SearchGetRecordMr Halford's Orchestral Concerts (1897-1903)
Collection Summary
Collection Title
Mr Halford's Orchestral Concerts (1897-1903)
Unique Identifier
7902.e.16
Description
Analytical programmes for the first six winter seasons of Mr Halford’s Orchestral Concerts, given between 1897 and 1903. Ten concerts were held each season between October and April at the Town Hall in Birmingham. The programmes are bound one volume per season.
These were orchestral concerts, with the repertory being drawn primarily from the nineteenth century and with a strong leaning towards Germanic composers. Each concert included either a vocal or instrumental soloist (as listed below) who typically performed two pieces. In later seasons two or three soloists were occasionally introduced. Where the solo items were vocal, the programmes include the relevant text.
All programmes provide a list of the orchestral players, conducted by George Halford, and carry a programme for the next concert in the series. That for the final concert of the season includes the dates for the next year. There are also extensive historical and analytical notes, with musical examples.
Volume 1 (1897-98)
2 November, Miss Marie Brema (vocal)
16 November, Mr Emile Sauret (violin)
30 November, Robert Kaufmann (vocal). This concert included the first English performance of Glazounov, Poème Lyrique.
14 December, Alexandre Siloti (piano)
18 January, Marie Fillunger (vocal)
1 February, Carl Fuchs (cello)
15 February, Miss Olga von Broemsen (vocal)
1 March, Mrs Helen Trust (vocal)
15 March, Mr Ernest Sharpe (vocal)
29 March, Miss Clotilde Kleeberg (piano)
This volume also includes an extract from The Daily Telegraph of 2 March 1906 entitled ‘The Halford Concerts Society’ and written by Joseph Bennett. This is unbound.
Volume 2 (1898-99)
All of Beethoven's symphonies were performed this season, beginning at the second concert and continuing chronological until the 9th was given at the final concert of the series. Also well represented was Wagner, whose music appears at least once in the majority of the performances.
There are some minor handwritten annotations to the programmes for this season. These provide corrections to the printed programme and are particularly evident in relation to the third concert where Alexandre Siloti was replaced by Dohnanyi as the piano soloist and the programme had to be changed as a result.
25 October, Emile Sauret (violin). This concert included Parry, Symphonic Variations in E minor, conducted by the composer
8 November, Louis Frölich (vocal)
22 November, Ernst von Dohnanyi (piano)
6 December, Frederic Lamond (piano)
17 January, Miss Louise Phillips (vocal)
31 January, Mr Adolf Brodsky (violin)
14 February, Miss Alice Esty (vocal)
28 February, Dr Joachim (violin)
14 March, Miss Marie Olson (vocal)
28 March: This concert included Wagner, extracts from Parsifal and Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, given by the vocal soloists Miss Rosina Hammacott, Miss Lilian Hovey, Mr Gwilym Richards, and Mr Louis Frölich, with Mr Halford’s Choir, the Chorus of the Stourbridge People’s Concert Society, and a Choir of Boys from St. Anne’s Church, Moseley.
Volume 3 (1899-1900)
From this point on, each volume begins with an index of the composers featured in the programmes. Also from this point, programmes begin to note the number of times particular works have been performed at the series.
31 October, Miss Fanny Davies (piano)
14 November, Herr Theodor Werner (violin)
28 November, Giulia Ravogli (vocal)
12 December, Mrs Helen Trust (vocal)
16 January, Signor Ronchini (cello)
30 January, Alexander Siloti (piano)
13 February, Miss Agnes Witting (vocal)
27 February, Mr Ernst Schiever (violin) and Mr G. H. Manton (piano)
13 March, Herr Georg Liebling (piano)
27 March: this concert consisted of Beethoven Symphony No. 9, given by Miss Fillunger, Miss Alice Lakin, Mr Wright Beaumont, Mr Wilfrid Cunliffe; Mr Halford’s Choir and the Chorus of the Stourbridge People’s Concert Society
Volume 4 (1900-01)
30 October, Lady Hallé (violin). A concert of music by Mendelssohn, with a Romanza in F for violin by Beethoven.
13 November, Wilfrid Cunliffe (vocal), Miss Marguerite Elzy (piano) and Mr C. W. Perkins. A concert of English orchestral music including pieces by Herbert W. Wareing (Concert Piece for Orchestra), A. C.Mackenzie (Pianoforte Concerto) and Prout (Organ Concerto) conducted by the composers.
