SearchGetRecordMelbourne Philharmonic Society (1859-69)
Collection Summary
Collection Title
Melbourne Philharmonic Society (1859-69)
Unique Identifier
7895.ee.5
Description
A miscellaneous collection of programmes and wordbooks relating to performances given by the Melbourne Philharmonic Society between 1859 and 1869.
The majority of performances formed part of the annual subscription series (see the numbers provided in parenthesis below) and consisted of primarily orchestrally-accompanied choral repertory. There are a number of pieces described as being performed for the first time in Australia.
Unless otherwise stated below, the documentation consists of a single-sided sheet/handbill which includes a list of the vocal soloists and offers an indication of the size of the choral ensemble.
With the exception of that on 5 September 1865 (directed by George R.G. Pringle), concerts given between 1862 and 1865 were conducted by C. E. Horsley. Those from 1867 were led by Edward King and conducted by David Lee.
The concert on 18 September 1861 was held at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne and those from 1868 took place in St. George’s Hall. All other performances were held in the Exhibition Room.
9 and 11 August 1859
Announcement, programmes and wordbooks for two performances given as the Handel Centenary Celebration, by Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Macarthy, Mrs Hancock and Mrs Goodliffe (soprano), Miss Georgina Macarthy (alto), Mr Ewart and Mr W. H. Williams (tenor) and Mr Farquharson, Mr Angus and Mr Blanchard (bass), led by Mr King, with George R. G. Pringle (organ), conducted by Mr Russell.
The first concert consisted of ‘selections from Samson, Judas Maccabaeus, Israel in Egypt etc’ and the second of Messiah. The wordbooks for both concerts include a list of the patrons, president and committee members for the performances and carry information regarding Philharmonic Society subscription. That for the first concert also includes a historical article entitled ‘Some Account of Handel and his Times’.
23 October 1860 (5)
Programme and wordbook for a concert of Mendelssohn, Lauda Zion and Haydn, Third (Imperial) Mass. This document provides no information regarding the performers but does contain a list of the patrons/committee members, citing Mr John Russell (conductor) and Mr L. L. Lewis (organ).
9 April 1861 (1)
Haydn, The Creation, with Mrs Edward Hancock, Miss Bailey, Mr T. Ewart, Mr W. H. Williams, Mr S. Angus and Mr S. Moxon (vocal), led by Edward King with Louis L. Lewis (organ), conducted by Herr Elsasser.
11 June 1861 (2)
Programme and wordbook for a two-part concert, the first part including Romberg, Lay of the Bell, and the second consisting of vocal and instrumental solos by Madame Escott, Miss Bailey, Miss S. Mortley, Mr Squires and Mr Farquharson. This document carries a list of the committee members, including Herr Elsasser (conductor) and Mr Louis L. Lewis (organ).
18 September 1861 (3)
Handel, Israel in Egypt, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss S. Mortley, Mr E. Beaumont, Mr S. Angus and Mr Richardson, led by Herr Strebinger, with Louis L. Lewis (organ), conducted by Herr Elsasser.
8 April 1862 (1)
First Australian performance of Mozart, Requiem (in memory of his late Royal Highness the Price Consort) and Beethoven, Engedi, with Madame Lucy Escott, Miss Georgia Hodson, Mr Henry Squires and Mr Farquharson (vocal), led by Herr Strebinger.
8 July 1862 (2)
Mendelssohn, Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise) and a selection of secular music, given by Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Emma Neville, Miss Liddle, Mr Edward A. Beaumont and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal), led by Mr Edward King. The programme for this concert includes a Critical and Historical Note, which provides an indication of the works included in the ‘selection’.
7, 9 and 11 October 1862
Announcement for the Melbourne Second Triennial Musical Festival. Also, a programme/handbill for the first concert and a programme and wordbook for the third performance.
The announcement lists the following performers: Madame Lucy Escott, Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Amelia Bailey and Miss Isoline Mercante (soprano), Madame Sara Flower (alto), Mr Henry Squires and Mr E. A. Beaumont (tenor), Mr Farquharson and Mr S. Angus (bass), led by Herr Strebinger.
