The Music Community of Victorian Worcester
Written by Albert Edward Bibbs
For a number of years I had been a member of the committe of the Festival Choral Society, and in 1908 I was appointed Hon. Secretary in succession to the popular Mr. J.W. Somerton, whose removal from Worcester was much regretted. The office of Superintendent of the Chorus, therefore, fell upon me in connection with the Festivals, and in that of 1908 was included Elgar's 'Dream of Gerontius', with the lamented Gervase Elwes as Gerontius, a part in which Mr. John Coates had also made a success. 'The Kingdom', which had been heard the year before at Gloucester, was also given, the soloists including Miss Agnes Nicholls, Mr. John Coates, and Mr. William Higley, a local singer: Atkins' 'Hymn of Faith' was again sung, and Sir Hubert Parry's 'Beyond these voices there is peace', composed for this Festival. I would like to refer to Elgar's 'Go Song of Mine', a chorus for six voices, first performed at Hereford in 1909, and perhaps the most beautiful thing of its kind ever written.
In 1910 Mr. W.H. Reed first appeared as leader of the orchestra at Gloucester, a position he has held ever since.
In 1911 Elgar's 'Go Song of Mine' was repeated, a never to be forgotten performance. His 'Symphony in E flat' and his violin concerts played by Fritz Kreisler were included, as well as the beautiful 'Five Mystical Songs' by R. Vaughan Williams, composed for this Festival. Madam Kirkby Lunn sang in 'Elijah', and this was the first time, she told me, she had sung this work in a sacred building.
In speaking of the Festivals in which I have taken part, I have refrained from referring to those at Hereford and Gloucester, with which for many years I was connected as a Chorus singer, those not being exactly Worcester memories. During my long connection with music, I have sung under most of the leading composers of the day, and engaged many artists in conversation. Their onerous life can be summed up in what Fritz Kreisler told me:
"Here am I in Worcester, tonight I go to Glasgow, and from there straight to Berlin: there is no rest for people like myself."
This is characteristic of an artist's life.
Written by Albert Edward Bibbs
For a number of years I had been a member of the committe of the Festival Choral Society, and in 1908 I was appointed Hon. Secretary in succession to the popular Mr. J.W. Somerton, whose removal from Worcester was much regretted. The office of Superintendent of the Chorus, therefore, fell upon me in connection with the Festivals, and in that of 1908 was included Elgar's 'Dream of Gerontius', with the lamented Gervase Elwes as Gerontius, a part in which Mr. John Coates had also made a success. 'The Kingdom', which had been heard the year before at Gloucester, was also given, the soloists including Miss Agnes Nicholls, Mr. John Coates, and Mr. William Higley, a local singer: Atkins' 'Hymn of Faith' was again sung, and Sir Hubert Parry's 'Beyond these voices there is peace', composed for this Festival. I would like to refer to Elgar's 'Go Song of Mine', a chorus for six voices, first performed at Hereford in 1909, and perhaps the most beautiful thing of its kind ever written.In 1910 Mr. W.H. Reed first appeared as leader of the orchestra at Gloucester, a position he has held ever since.
In 1911 Elgar's 'Go Song of Mine' was repeated, a never to be forgotten performance. His 'Symphony in E flat' and his violin concerts played by Fritz Kreisler were included, as well as the beautiful 'Five Mystical Songs' by R. Vaughan Williams, composed for this Festival. Madam Kirkby Lunn sang in 'Elijah', and this was the first time, she told me, she had sung this work in a sacred building.
In speaking of the Festivals in which I have taken part, I have refrained from referring to those at Hereford and Gloucester, with which for many years I was connected as a Chorus singer, those not being exactly Worcester memories. During my long connection with music, I have sung under most of the leading composers of the day, and engaged many artists in conversation. Their onerous life can be summed up in what Fritz Kreisler told me:
"Here am I in Worcester, tonight I go to Glasgow, and from there straight to Berlin: there is no rest for people like myself."This is characteristic of an artist's life.