27 November, Willy Hess (violin). A concert of music by Beethoven, with violin solos by Joachim and David.
11 December, Katharine Goodson (piano). A concert of music by Tchaikovsky.
22 January, Miss Fanny Davies (piano). A handwritten annotation suggests that this concert was postponed.
5 February, Miss Marie Duma (vocal). A concert of music by Wagner.
19 February, Mr Frederick Dawson (piano)
5 March, Mr Louis Frölich (vocal) and Fanny Davies (piano)
19 March, Max Mossel (violin)
2 April: this concert consisted of Beethoven, Choral Fantasy and Symphony No. 9, with vocal soloists Miss Emily Davies, Miss Alice Lakin, Miss Aimée Wathen, Mr J. T. Birch, Mr Joseph Reed, Mr Henry Sunman; Mr Halford’s Choir, and the Chorus of the Stourbridge Concert Society.
Volume 5 (1901-02)
From this point on, each programme contains a list of the President and members of the concert series.
29 October, Mademoiselle Gabrielle Wiétrowetz (violin)
12 November, F. Busoni (piano). There are some brief handwritten annotations to this programme detailing the specific pieces played by Busoni.
26 November, E. Ysaye (violin)
17 December, Miss Theresa Rassam (vocal) and Willy Lehmann (cello)
21 January, Mademoiselle Marie Altona (vocal). This concert included songs by Granville Bantock and Elgar, Two New Military Marches ‘Pomp and Circumstance’, conducted by the composers.
4 February, Fanny Davies (piano)
18 February, Frederick Dawson (piano)
4 March, Miss Hannah Bryant and Alexandre Siloti (piano).
18 March, Miss Rosina Buckmann (vocal) and Mr Desire Lalande (oboe)
1 April, Schumann, Dramatic Poem ‘Manfred’ and Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 with reciter Mr Charles Fry and vocal soloists Miss Emily Davies, Madame Milward, Mr Henry Beaumont, Mr H. Sunman, Mr A. W. Trevarthen, Mr Sidney Stoddard and Mr Stevens with Mr Halford’s Choir and the Chorus of the Stourbridge Concert Concert.
Volume 6 (1902-03)
28 October, Dohnanyi (piano)
11 November, Giulia Ravogli (vocal). This concert included a Symphonic Poem ‘Dante’ composed and conducted by Granville Bantock.
25 November, Mr Sydney Poyser (vocal) and Mr G. H. Manton (piano)
9 December, Lady Hallé (violin). This concert included a Symphonic Poem ‘Sintram’ by George Halford.
27 January [no soloist]
10 February, Fritz Kreisler (violin)
24 February, Miss Hannah Bryant and Mr Alexandre Siloti (piano), including a Symphonic Poem ‘Lalla Rookh’ composed and conducted by Granville Bantock.
10 March, Madame Lyona (vocal), Miss Fanny Davies and Miss Kathleen Arnold (piano)
24 March, Dr. Adolf Drodsky (violin)
7 April, Mr Leonard Borwick (piano)
[NOTE: There may be more volumes to be found at this shelf mark].
These were orchestral concerts, with the repertory being drawn primarily from the nineteenth century and with a strong leaning towards Germanic composers. Each concert included either a vocal or instrumental soloist (as listed below) who typically performed two pieces. In later seasons two or three soloists were occasionally introduced. Where the solo items were vocal, the programmes include the relevant text.
All programmes provide a list of the orchestral players, conducted by George Halford, and carry a programme for the next concert in the series. That for the final concert of the season includes the dates for the next year. There are also extensive historical and analytical notes, with musical examples.
Volume 1 (1897-98)
2 November, Miss Marie Brema (vocal)
16 November, Mr Emile Sauret (violin)
30 November, Robert Kaufmann (vocal). This concert included the first English performance of Glazounov, Poème Lyrique.
14 December, Alexandre Siloti (piano)
18 January, Marie Fillunger (vocal)
1 February, Carl Fuchs (cello)
15 February, Miss Olga von Broemsen (vocal)
1 March, Mrs Helen Trust (vocal)
15 March, Mr Ernest Sharpe (vocal)
29 March, Miss Clotilde Kleeberg (piano)
This volume also includes an extract from The Daily Telegraph of 2 March 1906 entitled ‘The Halford Concerts Society’ and written by Joseph Bennett. This is unbound.
