SearchGetRecordBath and Somersetshire 1st Triennial Grand Musical Festival (1824)
Collection Summary
Collection Title
Bath and Somersetshire 1st Triennial Grand Musical Festival (1824)
Unique Identifier
Case 61.g.2.
Description
A collection comprising the prospectus, programmes and wordbooks for the three morning and three evening performances given between 15 and 18 June 1824 as the Bath and Somerset First Triennial Grand Musical Festival, held as a single bound volume with MS notes by Sir George Smart. Also included is a programme with words for an unrelated performance given at the Sydney Gardens Vauxhall, Bath on 18 June 1824.
The morning performances were given on 15, 16 and 18 June 1824 at the Abbey Church in Bath. The evening concerts were on 15, 16 and 17 June 1824 at the Theatre Royal (nos. 1 and 3) and the Assembly Rooms, Bath (no. 2).
The morning performance on 18 June consisted of Handel, The Messiah. Those on 15 and 16 June combined selections from Haydn, The Creation/Beethoven, The Mount of Olives with a miscellaneous act. The concert on 16 June also included a selection from an unpublished sacred poem called 'The Ark', written by the Rev. W. Lisle Bowles and set to music by C. W. Manners.
The evening performances were two-part miscellaneous concerts, consisting principally of vocal music but with orchestral overtures/symphonies at the beginning of each act and with occasional items of solo instrumental repertory.
There are a number of pieces described as being specially composed for these concerts or as receiving their first performance in this country.
The prospectus and programmes provide detailed information regarding the vocal and instrumental soloists (see below) and provide lists of the choral and orchestral ensembles, led by Mr Loder with Mr Field (organ) and conducted by Sir George Smart. The prospectus provides full listings of the Patrons and Stewards for the festival and prints the Festival regulations.
Vocal: Madame Catalani, Miss Love, and Mrs Salmon, Miss Wood, Miss George, and Master Wesley; Mr Braham, Mr Hawes, Mr Garbett, Mr A. Loder, Mr Manners, Mr Rolle, Mr Millar, Mr Phillips, and Mr Sapio.
Instrumental: Robert Lindley (cello), Mr Nicholson (flute) and Mr Wilmann (clarinet).
The choral forces were drawn from the singers belonging to the London Oratorios and to the choirs of Wells, Bristol and Salisbury Cathedrals, with support from the choristers of the Chapel Royal and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Many programmes contain annotations in Smart's hand. These record alterations to the printed programmes (particularly those arising from enforced changes to the personnel) and comment on the timings of the concert (complete and of individual pieces). They also include information regarding the standard of the performance (particularly the ill-effects of badly prepared parts), the reaction of the audience, and the works which were encored. There are also handwritten notes regarding a service at the Abbey Church on the morning of 17 June, for which Henry Field was at the organ.
The volume also contains a number of printed announcements relating to arrangements for the festival, many of which concern the ailments which prevented Madame Catalani from singing in the majority of these performances.
The volume concludes with a programme and words for a performance given at Sydney Gardens Vauxhall, Bath on 18 June 1824 with Mrs Gould, Mr Webber, Mr G. Loder, Mr Chubb and Mr Woulds (vocal) and a 'Full Military Band', under the direction of Mr Patton. The concert was in two parts and was primarily vocal, with a Grand Overture at the start of each act. The printed programme includes the order of firing for the fireworks which concluded the entertainment. Smart's annotations confirm that this had no connection with the Festival.
The morning performances were given on 15, 16 and 18 June 1824 at the Abbey Church in Bath. The evening concerts were on 15, 16 and 17 June 1824 at the Theatre Royal (nos. 1 and 3) and the Assembly Rooms, Bath (no. 2).
The morning performance on 18 June consisted of Handel, The Messiah. Those on 15 and 16 June combined selections from Haydn, The Creation/Beethoven, The Mount of Olives with a miscellaneous act. The concert on 16 June also included a selection from an unpublished sacred poem called 'The Ark', written by the Rev. W. Lisle Bowles and set to music by C. W. Manners.
The evening performances were two-part miscellaneous concerts, consisting principally of vocal music but with orchestral overtures/symphonies at the beginning of each act and with occasional items of solo instrumental repertory.
There are a number of pieces described as being specially composed for these concerts or as receiving their first performance in this country.
The prospectus and programmes provide detailed information regarding the vocal and instrumental soloists (see below) and provide lists of the choral and orchestral ensembles, led by Mr Loder with Mr Field (organ) and conducted by Sir George Smart. The prospectus provides full listings of the Patrons and Stewards for the festival and prints the Festival regulations.
Vocal: Madame Catalani, Miss Love, and Mrs Salmon, Miss Wood, Miss George, and Master Wesley; Mr Braham, Mr Hawes, Mr Garbett, Mr A. Loder, Mr Manners, Mr Rolle, Mr Millar, Mr Phillips, and Mr Sapio.
Instrumental: Robert Lindley (cello), Mr Nicholson (flute) and Mr Wilmann (clarinet).
The choral forces were drawn from the singers belonging to the London Oratorios and to the choirs of Wells, Bristol and Salisbury Cathedrals, with support from the choristers of the Chapel Royal and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Many programmes contain annotations in Smart's hand. These record alterations to the printed programmes (particularly those arising from enforced changes to the personnel) and comment on the timings of the concert (complete and of individual pieces). They also include information regarding the standard of the performance (particularly the ill-effects of badly prepared parts), the reaction of the audience, and the works which were encored. There are also handwritten notes regarding a service at the Abbey Church on the morning of 17 June, for which Henry Field was at the organ.
The volume also contains a number of printed announcements relating to arrangements for the festival, many of which concern the ailments which prevented Madame Catalani from singing in the majority of these performances.
The volume concludes with a programme and words for a performance given at Sydney Gardens Vauxhall, Bath on 18 June 1824 with Mrs Gould, Mr Webber, Mr G. Loder, Mr Chubb and Mr Woulds (vocal) and a 'Full Military Band', under the direction of Mr Patton. The concert was in two parts and was primarily vocal, with a Grand Overture at the start of each act. The printed programme includes the order of firing for the fireworks which concluded the entertainment. Smart's annotations confirm that this had no connection with the Festival.
Format
Date range of collection
1824 - 1824
Accumulation Dates
-
Suggested Audience
Not Specific
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Associated Times
This collection is about
Location Details
British Library
The British Library
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London
NW1 2DB United Kingdom Open Map
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Collections Overview
The Library's collection of song and piano sheet music is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, providing a valuable insight into Victorian society and culture as well as the music itself.
For details of other collections held at the same location: See the location record
Additional Collection Information
Accrual Status
Closed
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