The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1884-06-03 00:00:00

THE DIOCESAN CHORAL FESTIVAL.

The great gathering of pariah rain at the Salis-
bury Cathedral on Thursday has perhaps serer been
surpassed, either in point of the number of etagere, or
In the genera effect produced, by say direr In the
country. Those who witnessed nee festival five years
ago will no doubt still hays vivid recollections of the
Imposing sad striking spectral' presented by the
massed ehoirs ; but that has been on:innerly 'riper
by the 1884 gathering. It is no common sight to re •
choir of 3,000 singers, with • military band and Im-
mense congregation, aneoustg In tr aggregate to
some 10,000 peters, gathered together for Divine
warship. and pea would utterly fall to describe the
Ind ellen produced be the rendering of some of
'a neselerpress by rah • stir. Dorset was
well represented, and It le worthy of mention that
the three foremost ernes, and those which shared the
honour of following lonsedlainy after the Cathedral
choir In the procession, as wall ae taking • prominent
part in the performance of the Messiah mune in the
afternoon, were from our county, Wimborae
Waster, Holy Trinity (Dorchester), and Loader It
lean undoubted tact that User choirs obt deed such
pre-emlnenoe oa ad3otillt of gerral elialeacy in the
music, which most be a source of considerable gratifi-
cation to the abokmaaters and the member of titre
choir.. A large proportion of the Dorset choirs were
o oveyed to Salisbury by • special trate whir left
Wernooth shortly before err and as the train
picked up stow& of visitors and singers all along the
lii, • load accumulated which mocked the strenuous
.zw of two powerful engines to get than to thrifty.
' Thiettln, however. arrived Is fairly geed der. rhe
contiugsat from the other part of the rusty was also
a very largo one. Oa arriving at the anion the
°bars were met by @rewards, oomph:moue la white
rosettes, and earring wands, The arrangements were
admirable. All along the platform were numbers,
under which sash choir 'Wired itself, this female
=sbolas escorted by attendants to the Training
e to the Cathedral Close The surplior choirs
thee, at tbir sound of the bugle, formed In procession
eta; the banners. and, followed by the assurplieed
choirs, marched through the tows some 1,300 of them
the former proceeding to the Cinders, and the Jetts;
to the Church Hones Those who erne by road
followed the same ansagementa. A. soon r poseible
after arrival the choirs took up their respective=
tioas in the Cathedral, aid =Unrest a
rehearsal, sad very Mile fault could be found, so well
had the angers been worked up. Dr. Starer wielded
the baton in his own To AWN and Breanictas, and
expressed himself eatirely satiated. Aber the
rehearsal the surplicied ahoirs robed in the Cloisters,
and prepared for the procession, the unsurpliced taking
op their position' in the Nave, the band of the
Cheshire Regimeat being stationed noes by the gates
of the choir sorra. Vestry prayer., 'atria by the
Rev. W. Miles Barre (Diocesan ) completed,
surplioed choirs of the A 1 Division were unwed,
aid led the way by the great west door to the Da
the Oathedral choir commencing the
hymn, " The Oburele's One Predation, to a tans
by Kr. Imard Bahr (the late °meant of the
Cathedral). The procession was of huge length, sad
la order to meetthe renal requireesseste al the
oseadoa, the Rev. 3. those, the composer of the
bras, bad written several additional neer but
'Margit there win • considerable press between each
veer, It wee not searly lose rough to enable half
the rein to be mad, sad II had bar ranged to
hays a second proarelonel, "Sacred City,' est to a
well known but dreadfully monotonous tune. It
mast have labia (to give • rough rose.) monething
like twenty minutes for Ur proorliou to file Into the
chunk. The clergy atteadsd in force, aad occupied
sesta In the shr-. The general issegriegatir was
very larr, sad crowded every available corner, but so
adm,tral,k as, re errannerseate that the choirs were
aol daP"'"' la "7 nay. The resemble Bishop, who •
Waal heavily an the erm of his son, and was preceded
by the pastoral staff, tottered aloes Is the procession,
rd took hie sod In the Bishop/I Tam". Amcor
tais clergy Pilleset inlr• ths Denb_lbarMal4aaaaaa of
Sarum and Wilts, Cares ma al"
Lowodes, flubbing., and oodd. Takeo p.Litit
reposes' were rag, the int reit 01 elm alavkas=
latard by the Bev, a. w. Carpeatar. sad the
by Ye Demo The Veolte sod Pastas woe sose

