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International Staff Songsters

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International Staff Songsters (ISS)
Choir
OriginLondon, United Kingdom
Gegründet1897 (re-formed 1980; 44 years ago (1980))
Genre
Music directorDorothy Nancekievill
AffiliationThe Salvation Army
LabelSP&S
Websitewww.salvationarmy.org.uk/international-staff-songsters
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The International Staff Songsters (ISS) is the principal choir of the Salvation Army.[1][2] Based in London, United Kingdom, 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]

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 United Kingdom[11] and has undertaken several international tours, including the USA,[12] Canada, France, Switzerland, Estonia, Australia,[13] New Zealand,[14] Kenya, South Africa, Argentina and Uruguay.[15] Members are volunteers, with profits from recordings and performances 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 formed by the Salvation Army's founder, General William Booth, in March 1897 and was composed of employees of the organisation's International Headquarters (IHQ) in London.[22][23] The chief of the accounts department, Herbert Jackson, was appointed the first leader of the group.[24] By 1912, it was reported that the choir had travelled 25,000 miles and sung to audiences totalling more than 1,000,000 people.[25] The ISS also attracted the attention of high-profile music critics, including George Bernard Shaw.[26]

After being disbanded in the 1930s, the group was re-formed in March 1980 by General Arnold Brown,[27] who appointed Norman Bearcroft as the founding leader of the relaunched group,[28][29] with membership no longer confined to headquarters employees. The group has 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][30] Most of the group's recordings are produced and distributed by SP&S, an independent Christian music label founded in 1917,[31] 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.[32] The ISS is a perennial performer at the Royal Albert Hall for Celebrating Christmas with the Salvation Army, which is broadcast annually 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.[33]

Date Leader Discography
1980–1990 Norman Bearcroft Introducing... 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), The Power and the Glory (1990)
1990–1998 Len Ballantine Let It Shine! (1992), More Than Wonderful (1994), Moment By Moment (1994), Sing for Joy (1995), If... Then (1998), Let The Morning Bring... (1996), Sing Noel (1997)
1998–2000 Peter Ayling Distant Shores (1999), In The Army (2000)
2000–2003 Andrew Blyth In This Quiet Moment (2002), Until The End Of Time (2002), Total Praise! (2003)
2003–present Dorothy Nancekievill Rest (2003), A Greater Wonder (2004), The Gift (2005), Grace Alone (2005), Freedom (2006), Praise His Name (2008), 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), Make a Joyful Noise (2019), A Gowans Legacy Volume 2 (2019), Rejoice in the Lord and Sing! (2020), Symphony (2020)

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.

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:

  • Australien
    • Melbourne Staff Songsters
    • Sydney Staff Songsters
  • Kanada
    • Canadian Staff Songsters
  • Indien
    • India Eastern Territorial Staff Songsters
  • Niederlande
    • Amsterdam Staff Songsters
  • Vereinigte Staaten
    • Central Territorial Staff Songsters
    • Eastern Territory Staff Songsters
    • Western Territory Staff Songsters

References

  1. ^ "INTERNATIONAL STAFF SONGSTERS AND THE CLYDEBANK SALVATION ARMY - Early Day Motions - UK Parliament". edm.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  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. ^ a b "Aled Jones hosts Salvation Army choir's 40th birthday concert". Rhinegold. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  4. ^ Redfern, Aimi (2020-08-16). "Trentham Gardens proves a stunning backdrop for Songs of Praise". StokeonTrentLive. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  5. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Sunday Worship". BBC. 2010-01-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Sunday Worship, 12/02/2012". BBC. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  7. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Sunday Worship, I am with you". BBC. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  8. ^ Lt-Col Jonathan Roberts (10 March 2020). "The General praises influence, message and excellence of International Staff Songsters at 40th anniversary concert'".
  9. ^ a b "ISS Recordings". The Salvation Army. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  10. ^ Blyth, Andrew James (2015). Music practice within The Salvation Army it's 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 2021-09-09.
  12. ^ "International Staff Songsters wow West". Caring Magazine. 2003-05-09. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  13. ^ THQ, The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory. "International Staff Songsters lead Easter weekend services in Melbourne". Others Magazine. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  14. ^ "The International Staff Songsters in New Zealand". New Zealand Choral Federation Inc. 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2021-04-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ a b "International Staff Songsters hold 40th anniversary concert". New Frontier Chronicle. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  16. ^ "International Staff Songsters". The Salvation Army. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Celebrating Christmas with the Salvation Army". Royal Albert Hall. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  18. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Daily Service". BBC. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  19. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Sunday Worship". BBC. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  20. ^ a b "BBC One - Songs of Praise, Celebrating the Salvation Army". BBC. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  21. ^ "BBC One - Songs of Praise, Trentham Gardens". BBC. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  22. ^ "International Staff Songsters". Derby Daily Telegraph. 1915-02-06.
  23. ^ 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  24. ^ "Salvation Army Music: International Staff Songsters in Sarum". The Salisbury Times. 1907-06-07.
  25. ^ "Special visit of the International Staff Songsters". Croydon Chronicle and East Surrey Advertiser. 1912-01-06.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ Cohen, Susan (2013). The Salvation Army. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN 978-0-7478-1423-8. OCLC 1021810981.
  28. ^ Bearcroft, Norman (2010). In Good Company. London: Salvation Army. ISBN 978-0854128266.
  29. ^ "Death of Lieut-Colonel Norman Bearcroft". 4barsrest. 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  30. ^ "The International Staff Songsters". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-04-25.
  31. ^ "SP&S Official Website". SP&S. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  32. ^ Roy Castle And The Salvation Army – Marching As To War (1988, Vinyl), retrieved 2021-09-09
  33. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Sunday Worship, Search me O God and know my heart". BBC. Retrieved 2021-10-09.


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