The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-09-13 00:00:00

THE WORCESTER MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

The special correspondent of the Daily News,
writi ig from Worcester on Sunday, says:
The one hundred and sixty-first meeting of the
Cathedral Choirs of Hereford, Gloucester, and this
city was inaugurated this morning by a special service
in the nave of the cathedral. It went off in the most
satisfactory manner. The morning was stormy, but
the weather fortunately cleared up, so that an hour
before the time Axed for the opening of the cathedral
hundreds of people were waiting at the doors. Excel-
lent arrangements, however, had been made to pre-
vent confusion. Free tickets had been issued to a
certain portion of the interior, and the rest of the
building was thrown open to all corners, the
result being that at the commencement of the
service every seat was occupied. The Mayor
and Corporation in State were received at the
cathedral doors by the Dean of Worcester (Lord
Alwyn° Compton) and the Prebendary, and were
ushered to the places appointed for them. The clergy
present were Canons Butler, Knox Little, Melville,
and Cattley, Archdeacon Lea, and the Revs. H. H.
Woodward, Malone, and V. Hall, Minor Canons, and
others. The service was intoned by the Rev. H. H.
Woodward and the Rev. V. Hall, and the lessons of
the day were read by the Dean and Canon Butler, the
clergy being placed at the top of the steps leading
from the nave to the choir in front of the choir screen,
and the congregation assembled in the nave, choir,
aisles, and transept. Altogether it was believed
there were hardly less than 5000 persons
assembled, and the decorum and even devotion
observed by the vast congregation was one of
the most striking features of the morning's
proceedings. So devout and quiet were they that
during the reading of the prayers after the anthem
the bell of the cathedral tolling from the tower the
hour of noon was heard distinctly all over the nave.
The orchestra was as usual raised against the west
window at the end of the nave. Besides the music
set down in the programme, Croft's anthem, "Cry
aloud and shout, was sung. The sermon was
preached by the Rev. Canon Knox Little, who took
for his text Zechariah ix., 17—" For how great
is His goodness, how great is His beauty." A col-
lection on behalf of the widows and orphans of
clergy of the three dioceses followed the sermon.
The musical portions of the service derived special
importance from the co-operation of the fine Festival
band and chorus; and included some compositions of
high interest. First came Dr. Ridge's HyViti, to the
Creator. The words are a close translation by Mrs.
Oliphant of the song of St. Francis of Assisi, the
apostle of the Middle Ages, and founder of the Fran-
cisan Order. The composer of the hymn performed
is the skilful organist of Westminster 'Abbey, who has
on this occasion as previously proved his aptitude for
sacred musical composition. The work now referred
to is written for soprano solo, chorus, and orchestra.
The opening portion, "Highest omnipotent Good
Lord," is a chorus, introduced by a few bars of
orchestral prelude. Some impressive choral har-
mony is well contrasted by the prevailing figurative
details of the accompaniments; incidental use being
made—in fugal style—of a phrase that is indicated
in the orchestral introduction. The opening chorus
leads into a short soprano solo, associated with the
second verse, beginning, "Praised by His creatures
all "—a smooth and flowing melody of thoroughly
vocal character. Some effective writing (choral)
follows, in which the several divisions of the
choir are used, alternately and in combination, in
well-sustained illustration of the praises of sun,
moon, stars, the earth, and the elements, &c. Some
of the contrasts are very good. The final verse is in-
troduced by the solo soprano at the words " Praised
is my lord for those who, for Thy love, can pardon
give and bear the weakness and the wrongs of men."
The melodious strains for soprano solo are continued,
with slight intermission, through the closing choral
music, which includes a recurrence to phrases heard
in the opening movement. The performance of the
hymn was conducted by the composer, the passages
for soprano solo having been sung by Mr. Glover-
Eaton, a local professor.
The "To Deum" and " Benedictus " (in F) were
by Sir F. G. Ouseley, who in these and other cathedral
music, and in didactic writings on musical science and
history, has proved that the present time can pro-
duce works not unworthy of comparison with some
of those of the past. Sir F. Ouseley's service music
given this morning is written for chorus, solo voices,
and orchestra, and comprises an agreeable combina-
tion of the old style of church music with modern
effects.
The anthem after the collects was Mendelssohn's
"When Israel out of Egypt Came," one of several
such works on which the composer has impressed a
grandeur and sublimity comparable in degree, although
not in extent, to the same qualities as displayed in
his two great oratorios. The anthem before the
sermon was "Cry Aloud and Shout," by Dr. Croft,
one of the last of the great school of English Church
composers following the time of the greatest of all,
Henry Purcell. Previous to the blessing, the hymn
"Holy, Holy, Holy" (No. 160 of "Hymns Ancient
and Modern") was sung. Tallis's music was used for
the responses, other portions of the service having
been sung to Humphrey's grand chant and Lawes
chant in C.
With the exception of Dr. Bridge's work Mr. Done
acted as conductor, Mr. Hugh Blair having officiated
as organist.