Worcester Festival Choral Society Explained

Origin:Worcester, England
Founding:October 1861
Choirmaster:Samuel Hudson
Organist:Nicholas Freestone
Website:Worcester Festival Choral Society web page

Worcester Festival Choral Society (WFCS) is an independent, SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) choir of around 150 amateur singers that presents classical choral concerts at Worcester Cathedral, Worcester. The conductor is Samuel Hudson (Worcester Cathedral’s Director of Music)[1] and the accompanist is Nicholas Freestone (Worcester Cathedral’s Assistant Director of Music). The Chairman is Susan White. The President is The Lord Bishop of Worcester and Senior Vice President is The Dean of Worcester.[2]

Choir

Worcester Festival Choral Society was founded in 1861 and has performed classical choral music in the City of Worcester ever since. Initially staging its concerts in Worcester’s former Music Hall (later known as the Public Hall; now demolished), most of the Society’s concerts since 1930 have taken place in Worcester Cathedral.[3] [4] [5] To date the Society performed more than 350 concerts. It has also staged several choral premieres, been recorded, performed in other UK cities and hosted conductors such as Sir Edward Elgar.

The Society’s current concert orchestra is the Meridian Sinfonia, which has played at WFCS concerts since 2013. Each concert is also supported by professional soloists.[6]

Directors of Music

Conductor Years
1861 - 1868 & 1888-1889[7] [8] [9]
1889 - 1897[10] [11] [12] [13]
1897 - 1950[14] [15] [16]
1950 - 1957[17]
1957 - 1963[18] [19]
1963 - 1974[20]
1975 - 1997[21] [22]
1997 - 2012[23]
2012 - 2018[24] [25]
Christopher Allsop 2018 - 2019[26] [27]
Samuel Hudson 2019 -[28] [29]

History

Worcester Festival Choral Society was first established in 1861. Its aims were to cultivate choral music, and to provide singers to the Three Choirs Festival Chorus. These aims are still part of its objectives today.

The Society had close links with composer Sir Edward Elgar in the 1890s. At that time Elgar, who lived in Worcester, was a musician and not yet famous for composing music. Worcester Festival Choral Society had its own informal orchestral Band, and in the 1890s violinist Elgar became its leader. Several other musician members of his family also played in the WFCS Band.As Elgar’s reputation grew, WFCS performed several of his choral works at its concerts, conducted by the composer. Elgar also wrote two choral works that were given their world premiere by Worcester Festival Choral Society, which he also conducted: The Black Knight (1892)[30] and Scenes from the Bavarian Highlands (1895)[31] [3]. Two WFCS conductors of that era were also close friends of Edward Elgar,[32] [33] [34] and have music dedicated to them: his cantata The Black Knight was dedicated to Hugh Blair;[35] and the Third Pomp and Circumstance March (1904) was dedicated to Ivor Atkins. [4][5]. Other composers and conductors to have guest-conducted Worcester Festival Choral Society concerts over its history include Hubert Parry, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Walford Davies, Charles Villiers Stanford, Vernon Handley, Jonathan Willcocks and Sir Adrian Boult.

Worcester Festival Choral Society presents choral works written for SATB chorus, orchestra and soloists. Amongst the more traditional works performed are requiems, masses and oratorios by composers such as Mozart, Bach, Verdi, Haydn, Handel and Brahms. The choir also performs many late 19th/early 20th century choral pieces by composers such as Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Poulenc, Fauré and Britten; and later works by living composers including Morten Lauridsen, Jonathan Willcocks and Jonathan Dove.[36]

In addition to its own concerts, Worcester Festival Choral Society’s appearances around the UK have included the King's Lynn festival and two Elgar Festivals at the Royal Albert Hall in the 1970s; Elgar concerts at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall with the BBC Singers and Chorus in the early 1990s; and a performance of Britten's War Requiem at Symphony Hall with the CBSO and City of Birmingham Chorus in 2004. Many of its singers also took part in a Three Choirs Festival 300th anniversary performance that was given to The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace in 2015. The following year, one of WFCS’s past Directors of Music, Sir David Willcocks, died. As a tribute, Worcester Festival Choral Society joined Worcester Cathedral Choir to create a music CD featuring many of the Christmas carol arrangements for which David Willcocks was famous, and it briefly entered the UK’s classical music charts.[37]

The Society has commissioned two pieces from its conductors: A Song of Celebration composed by Dr Donald Hunt in 1995 (marking English Music Year); and Creation Canticles, by Adrian Lucas, in 2004.

For its 150th season in 2011, the Worcester Festival Choral Society performed Belshazzar’s Feast by Walton held a black tie dinner in Worcester’s Guildhall, which the four living Directors of Music (Sir David Willcocks, Dr Christopher Robinson, Dr Donald Hunt and Adrian Lucas) attended.