alerr-aitigli—it-was extremely difficult to tntr
snob • masa of vole's, no fault of any import .oce I
could be detected. The fine fugal Gloria, which is of
ouneldecabla dloully, went like o.ockwurk, the singers
taking up their several pad. splendidly. The anthem
selected for the morning earvice was dir John Gus.'."
Lilt up thins eyes," in which some grand aerie
ware produced by the great Cathedral organ and the
baud. if.. Hayden, thaw of the Cathedral, took lb.
short rwitative, "Th.. saith the Lord G 04."
A winos, admirable alike for Its brevity and
for Its eloquent apprupriatenten IraO Preached be tils
Bishop of Derry from the foulth verse of Philippians
"Rejoice in the Lord elves,, and wain I gay reillee."
That was, he said, a great day of Wuxi% wog. and
Christians knew that joy was the life of all wet church
DOM 0P•11 of that which might app. ar other wise because
It was penitent 4. Hut they not all heard that day, in
the 150th Psalm. how the Pmiter, after all it dept.., ran
out into the Aisluia/ It had been said that a great ooze
pow of church music. feeling upon his death-bed at he
weer fe:t before all the iodinate of Almighty God, said
he Waked that he might hare a longer Ws so that he
might, if warble, have the opportunity of setting 1,.
Lowers in allegro. During the few minute' I. which he
intends' to creepage upon their time. ha deeded to direct
, their attention Ii this command in th• proper leered
lowa of that day's service—to " Rdoios in the L trd
dewy, and again I nay rej Jure" Now, let them cris. ler
very triony how 1 iy could be made • meter of precept,
how joy wee poostble in different circumstances of die
Christian's life How then could joy b male • anew
of precept I Tnis seemed strange, for Joy was fealina, •
matter of temparament—and it was tree at Peet is •
limited saner, that they coall not c mamma their own
feelings. Then againee they
_wall knew, people wee ear
very different ; soma were thlidrea of saaishlne, sad others
wen dark and sondes, Ilks St. Thomas, ever swing the
darker side. La we of thee owes thri Pit sward
superfluous. and la the other imposthis. Them/ewer was
that Christian j3y was not • feelion but • principle; it
wee not as wooden but • ; it we not natural, but
supsimathrat Christian joy did not lad expression is
some In the primes day thought, Is wefts that were •
comic, but in jry of the Holy Ghost. Natural joy was
wearmasat. but It was aot so with Okridmn Joy. How
en Joy predblis in certain oonditioas of Wel lie
would pry take we of them—that of sorrow. They all
knew that the Christian was not stsmpt from sorrow.
The pencil of Gol the Holy Ghost laboured mon in
describing the sorrows of Job than to. felictties of
Skase.. Nor was the Coddler exempt from feeling
wrrows. No one fdt them mars, berm. his stuareptibille
ties were finer and It. had a heart of flesh within ani not
• bent of stone How IrS4 it with him in sorrow lehea
ths Mask-edged letter owls or the par roared*s a the
telegram on flimsy Daps I When these cam• soddenly on
the tann they had lull b.derneres for him ; h•
no
hero Out out in inubk. The incipls was not above
his Waster ,• the cup of Gethannaw and the s now' of
the 0:0,141 Cavalry were repeatei ia him. Only he heal
prefer: loyalty of tool ; ha woo sure that the
clouds would was away, that tbs or, of dershotion
woold become • song of triumph; he .64 sure that thie
cliff, which he had paned in darkener with the spray
heaping upon him should not be leen. let that Oen
should come a golden calm; ha was ours that he •ouli
pees into tfie home of 034, not made with bonds. eternal
In the heavens—Jr/Jae the rain drops from hie storm:
beater fare; how.. sore that hie paes on ehould bare a
future joy of Reeler. • glory of Avension tide. • a• t