The first concert included Horsley, Cantata ‘Comus’. The third was a two-part vocal concert with Mr T. G. Goold (organ).
9 December 1862 (3)
First Australian performance of Molique, Abraham, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Mrs Batten, Mr T. J. Jackman, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Farquharson (vocal), led by Mr W. C. Fisher with Mr T. G. Goold (organ).
30 June 1863 (2)
First Australian performance of Horsley, David, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Miss Helen Watson, Mr Edwin Exon, Mr T. J. Jackman, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Amery, led by Mr W. C. Fisher. This programme includes a 'Synopsis of David'.
21 June 1864 (2)
Handel, Israel in Egypt, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Miss M.A. Liddle, Mr Edwin Exon, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Charles Blachard, led by Mr W. C. Fisher. This was the first Australia performance given with the additional organ part written by Mendelssohn for the London Handel Society.
15 November 1864 (4)
Mendelssohn, Elijah, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Madame Stuttaford, Master Bryant, Signor Castelli, Mr Charles Blanchard and Mr Farquhason (vocal), led by Mr W. C. Fisher.
24 December 1864 (Extra Concert, Christmas Musical Festival)
Handel, Messiah, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Madame Stuttaford, Miss Fanny Reeves, Signor Castelli, Mr Edwin Exon and Mr Farquharson, led by W. C. Fisher.
11 April 1865 (1)
Mozart, Requiem (in memory of Mr W. G. Dredge, Honorary Secretary of the Philharmonic Society) and the first Australian performance of Mendelssohn, Athalie, given by Miss Watson, Miss Sarah Mortley, Miss M. A. Liddle, Mr Edwin Exon and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal), led by Mr W. C. Fisher with G. R.G. Pringle (organ).
5 September 1865 (3)
Haydn, Creation, with Miss Bertha Watson, Mrs Fox, Mr A. Angus, Mr C. Blanchard and Mr Edwin Exon (vocal), led by Herbert Thomas and conducted by G. R. G. Pringle.
21 December 1867
Programme and wordbook for a Grand Concert in honour of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh by Miss Easdown, Miss Mortley and Miss Fanny Reeves (vocal), Herr Staab (piano) and Mr J. Schott (oboe), with the St. Kilda Glee and Madrigal Society.
This was a performance of Mendelssohn, Athalie combined with a miscellaneous act.
22 September 1868 (3)
Romberg, Lay of the Bell, and a miscellaneous selection of secular music, given by Mrs Fox, Mr Alfred Ford and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
24 November 1868 (4)
Handel, Samson, with Miss Staff, Miss Lambert, Mr Alfred Ford, Mr E. Amery and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
24 December 1868 (Christmas Festival)
Handel, Messiah, with Miss Watson, Miss Lambert, Mr Alfred Ford and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
23 March 1869 (1)
Beethoven, Mass in C and Rossini, Stabat Mater, with Professor Hughes (organ).
NB:
Relationship terms not added: Madame Stuttaford, Mrs Batten, Mrs Fox, Mrs Hancock, Mrs Goodliffe, Miss Easdown, Miss Lambert, Miss Staff, Mr Blanchard Mr Farquharson, Mr Richardson, Master Bryant and Signor Castelli (vocal), Herr Staab (piano), Professor Hughes (organ), Herr Strebinger (violin/leader) and Herr Elsasser (conductor).
The majority of performances formed part of the annual subscription series (see the numbers provided in parenthesis below) and consisted of primarily orchestrally-accompanied choral repertory. There are a number of pieces described as being performed for the first time in Australia.
Unless otherwise stated below, the documentation consists of a single-sided sheet/handbill which includes a list of the vocal soloists and offers an indication of the size of the choral ensemble.
With the exception of that on 5 September 1865 (directed by George R.G. Pringle), concerts given between 1862 and 1865 were conducted by C. E. Horsley. Those from 1867 were led by Edward King and conducted by David Lee.
