SearchGetRecordBirmingham Triennial Musical Festival (1817-1909)
Collection Summary
Collection Title
Birmingham Triennial Musical Festival (1817-1909)
Unique Identifier
7894.s.1.
Description
Prospectuses, programmes and wordbooks for the Birmingham Triennial Musical Festival, 1817 to 1909, bound as thirteen volumes.
Each Festival consisted of morning and evening performances. The former relied primarily on oratorio compositions, typically with one work per concert but with a growing number of ‘selections’ in later years. The evening concert began as two-part ‘miscellaneous concerts’ but increasingly came to include some oratorio performances.
Until the end of the 1829 season, the morning performances were held in St. Philip’s Church and the evening concerts in Theatre Royal. Unless otherwise stated below, all performances from 1832 were given in the Town Hall.
Volume 1 (1817-23)
Miscellaneous programmes for the Festival of 1817 and 1820 with a complete set of programmes and wordbooks for 1823.
At least one programme from the 1820 and 1823 Festivals includes lists of the Patrons for the event and lists of the orchestral ensemble, led by Messrs Cramer, Mori and Spagnoletti (1823 only) and conducted by Thomas Greatorex. All programmes/wordbooks list the vocal soloists performing.
1817
An undated wordbook for Handel, The Messiah and a programme and wordbook for a Grand Selection of Sacred Music given on the morning of 3 October. The former bears some handwritten annotations noting changes to the printed list of performers.
3-6 October 1820
Programmes and wordbooks for the Grand Opening Service, two morning performances, and one evening concert.
Vocal: Mrs Salmon, Miss D. Travis and Madame Vestris; Signora Corri, Miss Symonds, Miss J. Fletcher and Miss Stephens; Mr Vaughan, Mr W. Knyvett, Messrs. Beale, Evans, Whall and Signor Begrez; Mr Bellamy, Messrs King, Goulding and Signor Ambrogetti.
Morning
3/10: Grand Opening Service
4/10: Haydn, The Seasons; Grand Selection of Sacred Music.
[5/10]: Handel, The Messiah
Evening
6/10: Grand Miscellaneous Concert.
7-10 October 1823
Vocal: Madame Catalani, Mrs Salmon and Miss Stephens; Miss Travis, Miss Symonds, Miss Fletcher, Miss Heaton; Mr Braham and Mr Vaughan; Signor Placci, Messrs Evans, Golding, Whall, T. Greatorex, Gattie, Blackbourne and Thorne; Mr Knyvett and Mr Bellamy.
Morning: 7-10 October, the first being a Full Cathedral Service and that on 9 October being Handel, The Messiah.
Evening: 7, 8 and 10 October, all described as Miscellaneous Concerts
The programme for the first morning performance incorporates a handwritten letter from the Festival committee.
Volume 2 (1826-34)
The first programme for each Festival includes lists of the Patrons, of the principal vocal performers and of the orchestral ensemble engaged. That for 1834 also includes list of the choral singers.
The Festivals of 1829 and 1829 were conducted by Thomas Greatorex and that in 1834 by Mr Knyvett. Franz Cramer appeared as one of the leaders at each of the three Festivals, being joined by Mr Weichsel in 1829 and 1834: additional leaders are listed below.
3-6 October 1826
Madame Caradori, Miss Stephens, Miss Paton, Miss D. Travis, Miss Bacon, Miss Heaton, Miss S. Travis, Miss Clough and Mrs Wilde; Mr Braham, Mr Knyvett, Mr Bellamy, Mr Phillips, Mr Vaughan, Messrs J. Evans, Goulden, T. Greatorex, Whall, Signor Curioni and Signor de Begnis (vocal), with Mr J. B. Cramer (piano), Mr Lindley (cello) and Mr Nicholson (flute), led by Messrs Kiesewetter and De Beriot.
Morning:
3 October: Full Cathedral Service
4 and 6 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
5 October: Handel, The Messiah
Evening: 3 and 4 October, both described as Miscellaneous Concerts.
6-9 October 1829
Madame Malibran Garcia, Miss Paton, Mrs Knyvett, Miss Fanny Ayton and Mademoiselle Blasis; Mr Braham, Mr Knyvett, Mr Vaughan, Signor Costa, Signor Giubilei, Signor de Begnis, Mr Bellamy and Mr Phillips (vocal), with Mon. De Beriot (violin), Mrs Anderson (piano), Mr Lindley (cello) and Mr Nicholson (flute).
Morning:
6 October: Full Cathedral Service
7 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
8 October: Handel, Messiah
9 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
Evening:
6 and 8 October: Operatic Selections
7 and 9 October: Miscellaneous Concerts
7-10 October 1834
Madame Caradori, Madame Stockhausen, Mrs Knyvett and Miss Clara Novello; Mr Braham, Signor Curioni, Mr Vaughan and Mr Horncastle; Mr Hawkins and Mr Terrail; Mr Phillips, Mr Machin, Mr Bellamy and Mr Taylor (vocal), with Mr Moscheles (piano), Mr Lindley (cello), The Chevalier Neukomm (organ) and Mr Stockhausen (harp), led by Messrs Mori and Loder.
Morning
7 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
8 October: including Neukomm, David (composed for the Festival)
9 October: Handel, Messiah
10 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
Evening
7, 8 and 9 October, with the second being an Operatic Selection, held at the Theatre Royal.
Volume 3 (1837-43)
At least one programme for the 1837 and 1840 events includes list of the choral and orchestral ensemble (led by Messrs Cramer and Loder and conducted by Mr Knyvett) and cites the vocal and instrumental soloists. All wordbooks also indicate performers for specific pieces.
During the 1837 and 1840 seasons, all morning performances except that devoted to Handel, Messiah, combined the oratorio listed below with a ‘miscellaneous selection’.
19-22 September 1837 (missing that for final evening performance)
Madame Grisi and Madame Albertazzi; Signor Tamburini, Signor Curioni, Signor Giubilei; Mrs Knyvett, Mrs A. Shaw and Miss C. Novello; Mr Bennett, Mr Hobbs and Mr Vaughan; Mr H. Phillips, Mr Machin, Mr Hawkins and Mr J. A. Novello (vocal) with Mon. Mendelssohn (piano/organ), Mr Lindley (cello) and Master Giulio Regondi (concertina). Also, Mr Mori (additional leader).
Morning
19 September: Chevalier Neukomm, the Ascension (first English performance, conducted by the composer)
20 September: Mendelssohn, St Paul
21 September: Handel, The Messiah
22 September: A. F. Haeser, The Triumph of Faith (first English performance)
Evening
19 and 21 September: First and Second Miscellaneous Concert
20 September, Theatre Royal: The Opera of Semiramide and a miscellaneous selection
22-25 September 1840
Madame Dorus Gray, Madame Caradori Allan and Mrs Knyvett; Miss Birch and Miss Maria B. Hawes; Signor Lablache, Mr Braham and Mr H. Phillips; Signor Musatti and Mr Vaughan; Mr Machin, Signor F. Lablache, Mr Pearsall and Mr Young (vocal) with Signor Emiliani (violin), Dr Mendelssohn (piano and organ) and Mr Lindley (cello).
Morning
22 September: [Handel], Israel in Egypt
23 September: [Handel], Joshua (selection); Mendelssohn, Lobgesang
24 September: Handel, The Messiah
25 September: Oratorio of Jeptha
Evening:
22 and 24 September: First and Second Miscellaneous Concert
23 September, Theatre Royal: La Gazza Ladra and La Prova
1843
Morning
19 September: Rossini, Stabat Mater and Handel, Deborah
20 September: Dr Croft [Crotch?], Palestine, and a selection of sacred music
21 September: Handel, The Messiah
Evening (all at the Theatre Royal)
19 September: Rossini, The Lady of the Lake, and a miscellaneous selection
20 September: Bellini, Norma and a miscellaneous selection
21 September: Grand Miscellaneous Concert
Volume 4 (1846-52)
Programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1849 and 1852, with an individual programme and wordbook for a performance of Mendelssohn, Elijah given on 26 August 1846. At least one of the programmes for 1849 and 1852 includes a list of the choral and orchestral ensemble (led by Monsieur Sainton and conducted by Mr Costa) and cites the vocal and instrumental soloists.
