The Salvation Army Musicals
In the 1960s, the Salvation Army began successfully to produce musicals itself. This would hardly have been possible without two musically talented officers. The musicals mostly have a spiritual message content.
"Take-over Bid" was the first musical written by John Gowans (script and text) and John Larsson (music). The two subsequently formed a legendary team and from 1967 to 1990, wrote ten successful musicals together.
When the musical "Hosea" was staged in London in 1967, John Lambert wrote in the "The London Evening News" newspaper: "London’s new musical is a hit, I just can not stop humming tunes from the show".
By the way, both were later appointed to the rank of General of The Salvation Army.
John Gowans (General from 1999 to 2002)
John Larsson (General from 2002 to 2006)
The following musicals were written by Gowans / Larsson until 1990:
Take-Over Bid (1967)
Hosea (1969)
Jesus Folk (1972)
Spirit (1973)
Glory! (1975)
White Rose (1977)
The Blood of the Lamb (1978)
Son of Man (1983)
Man Mark II (1985)
The Meeting (1990)
The musicals were performed in various countries and in some cases, records were released.
Some musicals were also performed in Switzerland, in which the vocalists were young Salvationists from Switzerland.
"When you got Salvation"
"I want to say yes"
Switzerland:
"Lass mi doch mit dir goh"
"Wenn Mensche no Erbarme kenne"