Performances

Music conducted or attended by the composer

[46]

Other event-related performances

[60]

DateComposerCompositionDetails
26 March 1947Edward ElgarThe ApostlesCelebrating 50 years of Sir Ivor Atkins as Organist and Choirmaster
5 June 1953George_Frideric_Handel'sCoronation Anthem
14 March 1970Edward ElgarThe Music MakersThe 'So Called' Centenary concert conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
5 May 1978Edward ElgarThe Music MakersParticipation in the Royal Albert Hall Concert with Sir Charles Groves, Yehudi Menuhin, Paul Tortelier and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra[61] [62] [63]
16 June 1980Edward ElgarThe ApostlesElgar Foundation Concert at the Royal Albert Hall Concert[64]
2 June 1981Edward ElgarThe Music MakersOn the unveiling of the Elgar Statue in Worcester with the CBSO[65] [66]
24 July 1981Edward ElgarDream of GerontiusPerforming at the King's Lynn festival conducted by Vernon Handley[67]
13 Nov 2004Benjamin BrittenWar RequiemSinging with the CBSO chorus and orchestra at Symphony Hall Birmingham. Conducted by Adrian Lucas[68]
2 April 2011William WaltonBelshazzar’s Feast150th Anniversary celebration attended by 4 living conductors
19 Nov 2011Edward ElgarThe Dream of Gerontius150th Anniversary of the Worcester Festival Choral Society[69]
24 Nov 2015George_Frideric_HandelZadok the PriestSelected members singing at Buckingham Palace with other members of the Three Choirs Festival Chorus, to celebrate the festival's tricentennial[70]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Worcestershire Organists' Association . 8 February 2022.
  2. Book: Whitefoot . Michelle . A Choral Chronicle . 2020 . Whitefoot PR Ltd . 978-1-5272-7786-1.
  3. Smith . Richard . The Elgar Society Journal . The Elgar Society Journal . 18 . 5 . 7 . 21 August 2022 .
  4. Book: Parsons . Mary . A prevailing Passion . 1996 . Osborne Heritage . 1-872962-95-5 .
  5. News: Pryce . Michael . 160 Years of Passion from Choral Society . Worcester News . 2022-02-21.
  6. Web site: WORCESTER FESTIVAL CHORAL SOCIETY ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS CONCERTS CONCERT ARCHIVE . United States Documents . 22 February 2022.
  7. Book: Boden . Anthony . Hedley . Paul . The Three Choirs Festival: A History . Boydell & Brewer . 158–160 . 2017-06-17. 978-1783272099.
  8. Web site: Morrison . David . William Done – a Victorian Cathedral Organist . 19 August 2021 . Worcester Cathedral Library . 13 February 2022.
  9. Obituary: William Done . The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular . 1895 . 36 . 631 . 620 . 3361330 . 25 February 2022.
  10. Book: Allen . Kevin . Worcester's Forgotten Organist . 2019 . Kevin Allen, Hampshire . 978-0-9531227-7-6.
  11. News: Worcester News . 5 February 2022 . 2021-11-27.
  12. Web site: Quinn . John . review of Hugh Blair: Worcester's Forgotten Organist . 8 February 2022.
  13. Obituary: Hugh Blair . The Musical Times . 1932 . 73 . 1075 . 848 . 919838 . 25 February 2022.
  14. Book: Atkins . E. Wulstan . The Elgar-Atkins Friendship . 1984 . David & Charles . 0-7153-8583-6.
  15. Web site: Ivor Atkins (Composer, Arranger) . Bach Cantatas Website . 10 February 2022.
  16. Honour to Sir Ivor Atkins . The Musical Times . 1947 . 88 . 1257 . 361 . 933147 . 25 February 2022.
  17. News: Daily Telegraph . 5 February 2022 . 2015-09-17.
  18. News: Memorial. 1997-02-11 . The Times . 65810 .
  19. Pope . Michael . DR DOUGLAS GUEST C.V.O . Elgar Society . 10 . 1 . March 1997 . 31–32 . 23 August 2022.
  20. News: Malvern Gazette . 2012-03-20.
  21. News: Lindley . Dr Simon . Church Times . 6 February 2022 . 2018-08-17.
  22. Web site: Donald Frederick Hunt. OBE . Recorded Church Music . 12 February 2022.
  23. News: Adrian picks up the baton for last time . 10 February 2022 . Worcester News . 2012-03-12.
  24. Web site: Classical events . 17 March 2018 . 8 February 2022.
  25. News: Remember the Queen's coronation . 9 February 2022 . Ledbury Reporter. 2013-03-15.
  26. News: George . Rob . Worcester Observer . 8 February 2022 . 2018-04-05.
  27. Web site: The Annual WOA Recital – Christopher Allsop . Worcester Organists Association . 22 February 2022.
  28. Pound . Jeremy . Let's sing for Christmas . BBC Music Magazine . Dec 2021.
  29. Web site: Hudson . Samuel . Meet the Team . Three Choirs Festival . Three Choirs Festival Ltd. . 17 August 2022.
