Jump to content

User:Doug butler/Sydney Choral Society

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sydney Choral Society was the name of several choirs: the first established in 1845, with strong links to the Anglican Church; the second in 1870, another founded by George Edmund Boyle in 1898. Their histories have been closely linked with philharmonic societies and other choral societies in Sydney.

History

[edit]

The society was established in April 1845 by Henry John Hatch[a] The first committee comprised Hatch, treasurer, later secretary; George R. Hirst, secretary; Dr Charles Nathan FRCS;[3] Henry Tingcombe (later Rev. Tingcombe),[4] C. D. Logan (c. 1803–1864),[5] John Philip Deane, W. McDonell.[6] Practice meetings were held in St James Church schoolroom, Elizabeth Street.[7]

In September 1846, around the time of a special general meeting of the Choral Society, held to discuss progress of the organ, the Harmonic Society[b] was inexplicably denied use of the schoolroom on Castlereagh Street (regularly used by the Choral Society) for a charity concert.[9] Also around this time secretaryship passed from W. McDonell to H. McDonell.

The Society's general meeting of 1857 was poorly attended, and had little positive to report. They were in debt and had few members attending practice sessions. Rev. Thomas Druitt was secretary from 1851[10] to 1856, when he took two years' leave for a return to England;[11] during his absence members Society decided to wind up its affairs. In August 1858 their custom-built organ was advertised for sale.[12]

On 21 December 1858 the Sydney Vocal Harmonic Society was founded by Rev. Henry Judge Hose, Warden of St Paul's College; Rev. W. H. Walsh (died 17 December 1882),[13] William Wilkins, inspector and superintendent of the National (ie. State) Schools; also Thomas Druitt and Charles Nathan, and other members of the old Choral Society, accepting its unpaid debts. James Waller observed that the reason for the Society's demise was its status as an (Anglican) church body.[11] Other members include William J. Cordner, organist at St Mary's Cathedral, as conductor and Charles S. Packer as organist, G. J. Reid as librarian and assistant secretary. Rev. Allwood arranged for use of the church room for practising.[14]

In 1861 the Vocal Harmonic Society left the Castlereagh Street schoolroom for the new Freemasons' Hall between Clarence and York streets, and the Sydney Philharmonic Society entered into a similar arrangement.[15] In 1862, after years of cooperation on larger productions such as Messiah, the Philharmonic Society purchased the effects of the smaller body, thus effecting an amalgamation.[16] William Cordner was appointed chorus master and organist.

Carl Schmitt, by Punch

The merger turned sour for the choristers, as the Philharmonic Society increasingly turned to purely instrumental works. In 1870 a new Sydney Choral Society was formed at Needs' Rooms on Pitt Street, with Carl Schmitt as conductor.[17] Their first production, Handel's oratorio, Judas Maccabaeus, with around 150 in the chorus, at the School of Arts on 28 June, was favorably reviewed.[18] Major works in 1871 included Haydn's Seasons at the Masonic Hall; Neukomm's Hymn from the Easter Morning at the Masonic Hall and Messiah at the Prince of Wales Opera House, were successful artistically and financially.[19] The following annual report was less positive — the Society, had mounted six concerts but despite the best efforts of Schmitt and organist E. A. Roper, the Society reported a nett loss of around £80.[20] Schmitt, who had been suffering indifferent health, retired as conductor shortly after.[21] In July 1873 the Society changed its name to Philharmonic Society,[22] the name having fallen into disuse.[23] Alex Rea was the new conductor and organist.

Quote from article Joseph Massey sen. He became conductor of Sydney's first philharmonic society[24] and the Sydney Choral Society, which met at the Sydney School of Arts,[c] and produced the well-known oratorios Messiah and Judas Maccabaeus and others.[26]

The Sydney Sacred Choral Society performed Mendelssohn's Elijah in 1879

Sydney Choral Orchestral Society

Sydney Choral Society led by a Miss Robinson 1894

Sydney Choral Society of the Royal Agricultural Society 1898, conducted by G. E. Boyle,[d] still going 1901[29][30]

Sydney Federal Choral Society[31]

Town Hall Concert[32] vanishes or turns into singing class? 1907

Sydney Choral Operatic Society[33]
Sydney Harmonic Choral Society[34]

being called Sydney Choral Society[35]