comfort of the Pentsoust of God. Let them conceive one
living In the Spirit of the Naw Testament and in the
order of the Church, in whom the life of Cunt Weenie
a reality. Let t 0... conceive him piing at J-tetts ecrityr
lag into Heaven. lift 114 OP Ell. pierced huha before He
parted frw man and belt His bleating behind Him. Let
them coned' such an one saying, "I love J•Ati4 my G td.
Over the dark wens arouni my pow life there is no sheen
of summer den but one leaden toonotoey." The seven
penitential waling to him besame an entire pastor; t
him there were no hymn but thaw of Lent. II the
salvation and blessings of St- John of Patinos ware only
the ripples of • rootless sea tuntaken for th• *Prod
wu4l4 which came down from the tbrons of GNI ; if what
sword to him multitude beyond numher wera n'y
lights and shadow. from the Grecian hill.. he (the
preached should Gel no difference—h. was • Trappist or
• Paden In the toilet of the glorious church whose v•ry
walls n.o salvation and whose ant-s were praise Bit
surely this 1•64 an impartible supposition. Tiers wail
two lessons which he woull briefly impress awn the..
In eonclusion• First, they wee sure th all that was
joyous end beautiful lath. order of the Coords's service
and worship—the stained window, Om majestic organ,
the platter with all its variety of tobe. the brume of the
Chadian sewn.. the Gloria in Emden ; all these form
on• act of v. 11,1. and so to say in tide ondienc s to that
Peened preempt contained In the text, " 114,/iO4 in the
Lord always, and wen I etry rejoice Thor. is. no
doubt in this their day that the wisdom of their Pros ,r.
hook in rot dning mueic and choral service was toryond
all gelation. Night that day the spring-tide of storm'.
worship coon with new freshmen into every paroch:ol
sleepy hollow in this diocese. Wde there no sleepy
hollows in the Wiltshire dales or among the 13 'net-
airs bids lot them only he on their guard &naiad
this : Let them avoid taking part In music by mere dale
gallon ficrupulousnest in this repeat nee not mere
ansticism. A diatingclahed didne in the Church of Peg.
land left those word• in • letter from abich hs (the
preached copied them wars years ago I once reit.. 41
in extinguishing the with clerk ; alas I ths chorr, do
headifully what he did potawatly —the people's put by
deputy." Secondly. let th• clergy guard against over
amalgam, in reltstow smother ; lot tuts recognise this
—that at least, to some extol., they were the test ot
Christian life. No doubt them were MAI, who In their
joy laid • great deal t. mock strew twee the eel( answer
to such quedluse ga—** Da you lova Jetts!' sad " Do
you rejolos in Jaen/ r Let Lim lid them r•men.her th et
wean the most marvellous in all poetry. wirers the aged
king questioned his three daughters whether they loved
him. Fero replied in lofty language. Tlue other one bad
• heavy hetet, end her love was r cher than bar t pea.,
but when the trial cams she only stood the test There
they hial that •citi Iris. acene where the whitelmaded
man dold upon the heath, txposed t ths pities storm.
Teo tat of love, di doing In Janus, was not whet
they wid about dmamelve, wag not what they
thought stout themeelves. but what they did in the
day of their trial. God grant that PI soon meetings as
this might Ili Wet to the good of His church and ths
edification of Saints; God giant that they mitit latal to
more instruction in the inspired P. 411.11.. to WO and
snore thot ouch knowledge o the particular hymns. Nor
he would dose with two or three sentenoes He real
113OP1 /PPM ago • poem which was mote beautiful in
thought than execution. It spoke of • poor little child
dying in a workhouse, with a minister of Gui by the bed
able In her dying moments, ths chili with strange
strength tried to sing • favourite hymn—

