SearchGetRecordMelbourne Philharmonic Society (1859-69)
Collection Summary
Collection Title
Melbourne Philharmonic Society (1859-69)
Unique Identifier
7895.ee.5
Description
A miscellaneous collection of programmes and wordbooks for performances given at various venues in Melbourne, Australia by the Melbourne Philharmonic Society between 1859 and 1869.
The majority of performances formed part of the annual subscription series (see the numbers provided in parenthesis below) and consisted principally of orchestrally-accompanied choral repertory, including a number of pieces described as being performed for the first time in Australia.
Unless otherwise stated below, the documentation for each concert consists of a single-sided sheet/handbill, including a list of the vocal soloists and an indication of the size of the choral ensemble.
With the exception of that on 5 September 1865 (directed by George R.G. Pringle), concerts given between 1862 and 1865 were conducted by C.E. Horsley and those from 1867 led by Edward King and conducted by David Lee. All concerts from December 1862 to 11 April 1865 were led by Mr W.C. Fisher
The concert on 18 September 1861 was held at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne and those from 1868 took place in St. George’s Hall. All other performances were held in the Exhibition Room.
9 and 11 August 1859: Selections from Samson, Judas Maccabaeus, Israel in Egypt etc/The Messiah, being two concerts given as the Handel Centenary Celebration by Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Macarthy, Mrs Hancock and Mrs Goodliffe (soprano), Miss Georgina Macarthy (alto), Mr Ewart and Mr W.H. Williams (tenor) and Mr Farquharson, Mr Angus and Mr Blanchard (bass), led by Mr King, with George R.G. Pringle (organ), conducted by Mr Russell (announcement, programmes and wordbooks, including lists of the patrons, president and committee for the concert and information regarding subscription to the Philharmonic Society). The programme for the first concert includes a historical article entitled ‘Some Account of Handel and his Times’.
23 October 1860 (5): Mendelssohn, Lauda Zion and Haydn, Third (Imperial) Mass (programme and wordbook offering no information regarding the performers but containing a list of the patrons/committee members, including conductor Mr John Russell and organist Mr L.L. Lewis).
9 April 1861 (1): Haydn, The Creation, with Mrs Edward Hancock, Miss Bailey, Mr T. Ewart, Mr W.H. Williams, Mr S. Angus and Mr S. Moxon (vocal), led by Edward King with Louis L. Lewis (organ), conducted by Herr Elsasser.
11 June 1861 (2): the first part including Romberg, Lay of the Bell and the second consisting of vocal and instrumental solos by Madame Escott, Miss Bailey, Miss S. Mortley, Mr Squires and Mr Farquharson (programme and wordbook with a list of the committee members, including conductor Herr Elsasser and organist Mr Louis L. Lewis).
18 September 1861 (3): Handel, Israel in Egypt, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss S. Mortley, Mr E. Beaumont, Mr S. Angus and Mr Richardson, led by Herr Strebinger, with Louis L. Lewis (organ), conducted by Herr Elsasser.
8 April 1862 (1): Mozart, Requiem (first Australian performance, in memory of his late Royal Highness the Price Consort) and Beethoven, Engedi, with Madame Lucy Escott, Miss Georgia Hodson, Mr Henry Squires and Mr Farquharson (vocal), led by Herr Strebinger.
8 July 1862 (2): Mendelssohn, Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise) and a selection of secular music, given by Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Emma Neville, Miss Liddle, Mr Edward A. Beaumont and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal), led by Mr Edward King (with a Critical and Historical Note offering an indication of the works included in the ‘selection’).
7, 9 and 11 October 1862: Melbourne Second Triennial Musical Festival (announcement plus programme/handbill for concert no.1 and a programme and wordbook for concert no.3). The announcement lists the following performers: Madame Lucy Escott, Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Amelia Bailey and Miss Isoline Mercante (soprano), Madame Sara Flower (alto), Mr Henry Squires and Mr E.A. Beaumont (tenor) and Mr Farquharson and Mr S. Angus (bass), led by Herr Strebinger. The first concert included Horsley, Cantata ‘Comus’. The third was a two-part vocal concert with Mr T.G. Goold (organ).
9 December 1862 (3): Molique, Abraham (first Australian performance), with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Mrs Batten, Mr T.J. Jackman, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Farquharson (vocal) and Mr T.G. Goold (organ).
30 June 1863 (2): C.E. Horsley, David (first Australian performance), with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Miss Helen Watson, Mr Edwin Exon, Mr T.J. Jackman, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Amery (with a 'Synopsis of David').
21 June 1864 (2): Handel, Israel in Egypt (the first Australian performance with the additional organ parts written by Mendelssohn for the London Handel Society), with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Miss M.A. Liddle, Mr Edwin Exon, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Charles Blachard.
15 November 1864 (4): Mendelssohn, Elijah, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Madame Stuttaford, Master Bryant, Signor Castelli, Mr Charles Blanchard and Mr Farquhason (vocal).