The concert on 18 September 1861 was held at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne and those from 1868 took place in St. George’s Hall. All other performances were held in the Exhibition Room.
9 and 11 August 1859
Announcement, programmes and wordbooks for two performances given as the Handel Centenary Celebration, by Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Macarthy, Mrs Hancock and Mrs Goodliffe (soprano), Miss Georgina Macarthy (alto), Mr Ewart and Mr W. H. Williams (tenor) and Mr Farquharson, Mr Angus and Mr Blanchard (bass), led by Mr King, with George R. G. Pringle (organ), conducted by Mr Russell.
The first concert consisted of ‘selections from Samson, Judas Maccabaeus, Israel in Egypt etc’ and the second of Messiah. The wordbooks for both concerts include a list of the patrons, president and committee members for the performances and carry information regarding Philharmonic Society subscription. That for the first concert also includes a historical article entitled ‘Some Account of Handel and his Times’.
23 October 1860 (5)
Programme and wordbook for a concert of Mendelssohn, Lauda Zion and Haydn, Third (Imperial) Mass. This document provides no information regarding the performers but does contain a list of the patrons/committee members, citing Mr John Russell (conductor) and Mr L. L. Lewis (organ).
9 April 1861 (1)
Haydn, The Creation, with Mrs Edward Hancock, Miss Bailey, Mr T. Ewart, Mr W. H. Williams, Mr S. Angus and Mr S. Moxon (vocal), led by Edward King with Louis L. Lewis (organ), conducted by Herr Elsasser.
11 June 1861 (2)
Programme and wordbook for a two-part concert, the first part including Romberg, Lay of the Bell, and the second consisting of vocal and instrumental solos by Madame Escott, Miss Bailey, Miss S. Mortley, Mr Squires and Mr Farquharson. This document carries a list of the committee members, including Herr Elsasser (conductor) and Mr Louis L. Lewis (organ).
18 September 1861 (3)
Handel, Israel in Egypt, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss S. Mortley, Mr E. Beaumont, Mr S. Angus and Mr Richardson, led by Herr Strebinger, with Louis L. Lewis (organ), conducted by Herr Elsasser.
8 April 1862 (1)
First Australian performance of Mozart, Requiem (in memory of his late Royal Highness the Price Consort) and Beethoven, Engedi, with Madame Lucy Escott, Miss Georgia Hodson, Mr Henry Squires and Mr Farquharson (vocal), led by Herr Strebinger.
8 July 1862 (2)
Mendelssohn, Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise) and a selection of secular music, given by Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Emma Neville, Miss Liddle, Mr Edward A. Beaumont and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal), led by Mr Edward King. The programme for this concert includes a Critical and Historical Note, which provides an indication of the works included in the ‘selection’.
7, 9 and 11 October 1862
Announcement for the Melbourne Second Triennial Musical Festival. Also, a programme/handbill for the first concert and a programme and wordbook for the third performance.
The announcement lists the following performers: Madame Lucy Escott, Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Amelia Bailey and Miss Isoline Mercante (soprano), Madame Sara Flower (alto), Mr Henry Squires and Mr E. A. Beaumont (tenor), Mr Farquharson and Mr S. Angus (bass), led by Herr Strebinger.
The first concert included Horsley, Cantata ‘Comus’. The third was a two-part vocal concert with Mr T. G. Goold (organ).
9 December 1862 (3)
First Australian performance of Molique, Abraham, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Mrs Batten, Mr T. J. Jackman, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Farquharson (vocal), led by Mr W. C. Fisher with Mr T. G. Goold (organ).
30 June 1863 (2)
First Australian performance of Horsley, David, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Miss Helen Watson, Mr Edwin Exon, Mr T. J. Jackman, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Amery, led by Mr W. C. Fisher. This programme includes a 'Synopsis of David'.
21 June 1864 (2)
Handel, Israel in Egypt, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Miss M.A. Liddle, Mr Edwin Exon, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Charles Blachard, led by Mr W. C. Fisher. This was the first Australia performance given with the additional organ part written by Mendelssohn for the London Handel Society.
