Description
The title of this flugel horn solo derives from a 17th century English poem by Ben Johnson that begins ‘Drink to me only with thine eyes, and I will pledge with mine’. Its familiar melody is attributed to Colonel R. Mellish (1777-1817). This solo setting was written for the New York Staff Band in 1991. Within The Salvation Army church, the melody is associated with a religious lyric by William Drake Pennick (1884-1944) that begins ‘There is a holy hill of God, its heights by faith I see’. (The Song Book of The Salvation Army, No. 627).
The New York Staff Band recorded the solo on its 1992 CD, Under Three Flags (Triumphonic TRCD 1050).
View a follow-the-score video featuring Donald Spencer (Flugel Horn Soloist) with the New York Staff Band below:
