The popular hymn ‘Mid all the Traffic marries the North-American folksong Shenandoah to lyrics by English journalist, novelist and poet William Arthur Dunkerley (written under the pseudonym of ‘John Oxenham’). The hymn is very well-regarded in both the Salvation Army and wider brass band movement thanks to a popular arrangement by renowned Salvationist composer Leonard Ballantine.

This setting of ‘Mid All The Traffic was originally composed during the Covid-19 pandemic as an octet arrangement for single instrument. The aim was to create an arrangement that offers an alternative harmonic view the original hymn melody and could be multi-track recorded; allowing performers to give, and share, a performance whilst in isolation. The arrangement was made freely available and is accessible as a free download:

The music was written in dedication to all of the ‘key-workers’ in the UK, especially those within the NHS, who worked tirelessly throughout difficult conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The work is now also available as an arrangement for full british-style brass band from BrookWright music.