The Music Community of Victorian Worcester
Written by Albert Edward Bibbs
Some of my most enjoyable Musical moments were spent as a member of the "Worcester Vocal Union": a male voice Society of sixteen members, founded by Mr. Edward J. Spark, and which existed long enough to celebrate its twenty-first anniversary, by a dinner at the old Unicorn Hotel, which was later the offices of Berrows Worcester Journal.Among those at the time I joined were Harry Griffiths: 'Johnny' Power: Alfred Barry: Harry Gummery, the Artist: 'Johnny' Burgess: 'Father' Weavind: George Stephan: Fred Pedley: Chris Fleet: Stanley James, etc. and later members included G.E. Bateman: James Thorpe: R. Bradley: Edgar Cook: George Blandford: Will Spalding: Harry and George Large: Fred Pardoe: George Cullis: E.G. Coombs: Albert Gyngel, the Artist: Ted Lightowler: W.T. Potter: R. McBain, etc.
In the winter months they gave many concerts for deserving objects, with unvarying success, and in the summertime, it was the practice to visit outlying country pubs, when they sang to the delight of themselves, the country folk, and to invited friends. The singing was preceded by a supper of bread and cheese, beer and onions, so that in time they became known as the "Vocal Onions", and what merry times those were. In the evening it was usual to sing on the way home throughout the country lanes, the favorite marching song being, "up away, breaks the day". Among our visitors I especially remember Mr. Dyke of the 'Advertiser': Mr. H. Davey, of the 'Journal': 'Shakespeare' Smith and the late C.E. Pipe.
Dr. William Spark of Leeds sometimes came with us when on a visit to his brother, many is the yarn he told us. He was a good story teller, as those will remember who have read his 'Musical Memories'. There was one I call to mind. He was taking a Yorkshire Choir to Glasgow, and among the Glees to be sung was 'Hail Smiling Morn'. It was arranged for a local chorus to be present in the wings of the stage, and when the Yorkshiremen came to the words... "darkness flies away, flies away"... the Scotsmen were to echo the refrain. It sounded something like this...
"darkness flies away... (flees awa')... flies away (flees awa')"
... an effect the Doctor did not anticipate or approve of.
Written by Albert Edward Bibbs
Some of my most enjoyable Musical moments were spent as a member of the "Worcester Vocal Union": a male voice Society of sixteen members, founded by Mr. Edward J. Spark, and which existed long enough to celebrate its twenty-first anniversary, by a dinner at the old Unicorn Hotel, which was later the offices of Berrows Worcester Journal.Among those at the time I joined were Harry Griffiths: 'Johnny' Power: Alfred Barry: Harry Gummery, the Artist: 'Johnny' Burgess: 'Father' Weavind: George Stephan: Fred Pedley: Chris Fleet: Stanley James, etc. and later members included G.E. Bateman: James Thorpe: R. Bradley: Edgar Cook: George Blandford: Will Spalding: Harry and George Large: Fred Pardoe: George Cullis: E.G. Coombs: Albert Gyngel, the Artist: Ted Lightowler: W.T. Potter: R. McBain, etc.In the winter months they gave many concerts for deserving objects, with unvarying success, and in the summertime, it was the practice to visit outlying country pubs, when they sang to the delight of themselves, the country folk, and to invited friends. The singing was preceded by a supper of bread and cheese, beer and onions, so that in time they became known as the "Vocal Onions", and what merry times those were. In the evening it was usual to sing on the way home throughout the country lanes, the favorite marching song being, "up away, breaks the day". Among our visitors I especially remember Mr. Dyke of the 'Advertiser': Mr. H. Davey, of the 'Journal': 'Shakespeare' Smith and the late C.E. Pipe.
Dr. William Spark of Leeds sometimes came with us when on a visit to his brother, many is the yarn he told us. He was a good story teller, as those will remember who have read his 'Musical Memories'. There was one I call to mind. He was taking a Yorkshire Choir to Glasgow, and among the Glees to be sung was 'Hail Smiling Morn'. It was arranged for a local chorus to be present in the wings of the stage, and when the Yorkshiremen came to the words... "darkness flies away, flies away"... the Scotsmen were to echo the refrain. It sounded something like this...
"darkness flies away... (flees awa')... flies away (flees awa')"... an effect the Doctor did not anticipate or approve of.