4-7 September 1849
Madame Sontag, Madame Castellan, Miss A. Williams, Miss Stevens, Mademoiselle Jetty de Treffz and Miss Catherine Hayes; Mademoiselle Alboni, Mademoiselle de Meric and Miss M. Willams; Signor Mario, Signor Calzolari, Mr T. Williams and Mr Sims Reeves, Herr Pischek, Signor F. Lablache, Mr Machin and Signor Lablache (vocal), with Monsieur Thalberg (piano) and Messrs Wesley, Stimpson, Simms and E. Chipp (organ).
Morning
4 September: Mendelssohn, Elijah
5 September: Mendelssohn, Athalie; Selection
6 September: Handel, The Messiah
7 September: Handel, Israel in Egypt
Evening
4, 5 and 6 September: Miscellaneous Concerts
7-10 September 1852
Madame Viardot Garcia, Madame Castellan, Mademoiselle Anna Zerr, Miss Dolby, Mademoiselle Bertrandi, Miss M. Williams and Madame Clara Novello; Signor Tamberlik, Herr Formes, Mr Lockey, Mr Weiss, Mr T. Williams, Signor Polonini, Mr Simms Reeves and Signor Belletti (vocal) with Signor Piatti (cello), Signor Bottesini (double bass), Herr Kuhe (piano) and Mr Stimpsn (organ).
Morning
7 September: Mendelssohn, Elijah
[8 September]: Mendelssohn, Wesley and Haydn.
[9 September]: Handel, The Messiah
10 September: Handel, Samson
Evening
All were described as Miscellaneous Concerts, including the following works.
7 September: Mendelssohn, First Walpurgis Night
8 September: Mendelssohn, Loreley
9 September: Beethoven, Grand Choral Symphony in D minor
Volume 5 (1855, 1858)
A complete set of programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1855 and 1858.
In each case, the pattern of the morning performances was as follows:
i) Mendelssohn, Elijah; ii) Costa, Eli; iii) Handel, The Messiah; iv) A Grand Selection (see below for specific pieces).
All evening performances were described as Grand Miscellaneous Concerts and all included one or more main work(s) (see below).
The first programme for each Festival includes a list of the Patrons of the Festival, a record of donations made, and a table of the amount raised by previous events. There is also, a picture of the concert venue and a short statement concerning the Birmingham General Hospital.
There is detailed information regarding the vocal soloists and lists of the choral and orchestral ensemble, led by Messrs Sainton and Blagrove with Mr Stimpson (organ) and conducted by Mr Costa.
All programmes include introductory programme notes (predominantly historical), those for 1855 being signed by G. A. Macfarren.
Bound with the programmes for both years are documents entitled ‘The Birmingham Festival: a series of papers published in “Aris’s Birmingham Gazette”’, the first of these being attributed to George Hogarth. These include reports on various aspects of the Festival, including a large amount of historical discussion.
28-31 August 1855
Vocal: Madame Grisi, Mademoiselle Angiolina Bosio, Madame Rudersdorkk and Madame Castellan; Miss Dolby and Madame Viardot Garcia; Signor Mario, Signor Gardoni, Herr Reichardt and Mr Sims Reeves; Signor Lablache, Mr Weiss and Herr Formes.
Morning: 28-31 August, the final performance featuring the following works: Beethoven, Mount of Olives; Mozart, Requiem; and Handel, Israel in Egypt (selection).
Evening
28 August: G. A. Macfarren, Lenora
29 August: Mendelssohn, Italian Symphony and Loreley
30 August: Beethoven, Pastoral Symphony
31 August and 1-3 September 1858
Vocal: Madame Clara Novello, Mademoiselle Victoire Balfe and Madame Castellan; Madame Alboni, Miss Dolby and Madame Viardot Garcia; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Montem Smith and Signor Tamberlick; Signor Ronconi, Mr Weiss and Signor Belletti (vocal).
Morning
31 August and 1-3 September, the final performance featuring the following works: Henry Leslie, Judith; Mendelssohn, Lauda Sion; Beethoven, Service in C
Evening
31 August: Handel, Acis and Galatea
1 September: Mendelssohn, ‘The the Sons of Art’
2 September: Costa, The Dream
Volume 6 (1861-67)
Prospectuses, programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1961, 1964 and 1967. Documentation for all events includes lists of the Patrons of the Festival, details regarding the principal vocal and instrumental soloists, and lists of the choral and orchestral ensemble, led by Messrs Sainton and Blagrove (not 1867), with Mr Stimpson (organ) and conducted by Mr Costa.
Also, a brief statement concerning the Birmingham General Hospital and a photo of the concert venue (not 1864)
All programmes/wordbooks contain brief historical and descriptive programme notes.
27-30 August 1961
Complete set of programmes and wordbooks, with the first programme including the additional information listed above. Accompanying the list of principal performers are the signatures of these.
Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Rudersdorff, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Adelina Patti; Madame Sainton Dolby and Miss Palmer; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Montem Smith and Signor Giuglini; Mr Santley and Signor Belletti (vocal) with Miss Arabella Goddard (piano).
Morning
27 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
28 August: Handel, Samson
29 August: Handel, The Messiah
30 August: Beethoven, Grand Service in D; Hummel, Alma Virgo; Handel, Israel in Egypt
Evening
27 and 30 August, Town Hall: Miscellaneous Concerts
28 August: Haydn, The Creation
30 August: Handel, Judas Maccabeus
6-9 September 1864
Prospectus with programmes for the Festival of 6-9 September 1864. Also, separate programmes and wordbooks for concerts on 7 (evening) and 9 (morning) September.
Vocal: Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Rudersdorff, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Adelina Patti; Madame Sainton Dolby and Miss Palmer; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr W. H. Cummings and Signor Mario; Mr Santley and Mr Weiss
Madame Arabella Goddard (piano)
Morning:
6 September: Mendelssohn, Saint Paul
7 September: Costa, Naaman (composed expressly for the occasion)
8 September: Handel, The Messiah
9 September: Beethoven, Mount of Olives; Handel, Solomon (selection)
Evening:
6 and 8 September: A Miscellaneous Concert
7 September: A Grand Classical Concert
9 September: Mendelssohn, Elijah
27-30 August 1967
Prospectus with programmes and complete set of programmes and wordbooks for the Festival of 1967.
Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Christine Nilsson; Madame Sainton-Dolby and Madame Patey Whytock; Mr Sims Reeves and Mr W. H. Cummings; Mr Santley and Mr Weiss (vocal), with Madame Arabella Goddard (piano)
Morning
27 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
28 August, Town Hall: W. S. Bennett, The Woman of Samaria; Handel, Judas Maccabeus
29 August: Handel, Messiah
30 August, Town Hall: Gounod, Messe Solennelle; Handel, Israel in Egypt
Evening
27 August, Town Hall: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. Handel, Alexander’s Feast
28 August, Town Hall: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. J. Benedict, The Legend of St. Cecilia
29 August: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. John Francis Barnett, The Ancient Mariner
30 August: Mendelssohn, St. Paul
Volume 7 (1870, 1873)
Prospectuses (with programmes) and complete sets of programmes and wordbooks for the 30th and 31st Birmingham Festivals held in 1870 and 1873.
Both prospectuses include a list of the Patrons of the Festival and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, led by Mr Sainton, with Mr Stimpson (organ) and conducted by Michael Costa. Also, a brief statement regarding the Birmingham General Hospital, a picture of the concert venue, and a copy of the General Arrangements for the Festival.
The majority of the programmes include introductory notes of a historical and descriptive nature, with that for 31 August 1870 (morning) carrying extensive analytical notes (including musical examples).
The first three evening performances of each Festival were described as Miscellaneous Concerts, including the works cited below:
30-31 August and 1-2 September 1870
Mademoiselle Tietiens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington, Miss Edith Wynne and Mademoiselle Ilma de Murska; Madame Patey and Mademoiselle Drasdil; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Vernon Rigby and Mr W. H. Cummings; Mr Santley and Signor Foli (vocal) with Arabella Goddard (piano)
Bound with the documentation for this season is a list of the donations made to the Festival, a copy of the receipts/summary of the accounts for the event, and a diagram/seating plan of the Town Hall.