Volume 2 (1898-99)
All of Beethoven's symphonies were performed this season, beginning at the second concert and continuing chronological until the 9th was given at the final concert of the series. Also well represented was Wagner, whose music appears at least once in the majority of the performances.
There are some minor handwritten annotations to the programmes for this season. These provide corrections to the printed programme and are particularly evident in relation to the third concert where Alexandre Siloti was replaced by Dohnanyi as the piano soloist and the programme had to be changed as a result.
25 October, Emile Sauret (violin). This concert included Parry, Symphonic Variations in E minor, conducted by the composer
8 November, Louis Frölich (vocal)
22 November, Ernst von Dohnanyi (piano)
6 December, Frederic Lamond (piano)
17 January, Miss Louise Phillips (vocal)
31 January, Mr Adolf Brodsky (violin)
14 February, Miss Alice Esty (vocal)
28 February, Dr Joachim (violin)
14 March, Miss Marie Olson (vocal)
28 March: This concert included Wagner, extracts from Parsifal and Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, given by the vocal soloists Miss Rosina Hammacott, Miss Lilian Hovey, Mr Gwilym Richards, and Mr Louis Frölich, with Mr Halford’s Choir, the Chorus of the Stourbridge People’s Concert Society, and a Choir of Boys from St. Anne’s Church, Moseley.
Volume 3 (1899-1900)
From this point on, each volume begins with an index of the composers featured in the programmes. Also from this point, programmes begin to note the number of times particular works have been performed at the series.
31 October, Miss Fanny Davies (piano)
14 November, Herr Theodor Werner (violin)
28 November, Giulia Ravogli (vocal)
12 December, Mrs Helen Trust (vocal)
16 January, Signor Ronchini (cello)
30 January, Alexander Siloti (piano)
13 February, Miss Agnes Witting (vocal)
27 February, Mr Ernst Schiever (violin) and Mr G. H. Manton (piano)
13 March, Herr Georg Liebling (piano)
27 March: this concert consisted of Beethoven Symphony No. 9, given by Miss Fillunger, Miss Alice Lakin, Mr Wright Beaumont, Mr Wilfrid Cunliffe; Mr Halford’s Choir and the Chorus of the Stourbridge People’s Concert Society
Volume 4 (1900-01)
30 October, Lady Hallé (violin). A concert of music by Mendelssohn, with a Romanza in F for violin by Beethoven.
13 November, Wilfrid Cunliffe (vocal), Miss Marguerite Elzy (piano) and Mr C. W. Perkins. A concert of English orchestral music including pieces by Herbert W. Wareing (Concert Piece for Orchestra), A. C.Mackenzie (Pianoforte Concerto) and Prout (Organ Concerto) conducted by the composers.
27 November, Willy Hess (violin). A concert of music by Beethoven, with violin solos by Joachim and David.
11 December, Katharine Goodson (piano). A concert of music by Tchaikovsky.
22 January, Miss Fanny Davies (piano). A handwritten annotation suggests that this concert was postponed.
5 February, Miss Marie Duma (vocal). A concert of music by Wagner.
19 February, Mr Frederick Dawson (piano)
5 March, Mr Louis Frölich (vocal) and Fanny Davies (piano)
19 March, Max Mossel (violin)
2 April: this concert consisted of Beethoven, Choral Fantasy and Symphony No. 9, with vocal soloists Miss Emily Davies, Miss Alice Lakin, Miss Aimée Wathen, Mr J. T. Birch, Mr Joseph Reed, Mr Henry Sunman; Mr Halford’s Choir, and the Chorus of the Stourbridge Concert Society.
Volume 5 (1901-02)
From this point on, each programme contains a list of the President and members of the concert series.
29 October, Mademoiselle Gabrielle Wiétrowetz (violin)
12 November, F. Busoni (piano). There are some brief handwritten annotations to this programme detailing the specific pieces played by Busoni.