24 December 1864 (Extra Concert, Christmas Musical Festival): Handel, The Messiah, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Madame Stuttaford, Miss Fanny Reeves, Signor Castelli, Mr Edwin Exon and Mr Farquharson.
11 April 1865 (1): Mozart, Requiem (in memory of Mr W.G. Dredge, Honorary Secretary of the Philharmonic Society) and the first Australian performance of Mendelssohn, Athalie, given by Miss Watson, Miss Sarah Mortley, Miss M.A. Liddle, Mr Edwin Exon and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal), with G.R.G. Pringle (organ).
5 September 1865 (3): Haydn, The Creation, with Miss Bertha Watson, Mrs Fox, Mr A. Angus, Mr C. Blanchard and Mr Edwin Exon (vocal), led by Herbert Thomas and conducted by G.R.G. Pringle.
21 December 1867: Grand Concert in honour of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, being Mendelssohn, Athalie and a miscellaneous act, given by Miss Easdown, Miss Mortley and Miss Fanny Reeves (vocal), with Herr Staab (piano), Mr J. Schott (oboe) and the St. Kilda Glee and Madrigal Society (programme and wordbook).
22 September 1868 (3): Romberg, Lay of the Bell, and a miscellaneous selection of secular music, given by Mrs Fox, Mr Alfred Ford and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
24 November 1868 (4): Handel, Samson, with Miss Staff, Miss Lambert, Mr Alfred Ford, Mr E. Amery and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
24 December 1868 (Christmas Festival): Handel, The Messiah, with Miss Watson, Miss Lambert, Mr Alfred Ford and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
23 March 1869 (1): Beethoven, Mass in C and Rossini, Stabat Mater, with Professor Hughes (organ).
The majority of performances formed part of the annual subscription series (see the numbers provided in parenthesis below) and consisted principally of orchestrally-accompanied choral repertory, including a number of pieces described as being performed for the first time in Australia.
Unless otherwise stated below, the documentation for each concert consists of a single-sided sheet/handbill, including a list of the vocal soloists and an indication of the size of the choral ensemble.
With the exception of that on 5 September 1865 (directed by George R.G. Pringle), concerts given between 1862 and 1865 were conducted by C.E. Horsley and those from 1867 led by Edward King and conducted by David Lee. All concerts from December 1862 to 11 April 1865 were led by Mr W.C. Fisher
The concert on 18 September 1861 was held at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne and those from 1868 took place in St. George’s Hall. All other performances were held in the Exhibition Room.
9 and 11 August 1859: Selections from Samson, Judas Maccabaeus, Israel in Egypt etc/The Messiah, being two concerts given as the Handel Centenary Celebration by Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Macarthy, Mrs Hancock and Mrs Goodliffe (soprano), Miss Georgina Macarthy (alto), Mr Ewart and Mr W.H. Williams (tenor) and Mr Farquharson, Mr Angus and Mr Blanchard (bass), led by Mr King, with George R.G. Pringle (organ), conducted by Mr Russell (announcement, programmes and wordbooks, including lists of the patrons, president and committee for the concert and information regarding subscription to the Philharmonic Society). The programme for the first concert includes a historical article entitled ‘Some Account of Handel and his Times’.
23 October 1860 (5): Mendelssohn, Lauda Zion and Haydn, Third (Imperial) Mass (programme and wordbook offering no information regarding the performers but containing a list of the patrons/committee members, including conductor Mr John Russell and organist Mr L.L. Lewis).
9 April 1861 (1): Haydn, The Creation, with Mrs Edward Hancock, Miss Bailey, Mr T. Ewart, Mr W.H. Williams, Mr S. Angus and Mr S. Moxon (vocal), led by Edward King with Louis L. Lewis (organ), conducted by Herr Elsasser.
11 June 1861 (2): the first part including Romberg, Lay of the Bell and the second consisting of vocal and instrumental solos by Madame Escott, Miss Bailey, Miss S. Mortley, Mr Squires and Mr Farquharson (programme and wordbook with a list of the committee members, including conductor Herr Elsasser and organist Mr Louis L. Lewis).
18 September 1861 (3): Handel, Israel in Egypt, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss S. Mortley, Mr E. Beaumont, Mr S. Angus and Mr Richardson, led by Herr Strebinger, with Louis L. Lewis (organ), conducted by Herr Elsasser.
8 April 1862 (1): Mozart, Requiem (first Australian performance, in memory of his late Royal Highness the Price Consort) and Beethoven, Engedi, with Madame Lucy Escott, Miss Georgia Hodson, Mr Henry Squires and Mr Farquharson (vocal), led by Herr Strebinger.
8 July 1862 (2): Mendelssohn, Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise) and a selection of secular music, given by Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Emma Neville, Miss Liddle, Mr Edward A. Beaumont and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal), led by Mr Edward King (with a Critical and Historical Note offering an indication of the works included in the ‘selection’).