Morning
30 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
31 August: Costa, Naaman
1 September: Handel, Messiah
2 September: Jules Benedict, St Peter (first time of performance); Mozart, Requiem
Evening
30 August: John Francis Barnett, Paradise and the Peri (composed expressly for this Festival)
31 August: Prof. R. P. Stewart, Ode to Shakespeare (new cantata)
1 September: Ferdinand Hiller, Nala and Damayanti (new cantata)
2 September: Handel, Samson
26-29 August 1973
Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Albani; Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli Bettini; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Vernon Rigby and Mr W. H. Cummings; Mr Santley and Signor Foli (vocal)
Morning
26 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
27 August: Arthur S. Sullivan, The Light of the World (first performance)
28 August: Handel, The Messiah
29 August: Spohr, God, Thou Art Great; Haydn, Mass No. 3; Handel, Israel in Egypt (selections). Also, first performances of two choral pieces by Rossini
Evening
26 August: F. Schira, The Lord of Burleigh (new cantata, composed for the Festival)
27 August: Beethoven, Symphony in C minor; Rossini, National Hymn (first English performance)
28 August: Alberto Randegger, Fridolin (a dramatic cantata, composed expressly for the Festival)
29 August: Handel, Judas Maccabeus
Volume 8 (1876, 1879)
Prospectuses and complete sets of programmes and wordbooks (with programme notes) for the 32nd and 33rd Birmingham Festivals (1876 and 1879).
Both prospectuses begin with the following: a list of the Patrons of the Festival; a list of the donations received; a short statement regarding the Birmingham General Hospital; a picture of the concert venue; lists of the choral and orchestral ensemble, led by Mr Sainton with Mr Stimpson (organ) and conducted by Sir Michael Costa.
Bound at the end of the documentation for each seasons are: lists of the Officers of the Festival; financial statements/accounts; seating plans for the Town Hall; and General Arrangements for the Festival
The first three evening performances of each season were described as Miscellaneous Concerts and featured the works listed below.
29-31 August and 1 September 1796
Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Albani; Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli Bettini; Mr Vernon Rigby and Mr Edward Lloyd; Mr Santley, Mr Cecil Tovey and Signor Foli.
Morning
29 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
30 August: Mendelssohn, Hear My Prayer; Hummel, Alma Virgo; G. A. Macfarren, The Resurrection (composed expressly for the Festival and conducted by the composer)
31 August: Handel, Messiah
1 September: Spohr, The Last Judgement; Wagner, Scriptural Scene; Beethoven, Grand Service in C.
Evening
29 August: F. H. Cowen, Dramatic Cantata, The Corsair (composed expressly for the Festival)
30 August: Niels W. Gade, Cantata ‘Zion’ (first performance/composed expressly for the Festival)
31 August: Niels W. Gade, The Crusaders
1 September: Mendelssohn, St. Paul
26-29 August 1879
Madame Lemmens Sherrington, Miss Anna Williams and Madame Gerster, Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli; Mr Vernon Rigby, Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr Joseph Maas and Mr W. H. Cummings; Mr Santley and Herr Henschel (vocal)
Morning
26 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
27 August: Rossini, Moses in Egypt
28 August: Handel, The Messiah
29 August: Cherubini, Requiem; Mendelssohn, Hymn of Praise
Evening
26 August: Max Bruch, Cantata, The Lay of the Bell
27 August: Beethoven, Symphony No. 7
28 August: Saint Saens, The Lyre and the Harp
29 August: Handel, Israel in Egypt
Volume 9 (1882, 1885)
Prospectuses, programmes and wordbooks (with programme notes) for the 34th and 35th Birmingham Musical Festivals, held in 1882 and 1885 in the Town Hall Birmingham. Prospectuses for both Festivals begin with lists of the Patrons of the Festival and of the choral and orchestral ensembles, with Mr Stimpson (organ). Also, General Arrangements for the Festival.
The documentation for 1882 includes a handwritten letter to Sir Michael Costa regarding the dates for the Festival and a newspaper cutting containing a financial summary of the event.
The programmes for the 1885 season include analytical notes, with musical examples, the majority written by Joseph Bennett.
The first three evening performances of each Festival were described as Miscellaneous Concerts, including the works listed below (all cantatas)
29-31 August and 1 September 1882
Madame Albani, Miss Anna Williams, Miss Eleanor Farnol and Madame Marie Roze; Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli; Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr W. H. Cummings and Mr Joseph Maas; Mr Santley, Mr F. King and Signor Foli (vocal), led by Mr Sainton and conducted by Sir Michael Costa
Morning
29 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
30 August: Gounod, The Redemption
31 August: Handel, The Messiah
1 September: Mozart, Symphony in G minor; Cherubini, Fourth Mass; Beethoven, The Mount of Olives
Evening
29 August: Benedict, Graziella
30 August: Gaul, The Holy City
31 August: Gade, Psyche
1 September: Gounod, The Redemption
25-28 August 1885
Madame Albani, Mrs Hutchinson and Miss Anna Williams; Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli; Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr C. Wade and Mr Joseph Maas; Mr Santley, Mr F. King, Mr Watkin Mills and Signor Foli (vocal) with Senor Sarasate (violin), led by Mr A. Burnett and conducted by Herr Richter.
Morning
25 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
26 August: Gounod, Mors et Vita
27 August: Handel, The Messiah
28 August: Stanford, The Three Holy Children; Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
Evening
25 August: Cowen, Sleeping Beauty
26 August: Anderton, Yule Tide. Also, Prout, Symphony No. 3 in F major (composed for the Festival)
27 August: Dvorak, The Spectre’s Bride
28 August: Gounod, Mors et Vita
Volume 10 (1888, 1891)
Prospectuses with programmes and complete sets of individual programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1888 and 1891. The prospectuses begin with a brief historical introduction regarding the Festival and carry lists of the various committee members and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, conducted by Hans Richter with Mr C. W. Perkins (organ).
The programmes contain historical, descriptive and analytical notes, with musical examples.
The material for the 1888 festival bears the signatures of some of the leading performers. It concludes with a copy of the General Directions for the Festival and with a seating plan of the Town Hall.
28-31 August 1888
Madame Albani, Miss Ambler, Miss Anna Williams, Madame Patey, Madame Trebelli, Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr Piercy, Mr Banks, Mr Santley, Mr Brereton and Signor Foli (vocal) with Miss Fanny Davies (piano).
Morning
28/8: Mendelssohn, Elijah
29/8: Parry, Judith
30/8: Handel, The Messiah
31/8: Bach, Magnificat
Evening
The first three evening performances were described as Miscellaneous Concert, their first part consisting of the extended work listed below.
28/8: Dvorak, Stabat Mater
29/8: Sullivan, The Golden Legend
30/8: J. F. Bridge, New Cantata ‘Callirhöe’
31/8: Handel, Saul.
6-9 October 1891
Madame Albani, Miss Anna Williams, Mrs Brereton and Miss Macintyre, Miss Hilda Wilson and Madame Hope Glenn, Mr Edward Lloyd and Mr Iver McKay, Mr Santley, Mr Watkin Mills, Mr Brereton and Mr Henschel (vocal) with Dr Joachin (violin).
Morning
6/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
7/10: Bach, St. Matthew Passion
8/10: Handel, Messiah
9/10: Dvorak, Requiem Mass (composed expressly for this Festival)
Evening
6/10: Miscellaneous, inc. A. C. Mackenzie, New Cantata, Veni Creator Spiritus (composed for this Festival)
7/10: Stanford, New Dramatic Oratorio, Eden (first performance)
8/10: Miscellaneous Concert
9/10: Berlioz, Faust
Volume 11 (1894, 1897)
Prospectuses (with programmes) and sets of programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1894 and 1897.
The prospectuses begin with a brief historical introduction regarding the Festival and carry lists of the various committee members and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, conducted by Hans Richter with Mr C. W. Perkins (organ).