Back again? SCS sings Elijah in 1915[36] under W. Reginald Gooud[37]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Hatch founded a private school at Hereford House, Glebe, in September 1845.[1] He married around the same time, then twelve months later returned to England.[2] Other references credit Deane for the clubs establishment.
  2. ^ The "Harmonic Society" could be either of several informal men's organisations that met weekly at Sydney hotels — the Sportsman's Arms" on lower George Street[8] and the "Garrick's Head" on Pitt Street — created largely for the hotels' benefit
  3. ^ Charles S. Packer, composer of The Crown of Thorns oratorio, was accompanist.[25] This is one of the few articles that credit Massey with five sons: Joseph, Arthur, Edward, James and Thomas.
  4. ^ George Edmund Boyle (died 12 January 1936) was also professor of singing at St Ignatius' College, Riverview, and St Scholastica's College, Glebe Point, choirmaster of St Patrick's Church, Churchill, and ran a popular singing class at Hunter Street, Sydney. He was married to pianist Elizabeth J. "Lizzie" Boyle (died 7 July 1936),[27][28] living at 348 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst. They were parents of internationally known pianist and composer George Frederick Boyle.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XX, no. 2611. New South Wales, Australia. 25 September 1845. p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XXI, no. 2839. New South Wales, Australia. 25 June 1846. p. 4. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Mr Charles Nathan, F.R.C.S." The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. XIV, no. 639. New South Wales, Australia. 28 September 1872. p. 393. Retrieved 30 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Rev. Henry Tincombe, Formerly of Armidale". The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 21 August 1874. p. 7. Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XLIX, no. 8071. New South Wales, Australia. 21 April 1864. p. 11. Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XIX, no. 2477. New South Wales, Australia. 22 April 1845. p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XXXV, no. 5246. New South Wales, Australia. 18 March 1854. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Friends of Harmony". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XIV, no. 1754. New South Wales, Australia. 31 December 1842. p. 3. Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Extreme Rights". The Spectator (Sydney). Vol. I, no. 33. New South Wales, Australia. 5 September 1846. p. 387. Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XXXII, no. 4582. New South Wales, Australia. 21 January 1852. p. 1. Retrieved 31 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ a b "The Sydney Harmonic Vocal Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XXXIX, no. 6383. New South Wales, Australia. 20 November 1858. p. 6. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XXXIX, no. 6305. New South Wales, Australia. 21 August 1858. p. 10. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "The Late Rev. Canon Walsh". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 13, 955. New South Wales, Australia. 20 December 1882. p. 9. Retrieved 1 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "First Annual Meeting of the S.V.H.S." Empire (newspaper). No. 2, 597. New South Wales, Australia. 21 January 1860. p. 4. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Dedication of the New Freemasons' Hall". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XLIII, no. 7160. New South Wales, Australia. 21 May 1861. p. 11. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Sydney Philharmonic Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. XLV, no. 7408. New South Wales, Australia. 5 March 1862. p. 5. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "New Music Society". Sydney Mail. Vol. XI, no. 507. New South Wales, Australia. 19 March 1870. p. 4. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "The Empire". Empire (newspaper). No. 5808. New South Wales, Australia. 29 June 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Sydney Choral Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. LXV, no. 10, 558. New South Wales, Australia. 21 March 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "News of the Day". Evening News (Sydney). No. 1831. New South Wales, Australia. 21 June 1873. p. 2. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "The Sydney Choral Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. LXVII, no. 10953. New South Wales, Australia. 25 June 1873. p. 4. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Music and Drama". The Sydney Morning Herald. Vol. LXVIII, no. 10, 968. New South Wales, Australia. 12 July 1873. p. 7. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Dramatic and Musical Review". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. VI, no. 134. New South Wales, Australia. 27 July 1872. p. 20. Retrieved 3 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "60 Years an Organist". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate. No. 21, 297. New South Wales, Australia. 6 January 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 11 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Music". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. LXIX, no. 2068. New South Wales, Australia. 24 February 1900. p. 438. Retrieved 12 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "The Late Mr Joseph Massey, sen". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 19, 323. New South Wales, Australia. 16 February 1900. p. 8. Retrieved 12 April 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 738. New South Wales, Australia. 9 July 1936. p. 8. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 739. New South Wales, Australia. 10 July 1936. p. 10. Retrieved 2 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "The Sydney Choral Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 19, 768. New South Wales, Australia. 20 July 1901. p. 14. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Amusements". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 19, 773. New South Wales, Australia. 26 July 1901. p. 9. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "Federal Choral Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 21, 091. New South Wales, Australia. 11 October 1905. p. 12. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "Town Hall Concert". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 21, 459. New South Wales, Australia. 29 October 1906. p. 3. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ^ "Sydney Choral Operatic Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 21, 617. New South Wales, Australia. 1 May 1907. p. 12. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ^ "Highland Society's Concert". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 22, 766. New South Wales, Australia. 31 December 1910. p. 14. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ^ "Sydney Choral Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 23, 493. New South Wales, Australia. 28 April 1913. p. 5. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "Sydney Choral Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 24, 231. New South Wales, Australia. 6 September 1915. p. 4. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "Sydney Choral Society". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 24, 578. New South Wales, Australia. 14 October 1916. p. 8. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Doug_butler/Sydney_Choral_Society&oldid=1226910356"