Christmas with The Enfield Brass Band

Hi everyone,

So I had the pleasure of watching The Enfield Brass Band at Grange Park Methodist Church on Sunday 15th December for their Carols By Candlelight Carol Service. The church has some of the most amazing acoustics and they also have some wonderful Christmas decorations. I do have some pictures on our camera and will post them soon.

What I found most welcoming about the church is there was an introduction to each bible reading and we had a reflective prayer there after before singing each song/carol. It meant that people who don't know Jesus didn't feel overcome or overcrowded with information nor felt like they misunderstood the message of Christmas.

It is one of my favourite carol services to attend each year as not only am I proud of my husband playing the tuba but we always receive a warm welcome every time. This year was extra special for Duncan to play with the band as I was really poorly with my asthma last year so he couldn't get involved with any of the Christmas concerts then.

One of the songs we sung was 'The Angel Gabriel'. It's lyrics really ring true to what the Christmas story really is and what it means.

'The angel Gabriel from heaven came,

his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame.

All hail said he the lowly maiden Mary,

Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!'

I remember singing it as a child with the school choir at our nativity play. It is a Christmas Folk Carol native to the Basque Country and has the most amazing music.

There was also a beautiful piece played at the beginning by the resident Euphonium soloist in the band. It's called 'On Winter Hill'. I have never heard such a wonderful delicate piece before for Christmas. I took a video of it on our camera so will be putting it up on the Band's YouTube page in the new year.

I love brass at Christmas and I have various friends and family who love brass too. The only arrangement that I don't like to hear at Christmas is 'Christmas Bolero'. Sorry for fans out there but this version plus the original version of 'Bolero' I just haven't managed to get around liking them yet. Ask me again in a few years, I may have changed my mind.

I'll share some pictures too in the New Year.

Lily xxxx