Staff Songsters hold 40th anniversary concert". New Frontier Chronicle. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  16. ↑ "International Staff Songsters". The Salvation Army. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  17. ↑ "Celebrating Christmas with the Salvation Army". Royal Albert Hall. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  18. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Daily Service". BBC. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Sunday Worship". BBC. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  20. 1 2 "BBC One – Songs of Praise, Celebrating the Salvation Army". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  21. ↑ "BBC One – Songs of Praise, Trentham Gardens". BBC. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  22. 1 2 "Records of the Salvation Army International Staff Band (ISB) and International Staff Songsters (ISS)". The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  23. ↑ "International Staff Songsters". Derby Daily Telegraph. 6 February 1915.
  24. ↑ Sandall, Robert (1947–1973). The history of the Salvation Army. Arch R. Wiggins, Frederick Lee Coutts. London: T. Nelson. ISBN   0-17-144045-5. OCLC   7754791.
  25. ↑ "Salvation Army Music: International Staff Songsters in Sarum". The Salisbury Times. 7 June 1907.
  26. ↑ "Special visit of the International Staff Songsters". Croydon Chronicle and East Surrey Advertiser. 6 January 1912.
  27. ↑ Shaw, Bernard (1981). Shaw's music : the complete musical criticism in three volumes. Dan H. Laurence. New York: Dodd, Mead. ISBN   0-396-07967-9. OCLC   8013163.
  28. ↑ Cohen, Susan (2013). The Salvation Army. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN   978-0-7478-1423-8. OCLC   1021810981.
  29. ↑ Bearcroft, Norman (2010). In Good Company. London: Salvation Army. ISBN   978-0854128266.
  30. ↑ "Death of Lieut-Colonel Norman Bearcroft". 4barsrest. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  31. ↑ Brown, A (12 January 1980). "'The message will be the all-important element,' says General Arnold Brown". The Musician. p. 1.
  32. ↑ "International Staff Songsters 40 years". www.salvationarmy.org.uk. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
  33. ↑ "The International Staff Songsters". Discogs. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  34. ↑ "SP&S Official Website". SP&S. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  35. ↑ Roy Castle And The Salvation Army – Marching As To War (1988, Vinyl) , retrieved 9 September 2021
  36. ↑ "BBC Radio 4 – Sunday Worship, Search me O God and know my heart". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  37. ↑ "National Songsters - Maureen Daveys - 1968 - Regal Zonophone". www.regalzonophone.com. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
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