The programmes contain historical, descriptive and analytical notes, with musical examples, contributed by Joseph Bennett, C.A.B and George Grove.
The material for the 1897 begins with signatures from some of the performers.
2-5 October 1894
Madame Albani, Mrs Henschel and Miss Anna Williams, Miss Hilda Wilson, Miss Marie Brema and Madame Marian McKenzie, Mr Edward Lloyd and Mr Iver McKay, Mr Andrew Black, Mr Eugene Oudin, Mr Brereton and Mr Henschel (vocal).
Morning
2/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
3/10: Parry, King Saul (composed expressly for this Festival)
4/10: Handel, Messiah
5/10: Cherubini, Massin D minor; selections
Evening
2/10: First Miscellaneous Concert, inc. first Birmingham performance of Berlioz, Te Deum
3/10: Goring Thomas, The Swain and the Skylark (first performance); Sullivan, Overture ‘In Memoriam’; Mendelssohn, Hymn of Praise
4/10: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. G. Henschel, Stabat Mater (first performance)
5/10: Wagner, Overture ‘Tannhauser’; Schumann, Faust – Part III; Beethoven, Symphony No. 9.
5-8 October 1897
Madame Albani, Miss Evangeline Florence, Miss Hilda Foster and Miss Anna Williams, Miss Marie Brema and Miss Ada Crossley, Mr George May, Mr Edward Lloyd and Mr Ben Davies, Mr Andrew Black, Mr Plunket Greene and Mr Bispham (vocal).
Morning
5/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
6/10: Stanford, Requiem (first performance); Bach, O Light Everlasting
7/10: Handel, Messiah
8/10: Schubert, Mass in E flat; Parry, Job
Evening
5/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including the first performance of E. German, Symphonic Poem ‘Hamlet’.
6/10: Purcell, King Arthur; selection
7/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including Arthur Somervell, An Ode to the Sea (composed expressly for the Festival)
8/10: Berlioz, Faust
Volume 12 (1900, 1903)
Prospectuses (with programmes) and sets of programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1900 and 1903.
The prospectuses begin with a brief historical introduction regarding the Festival and carry lists of the various committee members and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, conducted by Hans Richter with Mr C. W. Perkins (organ).
The programmes contain historical, descriptive and analytical notes, with musical examples, contributed by Joseph Bennett, C.A.B and George Grove.
The material for the 1900 begins with signatures from some of the performers.
2-5 October 1900
Madame Albani, Miss Evangeline Florence and Miss Esther Palliser, Miss Marie Brema, Miss Ada Crossley and Miss Clara Butt, Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr W. Green and Mr Ben Davies, Mr Andrew Black, Mr Plunket Green and Mr Bispham (vocal)
Morning
2/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
3/10: Elgar, The Dream of Gerontius; Schubert, Symphony ‘Unfinished’; Handel, Israel in Egypt (selections)
4/10: Bach, St. Matthew Passion
5/10: Brahms, A German Requiem; selections
Evening
2/10: Miscellaneous Concert
3/10: S. Coleridge-Taylor, Song of Hiawatha
4/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including Dvorak, The Spectre’s Bride
5/10: Handel, Messiah
Signatures
13-16 October 1903
Madame Albani and Miss Agnes Nicholls, Madame Clara Butt, Miss Muriel Foster and Madame Kirkby Lunn, Mr Ben Davies, Mr William Green and Mr John Coates, Mr Andrew Black, Mr Kennerley Rumford and Mr Ffrangcon-Davies (vocal)
Morning
13/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
14/10: Elgar, The Apostles (first performance, conducted by the composer)
15/10: Handel, Messiah
16/10: Bach, Mass in B minor
Evening:
All miscellaneous concerts, including the extended works cited below
13/10: Stanford, Ballad for Solos, Chorus and Orchestra, ‘The Voyage of Maeldune
14/10: Sullivan, The Golden Legend
15/10:
16/10: Bruckner, Te Deum (first performance in England)
Volume 13 (1906, 1909)
Prospectus with programmes for the Festival of 1906 and complete sets of programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1906 and 1909.
The prospectus begins with a brief historical introduction regarding the Festival and carry lists of the various committee members and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, conducted by Hans Richter with Mr C. W. Perkins (organ).
The programmes contain historical, descriptive and analytical notes, with musical examples, contributed by Joseph Bennett, C.A.B and George Grove and A. J. Jaeger.
The material for the 1906 begins with signatures from some of the performers.
2-5 October 1906
Madame Albani, Miss Gleeson-White and Miss Agnes Nicholls, Madame Ada Crossley and Miss Muriel Foster, Mr John Coates, Mr John Harrison and Mr William Green, Mr Ffrangcon Davies, Mr William Higley, Mr Dalton Baker, Mr Charles Clark and Mr Robert Radford (vocal) with Mischa Elman (violin).
Morning
2/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
3/10: Elgar, The Kingdom (first performance, conducted by the composer)
4/10: Handel, Messiah
5/10: Beethoven, Mass in D; selection including the first English performance of Christian Ritter, Alto Cantata, O amantissime sponse Jesu
Evening
2/10: Elgar, The Apostles (conducted by the composer)
3/10: Miscellaneous, including the first performance of Josef Holbrooke, The Bells and Percy Pitt, Sinfonietta in G minor
4/10: Misc, inc. Granville Bantock, Omar Khayyam (composed expressly for this Festival)
5/10: Miscellaneous
5-8 October 1909
Morning
5/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
6/10: Elgar, The Dream of Gerontius; selection
7/10: Handel, Judas Maccabaeus
8/10: miscellaneous inc. Cherubini, Mass in C
Evening
5/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including the first performance of Rutland Boughton, Midnight
6/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including Dvorak, Stabat Mater
7/10: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. Granville Bantock, Omar Khayyam
8/10: Berlioz, Faust
Each Festival consisted of morning and evening performances. The former relied primarily on oratorio compositions, typically with one work per concert but with a growing number of ‘selections’ in later years. The evening concert began as two-part ‘miscellaneous concerts’ but increasingly came to include some oratorio performances.
Until the end of the 1829 season, the morning performances were held in St. Philip’s Church and the evening concerts in Theatre Royal. Unless otherwise stated below, all performances from 1832 were given in the Town Hall.
Volume 1 (1817-23)
Miscellaneous programmes for the Festival of 1817 and 1820 with a complete set of programmes and wordbooks for 1823.
At least one programme from the 1820 and 1823 Festivals includes lists of the Patrons for the event and lists of the orchestral ensemble, led by Messrs Cramer, Mori and Spagnoletti (1823 only) and conducted by Thomas Greatorex. All programmes/wordbooks list the vocal soloists performing.
1817
An undated wordbook for Handel, The Messiah and a programme and wordbook for a Grand Selection of Sacred Music given on the morning of 3 October. The former bears some handwritten annotations noting changes to the printed list of performers.
3-6 October 1820
Programmes and wordbooks for the Grand Opening Service, two morning performances, and one evening concert.
Vocal: Mrs Salmon, Miss D. Travis and Madame Vestris; Signora Corri, Miss Symonds, Miss J. Fletcher and Miss Stephens; Mr Vaughan, Mr W. Knyvett, Messrs. Beale, Evans, Whall and Signor Begrez; Mr Bellamy, Messrs King, Goulding and Signor Ambrogetti.
Morning
3/10: Grand Opening Service
4/10: Haydn, The Seasons; Grand Selection of Sacred Music.
[5/10]: Handel, The Messiah
Evening
6/10: Grand Miscellaneous Concert.
7-10 October 1823
Vocal: Madame Catalani, Mrs Salmon and Miss Stephens; Miss Travis, Miss Symonds, Miss Fletcher, Miss Heaton; Mr Braham and Mr Vaughan; Signor Placci, Messrs Evans, Golding, Whall, T. Greatorex, Gattie, Blackbourne and Thorne; Mr Knyvett and Mr Bellamy.
Morning: 7-10 October, the first being a Full Cathedral Service and that on 9 October being Handel, The Messiah.