  30. Smith . Richard . The Elgar Society Journal . The Elgar Society Journal . 18 . 5 . 4–20 . 21 August 2022 .
  31. Book: Sadie . Stanley . The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians . 2001 . New York : Grove . 0-333-60800-3 . Vol 28 under Worcester.
  32. Some of Elgar's Friends . The Musical Times . 1934 . 75 . 1094 . 319–320 . 10.2307/918850 . 918850 . 25 February 2022.
  33. Web site: Allen . Kevin . The Elgar Society Journal Vol. 21, No. 4 April 2019 . The Elgar Society . 8 September 2022.
  34. Web site: Shiel . Alison I . The Elgar Society Journal Vol 13, No. 5 April 2014 . The ElgarSociety . 21 August 2022.
  35. Web site: Hugh Blair (1864 – 1932) . 18 April 2017 . Rousseau Media Music . 21 February 2022.
  36. Web site: Worcester Festival Choral Society - past concert posters Worcester Festival Choral Society . 2023-12-03 . www.wfcs.online.
  37. Web site: Whitehead . Steven . A Tribute To Sir David Willcocks . Cross Rhythms . 22 February 2022.
  38. Web site: The Early Cantatas . ELGAR COMPLETE EDITION . The Elgar Society . 22 February 2022.
  39. Web site: The Black Knight Opus 25 . The Elgar Society . 21 August 2022.
  40. Web site: From the Bavarian Highlands . ELGAR COMPLETE EDITION . The Elgar Society . 22 February 2022.
  41. Web site: From The Bavarian Highlands, op 27 . The Elgar Society . 10 September 2022.
  42. MacDonald . Calum . The Black Tower . Tempo . 1976 . 118 . 49–50 . 944239 . 8 March 2022 . Cambridge University Press.
  43. Web site: The Wulstan Atkins Lecture . Church music Society . 6 February 2022.
  44. News: Worcester News . 2004-04-02.
  45. Web site: Archive of Previous Concerts . WFCS Online . Worcester Festival Choral Society . 10 September 2022.
  46. Book: Whitefoot . Michelle . A Choral Chronicle . 2020 . Whitefoot PR Ltd . 978-1-5272-7786-1.
  47. Book: Allen . Kevin . Worcester's Forgotten Organist . 2019 . Kevin Allen, Hampshire . 66–73 . 978-0-9531227-7-6.
  48. News: London and Provincial Notes . 45 219-223 Vol. 4 . The Minim a musical magazine for everybody; Cheltenham . June 1897.
  49. Music in Worcester . The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. Musical Times Publications LTD. . 1900 . 41 . 688 . 408–409 . 3365606 . 27 February 2022.
  50. Book: Allen . Kevin . August Jaeger: Portrait of Nimrod . 2017-09-14 . Routledge . 978-1138732087 . 82 . 24 March 2022.
  51. Book: Moore . Jerrold Northrop . Edward Elgar, A Creative Life . 1984 . Oxford University Press . 0-19-315447-1.
  52. News: Worcester News . 5 February 2022 . 1980-09-08.
  53. News: Crochet . Dotted . Worcester Cathedral . 17 March 2022 . 753 . The Musical Times . 1905-11-01 . 46 . PP704-714.
  54. Book: Kennedy . Michael . The life of Elgar . 18 March 2004 . Cambridge University Press . 0-521-00907-3 . 148.
  55. Web site: Morrison . David . Worcester Cathedral Library and Archive Blog . 11 May 2016 . Worcester Cathedral Library . 8 February 2022.
  56. Day . Edgar . Interpreting 'Gerontius': Personal Memories of Elgar in Rehearsal . The Musical Times . 1969 . 110 . 1516 . 607–608 . 10.2307/951754 . 951754 . 27 February 2022.
  57. Web site: Worcester Festival Choral Society Archive of Previous Concerts . 7 February 2022.
  58. News: Choral Society Concert . 10 September 2022 . Worcester News . 9 October 2014.
  59. News: Cooper . Ben . Choral Chronicle . 10 September 2022 . Worcester Festival Choral Society . 1 September 2017.
  60. Book: Whitefoot . Michelle . A Choral Chronicle . 2020 . Whitefoot PR Ltd . 978-1-5272-7786-1.
  61. The Elgar Society . The Elgar Society Newsletter . 12 . 21 August 2022 .
  62. News: Worcester News . 5 February 2022 . 2003-04-04.
  63. Music in Worcester . The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular. Musical Times Publications LTD. . 1900 . 41 . 688 . 408–409 . 3365606 . 27 February 2022.
  64. News: Listings. 1980-06-16 . The Times . 60627 .
  65. News: Loveland . Kenneth . 1981-06-04 . The Times . 60945 .
  66. Loveland . Kenneth . Reports . The Musical Times . 1981 . 122 . 1662 . 548–553 . 10.2307/964175 . 964175 . 27 February 2022.
  67. Book: 24 July-1 August 1981: King's Lynn Festival (brochure)..
  68. Web site: City of Birmingham Choir concerts from 2002 . 7 February 2022.
  69. Web site: Worcester Festival Choral Society Archive of Previous Concerts . 7 February 2022.
  70. News: Hereford Times . 5 February 2022 . 2015-12-01.