Foundation of Capel Choral
Society
From Capel Parish Magazine, November 1904
"A
meeting was held, by invitation, at the Schools on Saturday October
22nd (1904) to consider the advisability of the formation
of a Choral Society in Capel. There is quite sufficient musical
talent in the village to form such a society, and the weekly
meetings for the practice of the music would be a very pleasant
evening's work and recreation. Some twenty-six gave in their names
at the close of the meeting as being willing to join.. Membership is
by invitation only; anyone wishing to join should apply to Miss
Cazalet at Wickney Holt. Practice will be at the Schools on
Wednesdays as a rule. Miss Macintyre will conduct and the duties of
accompanist will be undertaken by Miss Mortimer and Miss Hilda
Palmer."
From Capel Parish Magazine, June 1905
"Music in Villages. The members
of our Choral Society, which was started last autumn in Capel,
distinguished themselves in the Leith Hill Choral Society's
Competition held at Dorking on May 10th, by winning a very handsome
Challenge Banner presented by Lady Farrer, the President, for the
best Quartette. Dr. Somervell, the judge, laid stress on the
importance of the blending of the voices in quartette singing and
said he thought, on the whole, that the singing in this quartette
was to be very much commended. It was a difficult piece and there
were awkward intervals and rather unexpected chords. The subject
(unaccompanied) was 'In Silent Night' by Brahms. The winning
quartette was composed of Miss Mortimer, Miss Cazalet, Mr J. Gore
and the Rev. A. J. Howell. Our second quartette also did very well
- it consisted of the Misses Winnie and Hilda Palmer, Mr A. Hooker
and Mr F. Lawrence.
The immediate object of the
organisation so auspiciously started is to lead village people to
take a more real and intelligent interest in the performance of good
music, an interest which should abide with them to brighten their
after-lives. In several villages in the neighbourhood of Dorking
small Choral Societies - embracing every grade of life, every sect
of religion, and every side of politics - have been meeting week by
week during the winter months with a view of entering the
competition for various prizes and challenge banners. The music
selected for these purposes had been chosen with a view to its
ultimate use in a combined Musical Festival.
The remarkable success with which
the combined Choirs carried through the really rather ambitious
programme arranged for them at Dorking is sufficient evidence that
its promoters had not over-rated their musical capacity.
The interest that the performers
themselves take in the festival is shown by the fact that over 200
singers took part in the competition and, accompanied by the band,
joined in giving at the evening concert Mendelssohn's 'He watching
over Israel' from the 'Elijah' and a selection from Handel's 'Judas
Maccabeus'.
The performance was under the
able conductorship of Dr, Vaughan Williams and the concert had the
very valuable assistance of Mr. J. Francis Harford and Miss B.
Booker while Mr. Henry Bird accompanied.
In these days, when we
hear so much of Rural De-population, all that can lead to increase
the relative interest in life in the rural districts must be deemed
of very great importance and amongst all the possible means of
increasing that interest it is not easy to discern any that even
competes with the study of music, conducted on the simple and
pleasant lines that have led to such satisfactory results in the
villages of West Surrey. |
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