Chatham Salvation Army

This weeks choices for Desert Island Discs come from Lisa Davis

Song 1

Don’t despair
As a child of the 70s I remember my Corps songster brigade singing this song when I was very young. I love its bright, happy 70s vibe and I challenge anyone who says they don’t feel happier after they have heard it!
It was also one of the songs I chose to conduct when I was Deputy Songster Leader for the Chatham Songsters’ ‘Bridging the Years’ CD that we recorded in the dockyard church before our tour of France and Switzerland in 2005.

Song 2

The Love of Christ
I was privileged to be selected to join the ISS in 1996 under the leadership of Len Ballantine and I was a member for 9 years.
He wrote many songs for the brigade in his own, inimitable style and many of his songs directly quote scripture. This particular song is a musical version of Ephesians 3:18-19. God’s love for us knows know limit and I love the way the music rises in pitch as we are asked to contemplate how wide, long, deep and high Christ’s love is for us.

Song 3

In perfect peace
I love choral singing and have sung in many different choirs over the years under some prestigious conductors such as Stephen Jackson and Sir Andrew Davis. Choral music speaks in a way that instrumental music cannot as we have words to communicate with our audience.
This piece of music is based on a simple chorus that many of us will have learned as children. Kenneth Downie has arranged it both chorally and for brass band. Although other members of my household do not agree, this is my favourite setting. The harmonies are quite reminiscent of choral composers such as Holst and John Taverner, so I feel it moves away from a traditional ‘Salvation Army’ sound (which maybe why I like it so much!). The final resolution of the words ‘in perfect peace’ are exquisite. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed singing it!