The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-04-28 00:00:00

BRIDPORT CHORAL FESTIVAL.

The Salisbury Diocesan Choral Association held a
district festival at Bridport on Tuesday last The
choirs which took part in this festival were those be-
longing to the Bridport and Besanisister districts, and
their numbers were as follow.
Males. Females. Total.
Bridport - - 23 14 37
Besminster - • 20 -- 90
Maiden Newton - 17 10 77
Walpole - • • 15 5 20
Netherbury - 9 9
Powenteck - - 10 11
Compton Valence - 12 7 15
Cattistock - - 20 6 2ti
'tempi/ham - - 4 13 17
Frain pant - 8 7 15
Sydling St. Nicholas 5 - 5
Proms Vaucharch 4 4
Ifonckton Wyld - 4 --- 4
-- --
Total 1.56 77 233
. .

. .
--7
About half of t male Monsters were in surplices,
and these farmed In prommion in a temporary
vestibule, erected for the purpose, and entered
the church, singing the Bth Psalm The proceeds.,
was bedded by t e district choirnmeters, Mr. .1.
Brown, and Mr. .7. Dunn, after whom came the
choristers, and then eaMe the deigy, heeded by the
Rev. M. Lee, Rector of Bridport ; the Ven. Archdeacon
Sanctuary, the Rev. C. Tower, Diocesan egeretar7 to
the Association; Rev. W. P. Ward, secreinty for the
Bridport district; Rev. A Codd, secretary for the
Beaminster district; Rev. Chancellor Lear, Rev. A.
Broadley, Rev. 8. LAM, Rev. E. Hannon, Rev. G.
Philips, Rey, S. Hutchings, Rev. A. Child, Hoe. and
Rev. A. Spring Riot, Rm. Prebendary Rooks, Rev.
.1. P. Dsvidson, Rev. C. Malan, &c.
The Psalm above mentioned was sung without the
organ as far as the " Gloria," when the organ struck in,
and the unsurpliced choirs joined. This, as well as the
nett proeseekenal Pesho, trent better together than we
have beard at any former festival. The Perces were
from Tallia's Service, and were intoned by the Rev. M.
Lee. the rector, and nothing could exceed the precision
with which the responses were taken up by
both cheeks and organist. The chants in the
morning service were Irewie (Mooch); Ponies 105
( Corte ; re De.* (Humphrey) ; Breedines
Turner)—all of which went well; but the Ault for
the Psalm was scarcely suitable for the occasion.
The anthcm, "I will gyre thanks," (Richardson), was
well sung throughout; but we were sorry to °Nerve
that a direction, that the bam solo should be sung by all
the hams was not observed;. orders being given at the
but moment that only part of them should sing it. It
would, no doubt, have had • better effect if the original
direction hail been tolliwed. There were two Hymns
in the morning service. No. 28 ifiebahory) to Troyte,
and fr, to St. Albion/. Both of these maguilleent
hymn. were rived with preat edeck„ but the pieste
portions of the former were not sufle.ently marked.
The sermon was preached by the Bev. Chaneellor Lear
from Inaish, chap. 6, v. 1-3. The service concluded
with a Precessional Psalm (150). to the Bth Gregorian
tone, which, in consequence of the separation of the
singer., did not go well together. (The mute rinilni was
retested After the eveninc eervice,and went beautifully.)
The choirs prommied, after morning senior, to a room
near the Hovel Oak, where as mellent dinner him
h-en provided be Mr. Smith. A " Grace" by the Rev.
C. Tower was snag before meat, and a "Gras." after
west by Mr. B. Herbert.
The °heir met again at 130 for evening service, Which
was commenced similarly to thi morning. The chant
to the Psalm was Goes in A., which went well together,
with the exception of one verse. The Canticles were
taken to Gregorian tunas; and in these their adapta-
tion was obvious to the purpose* cif congregational
singing. The anthem, "I know the Lord is Great,'
(Ouseley), and the hymns, " Hark I the Song of
Jubilee," Ifipohr,) and "Abide with me," (Monk,) were
moo, the finest portions of the service. We mast not
conclude our notice withottt saying that too much praise
cannot be awarded to Mr. Avant, the organist, for the
manner in which he accompanied the w ; and the
district choir masters, for their assiduity in training
the choirs; to the secretaries, for the excellent
arrange.
'Dents ; and also to the rector and oburchwardr
their ijairty cooperation in the good work The col-
lection, at both services amounted to upwards of £4O.