15 November 1864 (4)
Mendelssohn, Elijah, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Madame Stuttaford, Master Bryant, Signor Castelli, Mr Charles Blanchard and Mr Farquhason (vocal), led by Mr W. C. Fisher.
24 December 1864 (Extra Concert, Christmas Musical Festival)
Handel, Messiah, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Madame Stuttaford, Miss Fanny Reeves, Signor Castelli, Mr Edwin Exon and Mr Farquharson, led by W. C. Fisher.
11 April 1865 (1)
Mozart, Requiem (in memory of Mr W. G. Dredge, Honorary Secretary of the Philharmonic Society) and the first Australian performance of Mendelssohn, Athalie, given by Miss Watson, Miss Sarah Mortley, Miss M. A. Liddle, Mr Edwin Exon and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal), led by Mr W. C. Fisher with G. R.G. Pringle (organ).
5 September 1865 (3)
Haydn, Creation, with Miss Bertha Watson, Mrs Fox, Mr A. Angus, Mr C. Blanchard and Mr Edwin Exon (vocal), led by Herbert Thomas and conducted by G. R. G. Pringle.
21 December 1867
Programme and wordbook for a Grand Concert in honour of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh by Miss Easdown, Miss Mortley and Miss Fanny Reeves (vocal), Herr Staab (piano) and Mr J. Schott (oboe), with the St. Kilda Glee and Madrigal Society.
This was a performance of Mendelssohn, Athalie combined with a miscellaneous act.
22 September 1868 (3)
Romberg, Lay of the Bell, and a miscellaneous selection of secular music, given by Mrs Fox, Mr Alfred Ford and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
24 November 1868 (4)
Handel, Samson, with Miss Staff, Miss Lambert, Mr Alfred Ford, Mr E. Amery and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
24 December 1868 (Christmas Festival)
Handel, Messiah, with Miss Watson, Miss Lambert, Mr Alfred Ford and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
23 March 1869 (1)
Beethoven, Mass in C and Rossini, Stabat Mater, with Professor Hughes (organ).
NB:
Relationship terms not added: Madame Stuttaford, Mrs Batten, Mrs Fox, Mrs Hancock, Mrs Goodliffe, Miss Easdown, Miss Lambert, Miss Staff, Mr Blanchard Mr Farquharson, Mr Richardson, Master Bryant and Signor Castelli (vocal), Herr Staab (piano), Professor Hughes (organ), Herr Strebinger (violin/leader) and Herr Elsasser (conductor).
Format
Date range of collection
1859 - 1869
Accumulation Dates
-
Suggested Audience
Not Specific
Associated People or Organisations
- Williams, W. H. (Mr) -
- Watson, Helen -
- Watson, Bertha -
- Thomas, Herbert -
- St. Kilda Glee and Madrigal Society -
- Squires, Henry -
- Schott, J. (Mr) -
- Russell, John -
- Reeves, Fanny -
- Pringle, George R. G. -
- Neville, Emma -
- Moxon, S. (Mr) -
- Mortley, Sarah -
- Molique, Bernhard -
- Mercante, Isoline -
- Mendelssohn, Felix -
- Melbourne Triennial Musical Festival -
- Melbourne Philharmonic Society -
- Macarthy, Georgina -
- Liddle, M. A. (Miss) -
- Lewis, Louis L. -
- Lee, David -
- King, Edward -
- Jackman, T. J. -
- Horsley, Charles Edward -
- Hodson, Georgia -
- Handel, George Frideric -
- Handel Society -
- Hancock, Edward (Mrs) -
- Hamilton, Octavia -
- Goold, T. G. (Mr) -
- Ford, Alfred -
- Flower, Sara -
- Fischer, W. C. (Mr) -
- Exon, Edwin -
- Ewart, T. (Mr) -
- Escott, Lucy -
- Blanchard, Charles -
- Beaumont, Edward A. -
- Bailey, Amelia -
- Angus, Silvanus -
- Amery, E. (Mr) -
Associated Places
Associated Times
This collection is about
Location Details
British Library
The British Library
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,96 Euston Road
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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