Billy the man of culture - Getting a taste for music
Billy had a great interest in “high culture” in all its forms.
Given any opportunity he would go and listen to a musical
performance, attend a play, visit an art gallery or tour an
historic building. He didn’t seem to have any consistent guide in
this gradually accumulating appreciation for artistic merit but he
seemed to have an inner compass which guided his choice. He would
occasionally go with friends to pantomimes, music halls and the
like, but he didn’t think much of them and generally preferred to
take himself off to some more refined entertainment.
Saturday 6th Jul 1895 (while working at Hampton Court)
Jim Garman and I arranged to have an outing to hear a little good
music so bus’d to Richmond, took District Railway to South
Kensington for Imperial Institute to hear the famous Strauss
Orchestra.
Imperial Institute, South
Kensington, The Queen’s London, 1896, p.21.
Arrived in time for afternoon concert. Grand affair. Very
fashionable company - Duke and Duchess of York.
After concert looked over photography and railway exhibitions, both
very good. From 8.30 p.m. to 10.30 hear Band again, this time
gardens illuminated and looked A1. Came out about 11 and arranged
to stay in town if we could get a bed which after a time we
succeeded in doing at Rose and Crown Coffee Palace, High Road,
Knightsbridge.
Sunday 7th July 1895
Got up about 8.30. Saw 2nd Life Guards parade in barracks opposite,
marched with them and Band to Albert Gate and Trinity Church. Had
breakfast and went along Brompton Road with the intention of going
to Oratory, but just before we reached there Jim met a young lady
from Leatherhead so came back with her through the Park. Then, not
knowing how to spend the morning, we strolled into St. James Park,
saw Scots Guards Band and Pipers coming from Changing the Guard.
Came back with them to Buckingham Palace and stayed about there
till dinnertime. Dined off Edgar Road and then to Kensington
Gardens and Albert Hall.
Royal Albert Hall, The Queen’s
London, 1896, p.19.
There heard another grand concert – String Band of Royal Artillery,
60 strong, grand organ, soloists etc. Had tea and walked to Hyde
Park Grandstand. London Rifle Brigade Band played there till 6.30.
While there met a Scots Guardsman, an old chum of Jim’s, and went
with him to Green Park to hear Band of Horse Guards Blues till
8.30. Then back to Hyde Park and heard the 1st Life Guards for an
hour. Never heard so much music in a day before. All bands were
first class. Took bus to Waterloo and arrived at Hampton Court
about 12. Only one thing happened to mar the day – Jim accidentally
gave a bus conductor a sovereign for a shilling and didn’t notice
it till off the bus.
Monday 23rd March 1896
To Surbiton Assembly Rooms this evening. Heard Handel’s “Judas
Maccabeus” by Surbiton Choral Society. Enjoyed it very much. Shall
endeavour to hear the “Messiah” at earliest opportunity.
Surbiton Assembly Rooms, photo by
Motmit, Creative
Commons, Attribution
ShareAlike 3.0 License:.
Good Friday 3rd April 1896
Having the day off decided to go to Crystal Palace (have done that
many times before but never got there). Caught train about 10.30,
went via Clapham Junction and arrived at the Palace at about
noon.
Crystal Palace, The Queen’s London,
1896, p.17.
Had a walk through picture galleries and saw a few other sights
then devoted remainder of the day to music of which there was
plenty. Heard first the company’s Orchestral Band under Mr August
Manns[1] and the Brass Band conducted
by Chas. Godfrey Jun., both very good. Then took my seat for the
event of the day, the Grand Sacred Concert. The place was now
packed, every seat I should think filled. Splendid affair,
programme consisting of various selections from best composers (all
sacred) sustained by Miss Macintyre, Miss Marian McKenzie, Madame
Stenson, Mr Edward Lloyd and Mr Santley, the two bands plus organ.
Enjoyed all except a headache I managed to get hold of but cured
that with tea then heard the famous band of the Grenadier Guards
conducted by Lieut. Dan Godfrey, an organ recital and to finish a
concert by the combined bands. Stayed till 10 and got home about
11.30.
Thursday 14th May 1896
Billy Johnson and I went to St. Albans Teddington to hear Gounod’s
“Redemption”. Very good.
Friday 24th December 1897
[Up in London searching for building supplies] Afterwards to the
Savoy Theatre for “The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein”[2]. Didn’t form a very high opinion of
it.
Christmas Day 1897
Afterwards went to Queen’s Hall (alone) for the “Messiah” having
promised myself that treat for a very long time, and a very fine
treat it was too, though some parts of it certainly did not exceed
my expectations.
Saturday 30th April 1898
Knocked off at 12 to catch 12.35 for Victoria … Made my way to
Queens’ Hall quick as possible. Lucky I did, only got a fair seat.
If I hadn’t a ticket don’t suppose I would have got in at all. The
programme was entirely from overtures, preludes etc. from Wagner’s
operas, all by the Quee’s Hall Orchestra under H.J. Woods[3].
Opening Concert at Queen’s Hall,
1893, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Qnshall.jpg.
With the exception of one vocal piece, “Elizabeth’s Greeting” by
Madame Ella Russell, all very grand, lofty and beautiful, though
very often I was conscious of the fact that such music was beyond
my understanding. Still, I enjoyed it immensely and mentally
resolved that I would understand the like of it some day if
possible.
Wednesday 25th May 1898
This evening rode “the jigger’ to Crawley and had a proper musical
evening with the Harmonic Society. They gave Gaul’s “Holy
City”[4], a beautiful little cantata
quite fresh to me. Think they (the Society) were in better form
than at 2 previous concerts. Enjoyed it very much. Crawley should
be proud of such a society.
Saturday 28th May 1898
Covent Garden, The Queen’s London,
1896, p.160.
Arrived at London Bridge with only a little time to spare so, after
a slight snack, hurried to Covent Garden. Found lowest price seats
were 2/6 (Gallery) but the entertainment was certainly worth it.
Was first struck by the style and decoration of the house itself
and by the “class” audience, as fashionable a crowd as ever been my
lot to fall into (as I was grimed with dust from my [bike] ride.
The opera for the evening was Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” in
French. Most of it I enjoyed very much, especially the chorus. All
the artists were new to me as was the whole style of entertainment.
Hadn’t any idea that Grand Opera was so truly Grand.
Bank Holiday Monday 31st May 1898
Having nothing arranged for today, decided to “take” Dad and Bert
to London, they wanting to see the Cart Horse Parade in Regents
Park. Went up by Crystal Palace Excursion [train] and walked from
Victoria to the Park, having a peep at various places of interest
on (and off) route. Had a good view of the show and the presenting
of prizes by Duchess of Portland. Very fine sight, reflecting great
credit both on those who organised the parade and the several
drivers taking part. But all through Dad and Bert were very
interested to the “bitter” end. I was quite satisfied before half
had gone by. There were between 800 and 900 horses there (all very
similar).
- [1] August Manns
(1827-1907) was Resident Conductor at the Crystal Palace for 42
years.
- [2] The Duchess of
Gerolstein was an operetta by Offenbach. This production was
reviewed as vivacious, but sanitized and "prudish". Billy may have
shared that opinion.
- [3] Sir Henry Joseph
Woods (1869-1944), founding conductor of the Promenade Concerts at
Queens Hall.
- [4] Alfred Robert Gaul
, 1837-1913, English composer. He wrote numerous cantatas, of which
The Holy City (1882) is most famous.
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