7, 9 and 11 October 1862: Melbourne Second Triennial Musical Festival (announcement plus programme/handbill for concert no.1 and a programme and wordbook for concert no.3). The announcement lists the following performers: Madame Lucy Escott, Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Amelia Bailey and Miss Isoline Mercante (soprano), Madame Sara Flower (alto), Mr Henry Squires and Mr E.A. Beaumont (tenor) and Mr Farquharson and Mr S. Angus (bass), led by Herr Strebinger. The first concert included Horsley, Cantata ‘Comus’. The third was a two-part vocal concert with Mr T.G. Goold (organ).
9 December 1862 (3): Molique, Abraham (first Australian performance), with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Mrs Batten, Mr T.J. Jackman, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Farquharson (vocal) and Mr T.G. Goold (organ).
30 June 1863 (2): C.E. Horsley, David (first Australian performance), with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Miss Helen Watson, Mr Edwin Exon, Mr T.J. Jackman, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Amery (with a 'Synopsis of David').
21 June 1864 (2): Handel, Israel in Egypt (the first Australian performance with the additional organ parts written by Mendelssohn for the London Handel Society), with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Miss M.A. Liddle, Mr Edwin Exon, Mr Silvanus Angus and Mr Charles Blachard.
15 November 1864 (4): Mendelssohn, Elijah, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Miss Bertha Watson, Madame Stuttaford, Master Bryant, Signor Castelli, Mr Charles Blanchard and Mr Farquhason (vocal).
24 December 1864 (Extra Concert, Christmas Musical Festival): Handel, The Messiah, with Miss Octavia Hamilton, Madame Stuttaford, Miss Fanny Reeves, Signor Castelli, Mr Edwin Exon and Mr Farquharson.
11 April 1865 (1): Mozart, Requiem (in memory of Mr W.G. Dredge, Honorary Secretary of the Philharmonic Society) and the first Australian performance of Mendelssohn, Athalie, given by Miss Watson, Miss Sarah Mortley, Miss M.A. Liddle, Mr Edwin Exon and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal), with G.R.G. Pringle (organ).
5 September 1865 (3): Haydn, The Creation, with Miss Bertha Watson, Mrs Fox, Mr A. Angus, Mr C. Blanchard and Mr Edwin Exon (vocal), led by Herbert Thomas and conducted by G.R.G. Pringle.
21 December 1867: Grand Concert in honour of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, being Mendelssohn, Athalie and a miscellaneous act, given by Miss Easdown, Miss Mortley and Miss Fanny Reeves (vocal), with Herr Staab (piano), Mr J. Schott (oboe) and the St. Kilda Glee and Madrigal Society (programme and wordbook).
22 September 1868 (3): Romberg, Lay of the Bell, and a miscellaneous selection of secular music, given by Mrs Fox, Mr Alfred Ford and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
24 November 1868 (4): Handel, Samson, with Miss Staff, Miss Lambert, Mr Alfred Ford, Mr E. Amery and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
24 December 1868 (Christmas Festival): Handel, The Messiah, with Miss Watson, Miss Lambert, Mr Alfred Ford and Mr Silvanus Angus (vocal).
23 March 1869 (1): Beethoven, Mass in C and Rossini, Stabat Mater, with Professor Hughes (organ).
Format
Date range of collection
1859 - 1869
Accumulation Dates
-
Suggested Audience
Not Specific
Associated People or Organisations
- Williams, W. H. (Mr) -
- Watson, Helen -
- Watson, Bertha -
- Thomas, Herbert -
- St. Kilda Glee and Madrigal Society -
- Squires, Henry -
- Schott, J. (Mr) -
- Russell, John -
- Reeves, Fanny -
- Pringle, George R. G. -
- Neville, Emma -
- Moxon, S. (Mr) -
- Mortley, Sarah -
- Molique, Bernhard -
- Mercante, Isoline -
- Mendelssohn, Felix -
- Melbourne Triennial Musical Festival -
- Melbourne Philharmonic Society -
- Macarthy, Georgina -
- Liddle, M. A. (Miss) -
- Lewis, Louis L. -
- Lee, David -
- King, Edward -
- Jackman, T. J. -
- Horsley, Charles Edward -
- Hodson, Georgia -
- Handel, George Frideric -
- Handel Society -
- Hancock, Edward (Mrs) -
- Hamilton, Octavia -
- Goold, T. G. (Mr) -
- Ford, Alfred -
- Flower, Sara -
- Fischer, W. C. (Mr) -
- Exon, Edwin -
- Ewart, T. (Mr) -
- Escott, Lucy -
- Blanchard, Charles -
- Beaumont, Edward A. -
- Bailey, Amelia -
- Angus, Silvanus -
- Amery, E. (Mr) -
Associated Places
Associated Times
This collection is about
Location Details
British Library
The British Library
St Pancras
,96 Euston Road
London
NW1 2DB United Kingdom Open Map
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Collections Overview
The Library's collection of song and piano sheet music is one of the most comprehensive of its kind, providing a valuable insight into Victorian society and culture as well as the music itself.
For details of other collections held at the same location: See the location record
Additional Collection Information
Accrual Status
closed
Related Publications
Management Information (Type)
Collection Owner(s)
Collection Creator(s)
Collection Collector(s)
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