The Music Community of Victorian Worcester
Written by Albert Edward Bibbs
At this same festival, Gounod's 'Redemption' was performed, and Cherubini's 'Mass in D minor', in which Mr. Boulcot Newth, and Mr. W.M. Dyson sustained the tenor parts. The orchestra, led by Mr. J.L. Carrodus, included Mr. E.W. Elgar (afterwards, Sir Edgar). He had appeared in the orchestra of the previous Festival in 1881, as first violin.
The Jubilee year of 1887, included Fredk. H. Cowen's oratorio 'Ruth' composed for this Festival, and Gounod's 'Redemption' was repeated. Mrs. Glowver Eaton took part in the double quartet in 'Elijah', and appropriately, Handel's 'Dettingen Te Deum' was sung at the opening service, together with 'Zadok the Priest'.
The 1890 Festival included Mr. Hugh Blair's 'Festal Jubilato' specially composed: and the beautiful cantata by C. Leo Williams, 'The last night at Bethany'. Also Dr. Bridges' 'The Repentance of Niniveh', the soloists being Madam Albani, Miss Hilda Wilson, Mr. Edward Lloyd, and Mr. Brereton: Mr. Lee Williams conducted for Mr. Done, whose last Festival this was.
In 1893 Mr. Hugh Blair assumed the conductorship for the first time and produced Parry's 'Job' with Mr. Plucket Greene in the name part: also Bach's 'Mass in B minor' and Handel's 'Israel in Egypt'. Mr. A. Burnet was now leading the orchestra.
For the Festival of 1896 conducted by Mr. Blair, was specially composed, 'The Light of Life' (Lux Christe) by Edward Elgar, the soloists being Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr. Watkin Mills, Miss Anna Williams, and Miss Jessie King. This was a memorable performance, the first of important works by the great Master. Verdi's 'Requiem' was sung, with Madam Albani, Mr. E. Lloyd and Watkin Mills as soloists. Also a short Cantata for Advent, 'Blessed are they who watch' composed by Mr. Hugh Blair, with Madam Albani as soloist.
click on thumb for bigger image
1899 was notable as being the first Festival conducted by Mr. Ivor Atkins (as he then was), and over which he still continues to preside. The programme included a repetition of Elgar's 'Lux Christi': Dvorak's 'Te Deum': and a work by the American composer, Mr. Horatio Parker, 'Hora Novissima', which had a fine performance under the composer's direction. ( A very charming man by the way). The soloists were Madam Albani, Miss Ada Crossly, Mr. E. Lloyd and Mr. Plunket Greene. 'A Harvest Song' by C. Lee Williams had as soloists two new comers, Miss Amy Sherwin, the Australian soprano, and Miss Muriel Foster, who later created such a success in Elgar's 'Dream of Gerontius'.
In passing, I might mention the Hereford Festival of 1900 saw the last appearance of Mr. Edward Lloyd, who gave each member of the chorus an autographed photograph of himself.
1902 saw the first performance at these Festivals of Elgar's 'Dream of Gerontius', conducted by the composer, the soloist being Miss Marie Brema, Mr. William Green, and Mr. Plucket Greene. 'The Temple' by H. Walford Davies also had its first (and nearly its last) performance. Mr. W. Frye Parker was now leader of the orchestra.
1905's Festival was conspicious for the production of 'Hymn of Faith' by Mr. Ivor Atkins, his first important work, the soloist being that glorious contralto, Miss Muriel Foster. It made a marked impression and congratulations were paid the composer. The programme included Elgar's 'The Apostles' which had been heard the previous year at Gloucester.
Written by Albert Edward Bibbs
At this same festival, Gounod's 'Redemption' was performed, and Cherubini's 'Mass in D minor', in which Mr. Boulcot Newth, and Mr. W.M. Dyson sustained the tenor parts. The orchestra, led by Mr. J.L. Carrodus, included Mr. E.W. Elgar (afterwards, Sir Edgar). He had appeared in the orchestra of the previous Festival in 1881, as first violin.The Jubilee year of 1887, included Fredk. H. Cowen's oratorio 'Ruth' composed for this Festival, and Gounod's 'Redemption' was repeated. Mrs. Glowver Eaton took part in the double quartet in 'Elijah', and appropriately, Handel's 'Dettingen Te Deum' was sung at the opening service, together with 'Zadok the Priest'.
The 1890 Festival included Mr. Hugh Blair's 'Festal Jubilato' specially composed: and the beautiful cantata by C. Leo Williams, 'The last night at Bethany'. Also Dr. Bridges' 'The Repentance of Niniveh', the soloists being Madam Albani, Miss Hilda Wilson, Mr. Edward Lloyd, and Mr. Brereton: Mr. Lee Williams conducted for Mr. Done, whose last Festival this was.
In 1893 Mr. Hugh Blair assumed the conductorship for the first time and produced Parry's 'Job' with Mr. Plucket Greene in the name part: also Bach's 'Mass in B minor' and Handel's 'Israel in Egypt'. Mr. A. Burnet was now leading the orchestra.
For the Festival of 1896 conducted by Mr. Blair, was specially composed, 'The Light of Life' (Lux Christe) by Edward Elgar, the soloists being Mr. Edward Lloyd, Mr. Watkin Mills, Miss Anna Williams, and Miss Jessie King. This was a memorable performance, the first of important works by the great Master. Verdi's 'Requiem' was sung, with Madam Albani, Mr. E. Lloyd and Watkin Mills as soloists. Also a short Cantata for Advent, 'Blessed are they who watch' composed by Mr. Hugh Blair, with Madam Albani as soloist.
click on thumb for bigger image
1899 was notable as being the first Festival conducted by Mr. Ivor Atkins (as he then was), and over which he still continues to preside. The programme included a repetition of Elgar's 'Lux Christi': Dvorak's 'Te Deum': and a work by the American composer, Mr. Horatio Parker, 'Hora Novissima', which had a fine performance under the composer's direction. ( A very charming man by the way). The soloists were Madam Albani, Miss Ada Crossly, Mr. E. Lloyd and Mr. Plunket Greene. 'A Harvest Song' by C. Lee Williams had as soloists two new comers, Miss Amy Sherwin, the Australian soprano, and Miss Muriel Foster, who later created such a success in Elgar's 'Dream of Gerontius'.
In passing, I might mention the Hereford Festival of 1900 saw the last appearance of Mr. Edward Lloyd, who gave each member of the chorus an autographed photograph of himself.
1902 saw the first performance at these Festivals of Elgar's 'Dream of Gerontius', conducted by the composer, the soloist being Miss Marie Brema, Mr. William Green, and Mr. Plucket Greene. 'The Temple' by H. Walford Davies also had its first (and nearly its last) performance. Mr. W. Frye Parker was now leader of the orchestra.
1905's Festival was conspicious for the production of 'Hymn of Faith' by Mr. Ivor Atkins, his first important work, the soloist being that glorious contralto, Miss Muriel Foster. It made a marked impression and congratulations were paid the composer. The programme included Elgar's 'The Apostles' which had been heard the previous year at Gloucester.