Evening: 7, 8 and 10 October, all described as Miscellaneous Concerts
The programme for the first morning performance incorporates a handwritten letter from the Festival committee.
Volume 2 (1826-34)
The first programme for each Festival includes lists of the Patrons, of the principal vocal performers and of the orchestral ensemble engaged. That for 1834 also includes list of the choral singers.
The Festivals of 1829 and 1829 were conducted by Thomas Greatorex and that in 1834 by Mr Knyvett. Franz Cramer appeared as one of the leaders at each of the three Festivals, being joined by Mr Weichsel in 1829 and 1834: additional leaders are listed below.
3-6 October 1826
Madame Caradori, Miss Stephens, Miss Paton, Miss D. Travis, Miss Bacon, Miss Heaton, Miss S. Travis, Miss Clough and Mrs Wilde; Mr Braham, Mr Knyvett, Mr Bellamy, Mr Phillips, Mr Vaughan, Messrs J. Evans, Goulden, T. Greatorex, Whall, Signor Curioni and Signor de Begnis (vocal), with Mr J. B. Cramer (piano), Mr Lindley (cello) and Mr Nicholson (flute), led by Messrs Kiesewetter and De Beriot.
Morning:
3 October: Full Cathedral Service
4 and 6 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
5 October: Handel, The Messiah
Evening: 3 and 4 October, both described as Miscellaneous Concerts.
6-9 October 1829
Madame Malibran Garcia, Miss Paton, Mrs Knyvett, Miss Fanny Ayton and Mademoiselle Blasis; Mr Braham, Mr Knyvett, Mr Vaughan, Signor Costa, Signor Giubilei, Signor de Begnis, Mr Bellamy and Mr Phillips (vocal), with Mon. De Beriot (violin), Mrs Anderson (piano), Mr Lindley (cello) and Mr Nicholson (flute).
Morning:
6 October: Full Cathedral Service
7 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
8 October: Handel, Messiah
9 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
Evening:
6 and 8 October: Operatic Selections
7 and 9 October: Miscellaneous Concerts
7-10 October 1834
Madame Caradori, Madame Stockhausen, Mrs Knyvett and Miss Clara Novello; Mr Braham, Signor Curioni, Mr Vaughan and Mr Horncastle; Mr Hawkins and Mr Terrail; Mr Phillips, Mr Machin, Mr Bellamy and Mr Taylor (vocal), with Mr Moscheles (piano), Mr Lindley (cello), The Chevalier Neukomm (organ) and Mr Stockhausen (harp), led by Messrs Mori and Loder.
Morning
7 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
8 October: including Neukomm, David (composed for the Festival)
9 October: Handel, Messiah
10 October: Grand Selection of Sacred Music
Evening
7, 8 and 9 October, with the second being an Operatic Selection, held at the Theatre Royal.
Volume 3 (1837-43)
At least one programme for the 1837 and 1840 events includes list of the choral and orchestral ensemble (led by Messrs Cramer and Loder and conducted by Mr Knyvett) and cites the vocal and instrumental soloists. All wordbooks also indicate performers for specific pieces.
During the 1837 and 1840 seasons, all morning performances except that devoted to Handel, Messiah, combined the oratorio listed below with a ‘miscellaneous selection’.
19-22 September 1837 (missing that for final evening performance)
Madame Grisi and Madame Albertazzi; Signor Tamburini, Signor Curioni, Signor Giubilei; Mrs Knyvett, Mrs A. Shaw and Miss C. Novello; Mr Bennett, Mr Hobbs and Mr Vaughan; Mr H. Phillips, Mr Machin, Mr Hawkins and Mr J. A. Novello (vocal) with Mon. Mendelssohn (piano/organ), Mr Lindley (cello) and Master Giulio Regondi (concertina). Also, Mr Mori (additional leader).
Morning
19 September: Chevalier Neukomm, the Ascension (first English performance, conducted by the composer)
20 September: Mendelssohn, St Paul
21 September: Handel, The Messiah
22 September: A. F. Haeser, The Triumph of Faith (first English performance)
Evening
19 and 21 September: First and Second Miscellaneous Concert
20 September, Theatre Royal: The Opera of Semiramide and a miscellaneous selection
22-25 September 1840
Madame Dorus Gray, Madame Caradori Allan and Mrs Knyvett; Miss Birch and Miss Maria B. Hawes; Signor Lablache, Mr Braham and Mr H. Phillips; Signor Musatti and Mr Vaughan; Mr Machin, Signor F. Lablache, Mr Pearsall and Mr Young (vocal) with Signor Emiliani (violin), Dr Mendelssohn (piano and organ) and Mr Lindley (cello).
Morning
22 September: [Handel], Israel in Egypt
23 September: [Handel], Joshua (selection); Mendelssohn, Lobgesang
24 September: Handel, The Messiah
25 September: Oratorio of Jeptha
Evening:
22 and 24 September: First and Second Miscellaneous Concert
23 September, Theatre Royal: La Gazza Ladra and La Prova
1843
Morning
19 September: Rossini, Stabat Mater and Handel, Deborah
20 September: Dr Croft [Crotch?], Palestine, and a selection of sacred music
21 September: Handel, The Messiah
Evening (all at the Theatre Royal)
19 September: Rossini, The Lady of the Lake, and a miscellaneous selection
20 September: Bellini, Norma and a miscellaneous selection
21 September: Grand Miscellaneous Concert
Volume 4 (1846-52)
Programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1849 and 1852, with an individual programme and wordbook for a performance of Mendelssohn, Elijah given on 26 August 1846. At least one of the programmes for 1849 and 1852 includes a list of the choral and orchestral ensemble (led by Monsieur Sainton and conducted by Mr Costa) and cites the vocal and instrumental soloists.
4-7 September 1849
Madame Sontag, Madame Castellan, Miss A. Williams, Miss Stevens, Mademoiselle Jetty de Treffz and Miss Catherine Hayes; Mademoiselle Alboni, Mademoiselle de Meric and Miss M. Willams; Signor Mario, Signor Calzolari, Mr T. Williams and Mr Sims Reeves, Herr Pischek, Signor F. Lablache, Mr Machin and Signor Lablache (vocal), with Monsieur Thalberg (piano) and Messrs Wesley, Stimpson, Simms and E. Chipp (organ).
Morning
4 September: Mendelssohn, Elijah
5 September: Mendelssohn, Athalie; Selection
6 September: Handel, The Messiah
7 September: Handel, Israel in Egypt
Evening
4, 5 and 6 September: Miscellaneous Concerts
7-10 September 1852
Madame Viardot Garcia, Madame Castellan, Mademoiselle Anna Zerr, Miss Dolby, Mademoiselle Bertrandi, Miss M. Williams and Madame Clara Novello; Signor Tamberlik, Herr Formes, Mr Lockey, Mr Weiss, Mr T. Williams, Signor Polonini, Mr Simms Reeves and Signor Belletti (vocal) with Signor Piatti (cello), Signor Bottesini (double bass), Herr Kuhe (piano) and Mr Stimpsn (organ).
Morning
7 September: Mendelssohn, Elijah
[8 September]: Mendelssohn, Wesley and Haydn.
[9 September]: Handel, The Messiah
10 September: Handel, Samson
Evening
All were described as Miscellaneous Concerts, including the following works.
7 September: Mendelssohn, First Walpurgis Night
8 September: Mendelssohn, Loreley
9 September: Beethoven, Grand Choral Symphony in D minor
Volume 5 (1855, 1858)
A complete set of programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1855 and 1858.
In each case, the pattern of the morning performances was as follows:
i) Mendelssohn, Elijah; ii) Costa, Eli; iii) Handel, The Messiah; iv) A Grand Selection (see below for specific pieces).
All evening performances were described as Grand Miscellaneous Concerts and all included one or more main work(s) (see below).
The first programme for each Festival includes a list of the Patrons of the Festival, a record of donations made, and a table of the amount raised by previous events. There is also, a picture of the concert venue and a short statement concerning the Birmingham General Hospital.
There is detailed information regarding the vocal soloists and lists of the choral and orchestral ensemble, led by Messrs Sainton and Blagrove with Mr Stimpson (organ) and conducted by Mr Costa.
