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The first rehearsal of
Cirencester Choral Society took place on Tuesday 6th October 1863
under the direction of Frederick Helmore, the nationally renowned
‘Musical Missionary’. He started similar classes, soon to become
choral societies, nationwide and how many, like Cirencester,
survive today? Contact our Archivist if you have come across
Frederick Helmore’s name in the history of your Society.
He was followed in 1864 by the youthful but
revered Richard Mann, a former Child of the Chapel Royal, who died
in 1869 at the tragically early age of 33.
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Edward Brind (Conductor 1877-95) had
earlier been Parry’s first music teacher and was followed as
conductor by the long-serving Arthur Gibbons (1896-1923). A high
spot was the visit, in 1905, of Sir Hubert Parry to conduct his
oratorio ‘Job’.
In spite of attempts to revive it after the
Great War, the Society lay silent until it was re-formed in 1937.
The Society’s archives for 1945 contain letters of acceptance to
become Patrons from Ralph Vaughan Williams, Herbert Howells and
Reginald Jacques. Since then it has continued to sing under a
succession of professional conductors including, in 1959-60, the
now Master of the Queen’s Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
Former Conductors, Joyce Lang, David White, John
Wright and David Whitehead remain Honorary Life Members and we are
grateful for their continuing friendship and support. |
