Senators join the military
On 9th of July, the Senators performed with the Band & Bugles of the Light Division to hundreds of spectators in Winchester, Hampshire. The Band and Bugles of the Light Division are one of the top Army Bands in the United Kingdom.
After leaving Eastleigh at 9am for the 15 minute drive up to Winchester the corps members (after rigorous security checks) entered the Army Training Centre, home of the band. There, the members were able to watch the Band & Bugles of the Light Division rehearse their evening performance on the parade ground. The Band and Bugles performed a programme of about 6 pieces, including 'Russian Sailors Dance' (ala Boston and SCV 1994) and 'Carmina Burana', which was a bit of a crowd favourite at 9.30 in the morning and just the job to wake everyone up.
The Senators and the Light Division rehearsed the Grand Finale - Stravinsky's 'Firebird Suite' and 'Evening Hymn and Sunset' under the direction of Major Calum Gray, Director of Music for the Light Division. The ensemble of full woodwind, Bb, Eb, F and concert brass, Bb non-valved bugles and a full range of G bugles was definitely a very unique sound, especially when all were played by such accomplished musicians.
The Senators took the field at 18.30 hours, after an introduction by Craig Sherratt to perform Mission Incredible to an appreciative, if slightly surprised audience. Not many military parade grounds have played host to a tune like 'Cuba' before. The Grand Finale also went very well with the 'massed bands' of The Senators and the Band & Bugles of the Light Division performing a powerful rendition of 'Firebird' and also the touching 'Evening Hymn and Sunset' before the Light Division rounded the evening off with the National Anthem.
The day ended with Major Calum Gray presenting The Senators with a special plaque that will take pride of place in the corps trophy cabinet and thanking the corps for their performances and professionalism during the day.
A Full report and photographs can be found at the Senators Website, www.senators.org.uk.
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