All programmes include introductory programme notes (predominantly historical), those for 1855 being signed by G. A. Macfarren.
Bound with the programmes for both years are documents entitled ‘The Birmingham Festival: a series of papers published in “Aris’s Birmingham Gazette”’, the first of these being attributed to George Hogarth. These include reports on various aspects of the Festival, including a large amount of historical discussion.
28-31 August 1855
Vocal: Madame Grisi, Mademoiselle Angiolina Bosio, Madame Rudersdorkk and Madame Castellan; Miss Dolby and Madame Viardot Garcia; Signor Mario, Signor Gardoni, Herr Reichardt and Mr Sims Reeves; Signor Lablache, Mr Weiss and Herr Formes.
Morning: 28-31 August, the final performance featuring the following works: Beethoven, Mount of Olives; Mozart, Requiem; and Handel, Israel in Egypt (selection).
Evening
28 August: G. A. Macfarren, Lenora
29 August: Mendelssohn, Italian Symphony and Loreley
30 August: Beethoven, Pastoral Symphony
31 August and 1-3 September 1858
Vocal: Madame Clara Novello, Mademoiselle Victoire Balfe and Madame Castellan; Madame Alboni, Miss Dolby and Madame Viardot Garcia; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Montem Smith and Signor Tamberlick; Signor Ronconi, Mr Weiss and Signor Belletti (vocal).
Morning
31 August and 1-3 September, the final performance featuring the following works: Henry Leslie, Judith; Mendelssohn, Lauda Sion; Beethoven, Service in C
Evening
31 August: Handel, Acis and Galatea
1 September: Mendelssohn, ‘The the Sons of Art’
2 September: Costa, The Dream
Volume 6 (1861-67)
Prospectuses, programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1961, 1964 and 1967. Documentation for all events includes lists of the Patrons of the Festival, details regarding the principal vocal and instrumental soloists, and lists of the choral and orchestral ensemble, led by Messrs Sainton and Blagrove (not 1867), with Mr Stimpson (organ) and conducted by Mr Costa.
Also, a brief statement concerning the Birmingham General Hospital and a photo of the concert venue (not 1864)
All programmes/wordbooks contain brief historical and descriptive programme notes.
27-30 August 1961
Complete set of programmes and wordbooks, with the first programme including the additional information listed above. Accompanying the list of principal performers are the signatures of these.
Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Rudersdorff, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Adelina Patti; Madame Sainton Dolby and Miss Palmer; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Montem Smith and Signor Giuglini; Mr Santley and Signor Belletti (vocal) with Miss Arabella Goddard (piano).
Morning
27 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
28 August: Handel, Samson
29 August: Handel, The Messiah
30 August: Beethoven, Grand Service in D; Hummel, Alma Virgo; Handel, Israel in Egypt
Evening
27 and 30 August, Town Hall: Miscellaneous Concerts
28 August: Haydn, The Creation
30 August: Handel, Judas Maccabeus
6-9 September 1864
Prospectus with programmes for the Festival of 6-9 September 1864. Also, separate programmes and wordbooks for concerts on 7 (evening) and 9 (morning) September.
Vocal: Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Rudersdorff, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Adelina Patti; Madame Sainton Dolby and Miss Palmer; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr W. H. Cummings and Signor Mario; Mr Santley and Mr Weiss
Madame Arabella Goddard (piano)
Morning:
6 September: Mendelssohn, Saint Paul
7 September: Costa, Naaman (composed expressly for the occasion)
8 September: Handel, The Messiah
9 September: Beethoven, Mount of Olives; Handel, Solomon (selection)
Evening:
6 and 8 September: A Miscellaneous Concert
7 September: A Grand Classical Concert
9 September: Mendelssohn, Elijah
27-30 August 1967
Prospectus with programmes and complete set of programmes and wordbooks for the Festival of 1967.
Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Christine Nilsson; Madame Sainton-Dolby and Madame Patey Whytock; Mr Sims Reeves and Mr W. H. Cummings; Mr Santley and Mr Weiss (vocal), with Madame Arabella Goddard (piano)
Morning
27 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
28 August, Town Hall: W. S. Bennett, The Woman of Samaria; Handel, Judas Maccabeus
29 August: Handel, Messiah
30 August, Town Hall: Gounod, Messe Solennelle; Handel, Israel in Egypt
Evening
27 August, Town Hall: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. Handel, Alexander’s Feast
28 August, Town Hall: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. J. Benedict, The Legend of St. Cecilia
29 August: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. John Francis Barnett, The Ancient Mariner
30 August: Mendelssohn, St. Paul
Volume 7 (1870, 1873)
Prospectuses (with programmes) and complete sets of programmes and wordbooks for the 30th and 31st Birmingham Festivals held in 1870 and 1873.
Both prospectuses include a list of the Patrons of the Festival and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, led by Mr Sainton, with Mr Stimpson (organ) and conducted by Michael Costa. Also, a brief statement regarding the Birmingham General Hospital, a picture of the concert venue, and a copy of the General Arrangements for the Festival.
The majority of the programmes include introductory notes of a historical and descriptive nature, with that for 31 August 1870 (morning) carrying extensive analytical notes (including musical examples).
The first three evening performances of each Festival were described as Miscellaneous Concerts, including the works cited below:
30-31 August and 1-2 September 1870
Mademoiselle Tietiens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington, Miss Edith Wynne and Mademoiselle Ilma de Murska; Madame Patey and Mademoiselle Drasdil; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Vernon Rigby and Mr W. H. Cummings; Mr Santley and Signor Foli (vocal) with Arabella Goddard (piano)
Bound with the documentation for this season is a list of the donations made to the Festival, a copy of the receipts/summary of the accounts for the event, and a diagram/seating plan of the Town Hall.
Morning
30 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
31 August: Costa, Naaman
1 September: Handel, Messiah
2 September: Jules Benedict, St Peter (first time of performance); Mozart, Requiem
Evening
30 August: John Francis Barnett, Paradise and the Peri (composed expressly for this Festival)
31 August: Prof. R. P. Stewart, Ode to Shakespeare (new cantata)
1 September: Ferdinand Hiller, Nala and Damayanti (new cantata)
2 September: Handel, Samson
26-29 August 1973
Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Albani; Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli Bettini; Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Vernon Rigby and Mr W. H. Cummings; Mr Santley and Signor Foli (vocal)
Morning
26 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
27 August: Arthur S. Sullivan, The Light of the World (first performance)
28 August: Handel, The Messiah
29 August: Spohr, God, Thou Art Great; Haydn, Mass No. 3; Handel, Israel in Egypt (selections). Also, first performances of two choral pieces by Rossini
Evening
26 August: F. Schira, The Lord of Burleigh (new cantata, composed for the Festival)
27 August: Beethoven, Symphony in C minor; Rossini, National Hymn (first English performance)
28 August: Alberto Randegger, Fridolin (a dramatic cantata, composed expressly for the Festival)
29 August: Handel, Judas Maccabeus
Volume 8 (1876, 1879)
Prospectuses and complete sets of programmes and wordbooks (with programme notes) for the 32nd and 33rd Birmingham Festivals (1876 and 1879).
Both prospectuses begin with the following: a list of the Patrons of the Festival; a list of the donations received; a short statement regarding the Birmingham General Hospital; a picture of the concert venue; lists of the choral and orchestral ensemble, led by Mr Sainton with Mr Stimpson (organ) and conducted by Sir Michael Costa.
Bound at the end of the documentation for each seasons are: lists of the Officers of the Festival; financial statements/accounts; seating plans for the Town Hall; and General Arrangements for the Festival
The first three evening performances of each season were described as Miscellaneous Concerts and featured the works listed below.
29-31 August and 1 September 1796
Mademoiselle Titiens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington and Mademoiselle Albani; Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli Bettini; Mr Vernon Rigby and Mr Edward Lloyd; Mr Santley, Mr Cecil Tovey and Signor Foli.