Glory to Th..ny Ood Mk night.
Tile poet it on to toll how. ea the strain. of that little
child roe* upward and upward, at lest they touched the
footsteps of the eternal throne, and there came the
answer from the engele and archangels and all the coot.
pony of Heaven. While improving their church !ferric*
their love should be eakindied by dye coal from tho altar
of God, so that they might be enabled to slag like that
child

Clindeks though the voles be.
Hate .ablir the pat..
He witi imt It 11,11 the re nanny
That comes trete eleldlOce heart..
A oolliotion tl defray the Fo.tival expenses wag
then taken, after whkdr the good old Bishop pr.-
nounoed the Bone,notion in weak, falteriar accents.
hi. woke betraying great emotion. The oholm thee
reformed into proneriou, mad left the Cathedral
tinging the well-kaown hymn "Bark ! the &and of
Holy Voices." . . . . . . .

• 'pedal word of praise matins given to the talented
young organist, Mr. South, who played with great
efficiency' managing the ponderous tones of the
splendid instrument with admirable tact and judg-
ment.
Immediately after the service the choirs were
divided into two divisions, the one proceeding to an
enormous tent, supplied by Mr. 11. B. Br,en, the
manufacturer of Dorchester, and the other walking in
procession to the Market House, where dinners ha 1
bees provided. So well bed everything been arranged
there was not the slightest esafusirn. and the only
thing to coomplain of was tbri brief space of time
allowed between the services. No gamer had the loner
men been eati•fied, than the singers bed to make off to
their respective stations for the afternoon eervioe.
The preliminary arrangements were exactly similar,
end most of the choir, oc mile I the same
positions in the Cathie Iral as in the morning. Some
mistake wee made in the proceed mai hymn, which
way not as effective as it might have been. The great
feature of the ratan an service was, of course, the
performanoe of a selection from the Afrseini, the
remainder of the service consisting merely of three
Prayers and • hymn. the leiter being the wel'.-kn inn
" Disposer Supreme," t the good old Hanover tine.
The effect produced by the hearty singing of the
char and rangregation cannot be described, the fall
and thunderous enc.. of the organ being almost
drowsed he the great VOlUOill of sound.
Thai Messia.4 sabrotion concomeced with the tenor
recitative "Comfort Ire," and the air "Every
Valley," which were splendidly sung by Mr. Hayden,
hi• fine voice being heard to great advantage. Ilia.
who had heard Mr. Hayden in oratorio in title
district could at once recognise the 111311 vocalic .t 1
and artistic Myle which are among his best qualit
" And the glory" followed, and wee shard-m. 4 'w-
anders in lie measured bra and power. The
contralto recitative. "Behold a Virgin," and the
succeeding Mr, "0 Thou that Tidiest," were artistic-
ally sung by Mx. Charles Ling. of the Cathedral
°hole, the chorus being well taken up. A slight
mieunderstandbt marred the ongnmesagnest of
"Glory to but is It was only momentary, no
mina fault cruld he found. A delicious achievers'
easel wee produced by Mr. South in playing the
ameluding bars of the accompaniment Illustrating the
&mortars of the angels. The performance of "Unto
TA • Child la Born," although slightly diefieueed at the
meamemement by the( *silty playing of the band, will be
lcmgremembered by those present, the organ, bend, and
chorus rendering 'the remarkable double forte
peagages, "Wonderful,' "Counsellor." &e., with as
nareetrained power, which was simply overwh,-1 nine.
In striking contrast came the expressive an i
fed rendering of the Mr, "Come unto him," which
was Bung by fine Cathedral boys aa with nos solos.
Their fresh young voices, coming after the s mega.,
tease of the great *barns. produced • wonderful
Impression on the veal congregation. "Lift up your
heeds" was among the beet rendered ebonies..
"Behold the Lamb of God" was @nag by the obArs
Inside the same only, being °lnducted by Mr.
HorPecter. "How beautiful are the feel " again
onfood to display the lovely voliss.cf the Cathedral
boys, It is hardly napossry to say the choir reserved
their energies for the final chorus, the' Hallelujah,"
which was, of canna stiwotod to be tb,e. feat!".
the day, sad we Mal sure no 00411 Wel disappointed
From bagintang to sod no unsteadiness or weakness
wee distinguishable, and the whole was given with a
I power we ham seldom Ward surnamed. The offerto.,
boring been taken, the serving concluded with the
same recessional a In the morning, "Hark the sound
of Holy Volans."
It was now quarter to six, and, as most of the
Dorset centre left by the half.past six special train, It
eau easily be imagined little time was left for eight-
11111410g. Most of the singers were oondnest straight
awe, to thilipstios. where, under the courteous I
dirsetioa of . Deris, the stetionateeter, they were
:ZarZas their way home, thoroughly satiated
idays we and ••••1480 skid ouL

spent.

