AS Christmas approaches, The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters Communications team is planning to release a video highlighting the movement’s vital and varied ministry at this important time of year. With a focus on Jesus – the everlasting light – the video will include the popular carol ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ as its soundtrack.
Salvation Army music groups are invited to record themselves playing this carol, the final production of which will feature parts of the tune played by a wide variety of contributors, all coming together to make a united whole. It does not matter whether the performance is by a traditional brass band, a contemporary worship group or using indigenous instruments. However, in order that the contributions can be edited together, musicians are asked to use the arrangement of the traditional tune ‘Forest Green’ in The Salvation Army’s New Christmas Praise carol book (No 59) or in the current Salvation Army tune book (No 149).
For consistency, the carol should be performed in G flat major (A flat major for B flat instruments; E flat major for E flat instruments) and at a tempo of 90 crotchet beats per minute.
Contributions should be filmed in widescreen HD (if shot on smartphones, the device should be aligned in landscape format). The microphone(s) should be arranged to avoid distracting ambient noise – not too close to the group, but ideally 1.5 to 3 metres away from the musicians.
Videos should be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo, and the URL emailed to IHQ-Communications@salvationarmy.org by Monday 15 December 2014. Care should be taken to ensure that everyone appearing in the submitted videos has given informed consent, and that parents/guardians give written permission for any under-18s to participate. Please also give details of the participants’ corps (church), country and territory plus, where appropriate, the name of the group.
Unfortunately, it's likely that not all submissions will be able to be used, but as well as potentially forming part of the IHQ production the films will be posted on social media. Contributors are encouraged to share their submissions with their own networks on Twitter and Facebook – tagged with the hashtag #MetInThee (from the last line of the first verse: ‘The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight’).
Report by Communications Section
International Headquarters