Morning
29 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
30 August: Mendelssohn, Hear My Prayer; Hummel, Alma Virgo; G. A. Macfarren, The Resurrection (composed expressly for the Festival and conducted by the composer)
31 August: Handel, Messiah
1 September: Spohr, The Last Judgement; Wagner, Scriptural Scene; Beethoven, Grand Service in C.
Evening
29 August: F. H. Cowen, Dramatic Cantata, The Corsair (composed expressly for the Festival)
30 August: Niels W. Gade, Cantata ‘Zion’ (first performance/composed expressly for the Festival)
31 August: Niels W. Gade, The Crusaders
1 September: Mendelssohn, St. Paul
26-29 August 1879
Madame Lemmens Sherrington, Miss Anna Williams and Madame Gerster, Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli; Mr Vernon Rigby, Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr Joseph Maas and Mr W. H. Cummings; Mr Santley and Herr Henschel (vocal)
Morning
26 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
27 August: Rossini, Moses in Egypt
28 August: Handel, The Messiah
29 August: Cherubini, Requiem; Mendelssohn, Hymn of Praise
Evening
26 August: Max Bruch, Cantata, The Lay of the Bell
27 August: Beethoven, Symphony No. 7
28 August: Saint Saens, The Lyre and the Harp
29 August: Handel, Israel in Egypt
Volume 9 (1882, 1885)
Prospectuses, programmes and wordbooks (with programme notes) for the 34th and 35th Birmingham Musical Festivals, held in 1882 and 1885 in the Town Hall Birmingham. Prospectuses for both Festivals begin with lists of the Patrons of the Festival and of the choral and orchestral ensembles, with Mr Stimpson (organ). Also, General Arrangements for the Festival.
The documentation for 1882 includes a handwritten letter to Sir Michael Costa regarding the dates for the Festival and a newspaper cutting containing a financial summary of the event.
The programmes for the 1885 season include analytical notes, with musical examples, the majority written by Joseph Bennett.
The first three evening performances of each Festival were described as Miscellaneous Concerts, including the works listed below (all cantatas)
29-31 August and 1 September 1882
Madame Albani, Miss Anna Williams, Miss Eleanor Farnol and Madame Marie Roze; Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli; Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr W. H. Cummings and Mr Joseph Maas; Mr Santley, Mr F. King and Signor Foli (vocal), led by Mr Sainton and conducted by Sir Michael Costa
Morning
29 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
30 August: Gounod, The Redemption
31 August: Handel, The Messiah
1 September: Mozart, Symphony in G minor; Cherubini, Fourth Mass; Beethoven, The Mount of Olives
Evening
29 August: Benedict, Graziella
30 August: Gaul, The Holy City
31 August: Gade, Psyche
1 September: Gounod, The Redemption
25-28 August 1885
Madame Albani, Mrs Hutchinson and Miss Anna Williams; Madame Patey and Madame Trebelli; Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr C. Wade and Mr Joseph Maas; Mr Santley, Mr F. King, Mr Watkin Mills and Signor Foli (vocal) with Senor Sarasate (violin), led by Mr A. Burnett and conducted by Herr Richter.
Morning
25 August: Mendelssohn, Elijah
26 August: Gounod, Mors et Vita
27 August: Handel, The Messiah
28 August: Stanford, The Three Holy Children; Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
Evening
25 August: Cowen, Sleeping Beauty
26 August: Anderton, Yule Tide. Also, Prout, Symphony No. 3 in F major (composed for the Festival)
27 August: Dvorak, The Spectre’s Bride
28 August: Gounod, Mors et Vita
Volume 10 (1888, 1891)
Prospectuses with programmes and complete sets of individual programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1888 and 1891. The prospectuses begin with a brief historical introduction regarding the Festival and carry lists of the various committee members and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, conducted by Hans Richter with Mr C. W. Perkins (organ).
The programmes contain historical, descriptive and analytical notes, with musical examples.
The material for the 1888 festival bears the signatures of some of the leading performers. It concludes with a copy of the General Directions for the Festival and with a seating plan of the Town Hall.
28-31 August 1888
Madame Albani, Miss Ambler, Miss Anna Williams, Madame Patey, Madame Trebelli, Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr Piercy, Mr Banks, Mr Santley, Mr Brereton and Signor Foli (vocal) with Miss Fanny Davies (piano).
Morning
28/8: Mendelssohn, Elijah
29/8: Parry, Judith
30/8: Handel, The Messiah
31/8: Bach, Magnificat
Evening
The first three evening performances were described as Miscellaneous Concert, their first part consisting of the extended work listed below.
28/8: Dvorak, Stabat Mater
29/8: Sullivan, The Golden Legend
30/8: J. F. Bridge, New Cantata ‘Callirhöe’
31/8: Handel, Saul.
6-9 October 1891
Madame Albani, Miss Anna Williams, Mrs Brereton and Miss Macintyre, Miss Hilda Wilson and Madame Hope Glenn, Mr Edward Lloyd and Mr Iver McKay, Mr Santley, Mr Watkin Mills, Mr Brereton and Mr Henschel (vocal) with Dr Joachin (violin).
Morning
6/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
7/10: Bach, St. Matthew Passion
8/10: Handel, Messiah
9/10: Dvorak, Requiem Mass (composed expressly for this Festival)
Evening
6/10: Miscellaneous, inc. A. C. Mackenzie, New Cantata, Veni Creator Spiritus (composed for this Festival)
7/10: Stanford, New Dramatic Oratorio, Eden (first performance)
8/10: Miscellaneous Concert
9/10: Berlioz, Faust
Volume 11 (1894, 1897)
Prospectuses (with programmes) and sets of programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1894 and 1897.
The prospectuses begin with a brief historical introduction regarding the Festival and carry lists of the various committee members and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, conducted by Hans Richter with Mr C. W. Perkins (organ).
The programmes contain historical, descriptive and analytical notes, with musical examples, contributed by Joseph Bennett, C.A.B and George Grove.
The material for the 1897 begins with signatures from some of the performers.
2-5 October 1894
Madame Albani, Mrs Henschel and Miss Anna Williams, Miss Hilda Wilson, Miss Marie Brema and Madame Marian McKenzie, Mr Edward Lloyd and Mr Iver McKay, Mr Andrew Black, Mr Eugene Oudin, Mr Brereton and Mr Henschel (vocal).
Morning
2/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
3/10: Parry, King Saul (composed expressly for this Festival)
4/10: Handel, Messiah
5/10: Cherubini, Massin D minor; selections
Evening
2/10: First Miscellaneous Concert, inc. first Birmingham performance of Berlioz, Te Deum
3/10: Goring Thomas, The Swain and the Skylark (first performance); Sullivan, Overture ‘In Memoriam’; Mendelssohn, Hymn of Praise
4/10: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. G. Henschel, Stabat Mater (first performance)
5/10: Wagner, Overture ‘Tannhauser’; Schumann, Faust – Part III; Beethoven, Symphony No. 9.
5-8 October 1897
Madame Albani, Miss Evangeline Florence, Miss Hilda Foster and Miss Anna Williams, Miss Marie Brema and Miss Ada Crossley, Mr George May, Mr Edward Lloyd and Mr Ben Davies, Mr Andrew Black, Mr Plunket Greene and Mr Bispham (vocal).
Morning
5/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
6/10: Stanford, Requiem (first performance); Bach, O Light Everlasting
7/10: Handel, Messiah
8/10: Schubert, Mass in E flat; Parry, Job
Evening
5/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including the first performance of E. German, Symphonic Poem ‘Hamlet’.
6/10: Purcell, King Arthur; selection
7/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including Arthur Somervell, An Ode to the Sea (composed expressly for the Festival)
8/10: Berlioz, Faust
Volume 12 (1900, 1903)
Prospectuses (with programmes) and sets of programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1900 and 1903.
The prospectuses begin with a brief historical introduction regarding the Festival and carry lists of the various committee members and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, conducted by Hans Richter with Mr C. W. Perkins (organ).
The programmes contain historical, descriptive and analytical notes, with musical examples, contributed by Joseph Bennett, C.A.B and George Grove.
The material for the 1900 begins with signatures from some of the performers.