26 November, E. Ysaye (violin)
17 December, Miss Theresa Rassam (vocal) and Willy Lehmann (cello)
21 January, Mademoiselle Marie Altona (vocal). This concert included songs by Granville Bantock and Elgar, Two New Military Marches ‘Pomp and Circumstance’, conducted by the composers.
4 February, Fanny Davies (piano)
18 February, Frederick Dawson (piano)
4 March, Miss Hannah Bryant and Alexandre Siloti (piano).
18 March, Miss Rosina Buckmann (vocal) and Mr Desire Lalande (oboe)
1 April, Schumann, Dramatic Poem ‘Manfred’ and Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 with reciter Mr Charles Fry and vocal soloists Miss Emily Davies, Madame Milward, Mr Henry Beaumont, Mr H. Sunman, Mr A. W. Trevarthen, Mr Sidney Stoddard and Mr Stevens with Mr Halford’s Choir and the Chorus of the Stourbridge Concert Concert.
Volume 6 (1902-03)
28 October, Dohnanyi (piano)
11 November, Giulia Ravogli (vocal). This concert included a Symphonic Poem ‘Dante’ composed and conducted by Granville Bantock.
25 November, Mr Sydney Poyser (vocal) and Mr G. H. Manton (piano)
9 December, Lady Hallé (violin). This concert included a Symphonic Poem ‘Sintram’ by George Halford.
27 January [no soloist]
10 February, Fritz Kreisler (violin)
24 February, Miss Hannah Bryant and Mr Alexandre Siloti (piano), including a Symphonic Poem ‘Lalla Rookh’ composed and conducted by Granville Bantock.
10 March, Madame Lyona (vocal), Miss Fanny Davies and Miss Kathleen Arnold (piano)
24 March, Dr. Adolf Drodsky (violin)
7 April, Mr Leonard Borwick (piano)
[NOTE: There may be more volumes to be found at this shelf mark].
Format
Date range of collection
1897 - 1903
Accumulation Dates
-
Suggested Audience
Not Specific
Associated People or Organisations
- Ysaÿe, Eugène -
- Witting, Agnes -
- Wietrowetz, Gabriele -
- Werner, Theodore -
- Wathen, Aimee -
- Wareing, Herbert W. -
- Wagner, Richard -
- von Broemsen, Olga -
- Trust, Helen -
- Tchaikovsky, Pyotr -
- Sunman, Henry -
- Stourbridge People's Concert Society -
- Siloti, Alexandre -
- Sharpe, Ernest -
- Schiever, Ernst -
- Sauret, Emile -
- Ronchini, Signor -
- Richards, Gwilym -
- Reed, Joseph -
- Ravogli, Giulia -
- Rassam, Theresa -
- Prout, Ebenezer -
- Poyser, Sydney -
- Phillips, Louise -
- Perkins, C. W. (Mr) -
- Parry, C. Hubert Hastings -
- Olson, Marie -
- Mossel, Max -
- Mendelssohn, Felix -
- Manton, G. H. -
- Mackenzie, Alexander Campbell -
- Liebling, Georg -
- Lehmann, Willy -
- Lamond, Frederic -
- Lalande Desire -
- Lakin, Alice -
- Kreisler, Fritz 1875 - 1962
- Kleeberg, Clotilde -
- Kaufmann, Robert -
- Joachim, Joseph -
- Hovey, Lilian -
- -
- Hess, Willy -
- Hammacott, Rosina -
- Hallé, Lady (Wilma Norman-Neruda) 1838 - 1911
- Halford, George -
- Goodson, Katherine -
- Glazunov, Alexander -
- Fuchs, Carl -
- Frölich, Louis -
- Fillunger, Marie -
- Esty, Alice -
- Elzy, Marguerite -
- Elgar, Edward -
- Duma, Marie -
- Dohnányi, Ernö -
- Dawson, Frederick -
- Davies, Fanny -
- Davies, Emily -
- Cunliffe, Wilfrid -
- Busoni, Ferruccio -
- Brodsky, Adolph -
- Brema, Marie -
- Borwick, Leonard -
- Birch, J. T. -
- Bennett, Joseph -
- Beethoven, Ludwig van -
- Beaumont, Wright -
- Bantock, Granville -
- Arnold, Kathleen -
- Altona, Marie -
Associated Places
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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
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