without the slightest hitch t i well Imi two chesty. hb. Great credit is Mae to Mr. Barnes, the wortial7. lb*
G. Thorne (organist of Holy Trinity, Weymouth) 0.30- committee, and all who c odor .1 to the greet swans
ducted, and it may be luterwtilig to ineution that the of the festival.
best was c %flayed by a clarion. electri at cintrivanc• to The i,ff•irtore during the I.y epsomite Ito about
the organ loft. Mr. Thorne fulfilled the responsible tlO5 —hem{ £72 1.. 61. in tie m cuing, and
dative of conductor with great a^ility, Me dot lel 1:3.1 15.. 10. in the Oteru,. i.
beat a Whit greatly to the excellent precision Mal, —••—
tained throughout the gravies. Several clergymen The following was the order of
&misted at cerium parte of the Cathedral In gime the Tut Pimento' :
beat to the dowers who Gould only watch the cot-
&toter with dculty. The feature of the m irniog The Dii.caren secretery (ft v. W. IL &WlNst
service was the fine Ti Douai and Beisediota• c dn- The c eleaiceo , -boo,
The fir.t division of the surrniced eboirs, this c enpriefog az
posed for the festival by Dr. Stainer. and, ite it had , Choirs we . et. re idiot% use is Cab the Ceihedral
been annonneed the °anapaest would eonduct It hlmeell, i Sinters in the Cie iir.
great latateet crestrod tall. It wont splint (idly. the I aisteea choirs •if U.... c ind dive& ~ coispriaolf
cloacae's boat being followed with wonderful preci-ioo, 450 a r ' id slogan.
. ... . e ~ _ . . .. .. ,

_
Third di• Mon of eirpliced aingenonabering nearly
Fourth division of ourplmed I..gers, tv the
numb., of n• arly I.
lite Diocesan C era. steep* thom who had ormeded in the
proceed al ar.th the Cie.% the t Aal of al the
cl.rgy prment bon. mum. • of N.
The Cathedral ihenitariee, inel Mt tor Canons. If. W.
Copenter and U. 3 Korto ; Coon, OW, Singel:olM.
Sonnet, Karim. Hatching., le,n, 011.1 m, Ch Intelay,
Sr Jame. Plug pt. Illouthtne, Ly .0, Seib, Jacob. end
0 ye, the Rev Suctentor Lakin. the Bon, anl Mar. thnoa
o .rdon, the Sub-Dvuo, the Archdeacoos of Sarum ami
1111 u, and the Very se, the Deue.
The Lord %Mop of Derry.
The Asa.
The Lord Bishop of Salisbury, loaning on the arm of Me son
(the It•r. W. A. Moberiv ), and attendol by the
1/0•• W. A. HOftie a. &cum: Chaplain.
curial 'he pastoral oat
The following Le • list of
TKO 1117141.L101D SINOSSIA

Cathedra
him =woe Master .. it
Do Orator, Bolo' Trinity .. 41
Salisbury, at Thomas ..
„ at ..
Wannioster, at Joon*. . • $4 I
Lrn4.t . Si
°Winch.= IS
Weymouth,
g,"olf Jr„ litity
:1,
P0rt1:..4, Si hues .. $4 j
Wawa .•28
Porde, St Jams's.. .. 14 I
Ki .Esto I
Wartniustar, $t Denys* .. $7 !
Cat =toot ,
{Smell un
South Newton
.34
• litoos. St Peter's 47
llariborouch, St Poles .. $1
Somme 23
Marlborough. 41 Nary. .. ft
• thhherthe, SareraMe .. 14
Tborafonl 14
Larerstock „, .. 11
Shreotou Saddincton $3
Lb.,' wet, 01! Stints* 27
Hornincebam 110
Lyaeltant . 20
Dorset County School It
Chad Oketord 33
Watling LSO 74

Went, try, All ligot• .. 11
Warsloatar,Cksi .4 Chun* U
Liuksilb4ll.. . 14
Charlton Herring 17
Pitapat. • 24
Pautou. &AYlgets
14
1111. too .
Iflot•rbors• 1114 P.