2-5 October 1900
Madame Albani, Miss Evangeline Florence and Miss Esther Palliser, Miss Marie Brema, Miss Ada Crossley and Miss Clara Butt, Mr Edward Lloyd, Mr W. Green and Mr Ben Davies, Mr Andrew Black, Mr Plunket Green and Mr Bispham (vocal)
Morning
2/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
3/10: Elgar, The Dream of Gerontius; Schubert, Symphony ‘Unfinished’; Handel, Israel in Egypt (selections)
4/10: Bach, St. Matthew Passion
5/10: Brahms, A German Requiem; selections
Evening
2/10: Miscellaneous Concert
3/10: S. Coleridge-Taylor, Song of Hiawatha
4/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including Dvorak, The Spectre’s Bride
5/10: Handel, Messiah
Signatures
13-16 October 1903
Madame Albani and Miss Agnes Nicholls, Madame Clara Butt, Miss Muriel Foster and Madame Kirkby Lunn, Mr Ben Davies, Mr William Green and Mr John Coates, Mr Andrew Black, Mr Kennerley Rumford and Mr Ffrangcon-Davies (vocal)
Morning
13/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
14/10: Elgar, The Apostles (first performance, conducted by the composer)
15/10: Handel, Messiah
16/10: Bach, Mass in B minor
Evening:
All miscellaneous concerts, including the extended works cited below
13/10: Stanford, Ballad for Solos, Chorus and Orchestra, ‘The Voyage of Maeldune
14/10: Sullivan, The Golden Legend
15/10:
16/10: Bruckner, Te Deum (first performance in England)
Volume 13 (1906, 1909)
Prospectus with programmes for the Festival of 1906 and complete sets of programmes and wordbooks for the Festivals of 1906 and 1909.
The prospectus begins with a brief historical introduction regarding the Festival and carry lists of the various committee members and of the choral and orchestral ensemble, conducted by Hans Richter with Mr C. W. Perkins (organ).
The programmes contain historical, descriptive and analytical notes, with musical examples, contributed by Joseph Bennett, C.A.B and George Grove and A. J. Jaeger.
The material for the 1906 begins with signatures from some of the performers.
2-5 October 1906
Madame Albani, Miss Gleeson-White and Miss Agnes Nicholls, Madame Ada Crossley and Miss Muriel Foster, Mr John Coates, Mr John Harrison and Mr William Green, Mr Ffrangcon Davies, Mr William Higley, Mr Dalton Baker, Mr Charles Clark and Mr Robert Radford (vocal) with Mischa Elman (violin).
Morning
2/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
3/10: Elgar, The Kingdom (first performance, conducted by the composer)
4/10: Handel, Messiah
5/10: Beethoven, Mass in D; selection including the first English performance of Christian Ritter, Alto Cantata, O amantissime sponse Jesu
Evening
2/10: Elgar, The Apostles (conducted by the composer)
3/10: Miscellaneous, including the first performance of Josef Holbrooke, The Bells and Percy Pitt, Sinfonietta in G minor
4/10: Misc, inc. Granville Bantock, Omar Khayyam (composed expressly for this Festival)
5/10: Miscellaneous
5-8 October 1909
Morning
5/10: Mendelssohn, Elijah
6/10: Elgar, The Dream of Gerontius; selection
7/10: Handel, Judas Maccabaeus
8/10: miscellaneous inc. Cherubini, Mass in C
Evening
5/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including the first performance of Rutland Boughton, Midnight
6/10: Miscellaneous Concert, including Dvorak, Stabat Mater
7/10: Miscellaneous Concert, inc. Granville Bantock, Omar Khayyam
8/10: Berlioz, Faust
Format
Date range of collection
1817 - 1909
Accumulation Dates
-
Suggested Audience
Not Specific
Associated People or Organisations
- Zerr, Anna -
- Wynne, Edith -
- Wilson, Hilda -
- Williams, Anna -
- Wagner, Richard -
- Trebelli-Bettini, Zélia -
- Tovey, Cecil -
- Tietjens, Therese -
- Thomas, Arthur Goring -
- Thalberg, Sigismond -
- Sullivan, Arthur -
- Stimpson, James -
- Stewart, Robert -
- Stanford, Charles Villiers -
- Spohr, Louis -
- Spagnoletti, Paulo -
- Somervell, Arthur -
- Smith, Montem -
- Schubert, Franz -
- Schira, Francesco -
- Santley, Charles -
- Sainton-Dolby, Charlotte -
- Sainton, Prosper -
- Rumford, Kennerley -
- Rudersdorff, Hermine -
- Roze, Marie -
- Rossini, Gioacchino -
- Ritter, Christian -
- Rigby, Vernon -
- Richter, Hans -
- Regondi, Giulio -
- Reeves, Sims -
- Randegger, Alberto -
- Radford, Robert -
- Purcell, Henry -
- Prout, Ebenezer -
- Pitt, Percy -
- Pischek, Jan -
- Piercy, Henry -
- Piatti, Alfredo Carlo -
- Perkins, C. W. (Mr) -
- Patti, Adelina -
- Patey-Whytock, Janet -
- Patey, Madame -
- Parry, C. Hubert Hastings -
- Palliser, Esther -
- Oudin, Eugene -
- Novello, Clara -
- Nilsson, Christine -
- Nicholls, Agnes -
- Neukomm, Sigmund -
- Murska, Ilma de -
- Mori, Nicholas -
- Mills, Watkin -
- Mendelssohn, Felix -
- McKenzie, Marian -
- McKay, Iver -
- May, George -
- Macfarren, George -
- Maas, Joseph -
- Lunn, Kirkby 1873 - 1930
- Lloyd, Edward -
- Leslie, Henry 1822 - 1896
- Lemmens-Sherrington, Madame -
- Lablache, Federico -
- Kuhe, Wilhelm -
- Knyvett, William -
- King, Frederick -
- Joachim, Joseph -
- Jaeger, August -
- Hummel, Johann Nepomuk -
- Holbrooke, Josef -
- Hiller, Ferdinand -
- Higley, William -
- Henschel, Helen Henriette -
- Henschel, George (Isidor Georg) -
- Hayes, Catherine -
- Haydn, Joseph -
- Harrison, John -
- Handel, George Frideric -
- Haeser, August Ferdinand -
- Grove, George -
- Greene, Harry Plunkett -
- Green, William -
- Greatorex, Thomas -
- Gounod, Charles -
- Goddard, Arabella -
- Glenn, Hope -
- Gleeson-White, Madame -
- German, Edward -
- Gade, Niels -
- Foster, Muriel -
- Foster, Hilda -
- Foli, Allan James -
- Florence, Evangeline -
- Ffrangcon-Davies, David -
- Farnol, Eleanor -
- elman, mischa -
- Elgar, Edward -
- Dvorak, Antonin -
- Davies, Fanny -
- Davies, Ben 1858 - 1943
- Cummings, William H -
- Crossley, Ada -
- Cramer, Johann Baptist -
- Cramer, Franz -
- Cowen, Frederic -
- Costa, Michael -
- Coates, John 1865 - 1941
- Clark, Charles -
- Cherubini, (Carlo) Luigi -
- Catalani, Angelica -
- Butt, Clara -
- Bruckner, Anton -
- Bridge, J. F. -
- Brereton, W. H. -
- Brereton, W. H. (Mrs) -
- Brema, Marie -
- Brahms, Johannes -
- Boughton, Rutland -
- Bottesini, Giovanni -
- Blagrove, Henry -
- Black, Andrew -
- Bispham, David -
- Birmingham Triennial Festival -
- Berlioz, Hector -
- Bennett, William Sterndale -
- Bennett, Joseph -
- Benedict, Julius -
- Beethoven, Ludwig van -
- Barry, Charles Ainslie -
- Barnett, John Francis -
- Bantock, Granville -
- Balfe, Victoire -
- Baker, Dalton -
- Bach, Johann Sebastian -
- Anderton, Thomas -
- Albani, Madame -
Associated Places
Associated Times
This collection is about
Location Details
British Library
The British Library
St Pancras
,96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB United Kingdom Open Map
Website
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reader-admissions@bl.uk
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+44 (0)870 444 1500
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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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