Potors• ZS
Dil Marsh 14
Portl3o3. 31 040410 • • 40
St &Wpm 40
Bon Bogie• Se
W.ntorberue lags-
. 24
Ilualmed $1 Andre.
Meleary Abbas .. 17
tipud t.• March.. . 10
Mon MI luau 16
1111bons• et *afro. Se
Gnat 114.1.y0 ~ 31
14-chao SI .4rareds 18
/13+4004.00 Derscall
eurb44
EMIL Hatabsal 11
ars klord Perefill .•
9psoU.bul • 12
Trowerldg• „ „ 14

THII ONSIAPLICILD 11111011111.
The following wen the unsurplicad choirs with their
numbers :

South Broom 116 161ord 26
11.66316shainV 1113366611.1 k• .
Mal ow Nagrkai ,111 1.62,14 dlosisr 111
6wallowcllll4.. .. 16 237esbury
116.1661601 813101.. • • 111 A. • • • •• 13
Alderbary 26 1•21663 Uotui.',32 . 23
8•321.1 _ll tlenrlek John _lb
Itudland P .21.b0t 12
833ntord•Corso Robe .. 16
11131361426,6 . 17.
F. 6.3 83,k
Chut•

x..t tk.

i;;;;:f.

A.b.b.as

141,4 • A• 1•1•41 • 34
liult 22 !Punta:el ll•••• .. 13
Mon ktou 12 '/Is,•ninglorti Abb.. 12
C ztrorne Kingston 27 [Mikado It
Ams•bary 22 absltssb..ary 17
Trovrb9.dge,_St Tbom II Long Krt.t1?..0... • • •• 21
ASO 1741'

.
.

Abb.'

Mappowder 6 L11no• • • • St
ItoAord .. 11 p+uttoi benry 123
Foothill Bishop IChicki.truve 20
Market Lanngton 21 :Poyang IS
Lytehett Niortwr 13 I y.lhooh ri
B ickland Newton 23 ',Newtown .. .. 19
Croford a d oroodatooo . 43 :Melt (Donboad Latd•
Lonatord Deward! .. 95 eb) 13
Oemloatoo . 12 dtotupaine .. 10
111,hope Coon o, If Ch.r to Nominal 12
Broadway .. 17 Up..ty 14
Bovril

The tenoning I. an
.analyaia of the aiogers
cantori I. the 6rat divisi a numbered 86 11-ecies ths
Cathedral choi• •. in the sec toil Maiden 235 ; in the
third division 2E2 ;in the fourth divi-ion 178. The
decant side, In the Bret division, number.d 9'2 : in
the seasond 2121 ; in tee third division 267 ;
and in the foutto division 186. Tote Catheiral oh jr
and bawl own bolsi about 50, making a total of 1,562
surpliced singers. The total number of un- morph eti
elegem on the cantons gide, males, was 440, and
&maul 367. On the controllable, fetnnles, soprano 316,
contralto 63. Domani side, s prat.° 551, c ustraltos 50.
Total 1,529.
The following are the totals of the eight divisions
and the numbers engaged in the va•loue parts.—
Stairhead choirs ; Centori—tretlea 3112. alto. 46.
tenors 165, tame. 181. soprswer 84, o utraltni 25 ;
Cathedral choir 16, hen I b, total 667 ;
trebles 387, altos 44 ; tenor. 122, bares 183. soprettoe
116, ooutralt 29. total 270. Utmorplood Mud,. :
Cantori—trobles 196, altos 91. tenors 79, haws. 90,
soprano. 232, ciontralroe 39, total 596 ; Demme—
troblee 143. nltoe 23, tenor. 84. balsas 106, eoprancre
MM. a intraltee 31. total 613. Thera were exclusive of
time tigers' • assOer of atteadeote to each division
awl the female..

-tlii-itrus---d total of singers was about 3,100.