The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-06-05 00:00:00

SALISBURY.

SALISBURY DIOCESAN CHORAL FESTIVAL.
A bright page was added to our church's rewords
on Wednesday last. The grand Choral Feistiest held
, at the Cathedral, Salisbury, was one of the most
was
a D
splendid magnifioent, and impressive meetings that the Salis-
I bir gab esanendid ClooralerinAsgaocuiaptiwonardh:vofe
iy,eBoot
bad. It
w
, singers
brought from all parts of the diocese—men, women,
and children with their sweet young voices, had met
that day to lift their beads and voims in the praise
of the great Triune God. There was something very
, good, very holy in the thought of such • revival. It
, Mews what can be done for church music, and what
I ought to be done for the improvement of our worship.
These choral gatherings produce a bond of brother.
I hood amongst our district churches. They rouse
those that would be sluggish to action, and the
motive to greater perseverance in a noble cause. The
service commenced about 12 o'clock. The faint
sound of the chanting of the Vestry prayers reached
the multitude assembled in the vast and beautiful
C:atbedraL Then immediately followed the Pro-
, oessienal Hymn, "Christ is our corner stone," set to
1, Handers 148th. It would require the pen of a poet
—eta Milton to describe the effect of the opening
verse of that gloriosa hymn as it winged its way
through the grand =eaves arches of the Cathedral
turn the cloisters, where, the anrplioed choirs had
assembled.
" As the soft waves of solemn song
Floated the stately aides along,
And prayers fioe'd forth these prayers sublime,
That method the saints in olden time,
Aed reverence o'er the people fell,
With every sod-timed syllable."
Like an angel's song it fell upon the ear softly,
delicate, the old cloisters rang with God's praises,
and the Cathedral who'd the strain, nearer and
nearer it came, the choirs advancing in their
white prbe and their banners in hand. It was like
a mese of days gone by. When those in the pro.
cession were arranged in their respective places, the
unaurpliced choirs and congregation joined in the
hymn. The effect was good, the full chorus coming
after the processional singing. There was only one
slight flaw, we could call it nothing more, in the
starting of the 4th vane of this hymn. We consider
It quite wonderful that there were not more, as it is
so difficult to sing whilst marobiag, and especially a,
there was no organ accompaniment. The rest of the
service was pretty fair, although we do not quite
agree with Dr. Elvey's system of pointing; it is too
Intricate for the memo! country Moils. We noticed
in the psalms for the day that the pointing was apt
to throw them out of time—tryiog to give the proper
stress to a particular word the musical time was lost,
and some of the voices dropped for an instant
, behind the others, producing a slight jar. Although
many who were present did not like the setting of
the " Te Daum," or rather the idea of singiez it to
Steggall's music, we most my that it went more
smoothly, regularly, and in letter time them the
palms we have jest mentlosed. "Lift up your
heads, 0 ye gates," taken as • whole, was not SO
badly sung, there were good points to be picked out
here and there; bat we much preferred the render-
ing of the anthem "From the rising of the sun." It
was not SD complicated Si the other, and seemed
more manageable. The Litany was badly set, the
first response was decidedly out of time. If it had
been written with • reciting note as in chant music it
would have been less stiff, more devotional, and more
element to the ear. At each change of the words
there was • dragging and discord produced. The
chorale from Mendelseohn's St. Paul was beautiful.
It was a grand piece of music well chosen, well per-
formed, and therefore well appreciated. The con.
chiding promotional hymn, "Light's abode, thou
heavenly Salem," was splendidly sung, as the
choirs with their banners, and attended by
their parish priests, moved down the long aisles
of the snared building and entered the cloisters,
there was not an eye that witnessed it, or
, • heart in the Cathedral but felt pleased, thank f I
to God that an opportunity had occurred of seeing
, each a sight. Some of the faces of young choir boye
I were perfectly lovely, and all in the procession
looked as if they felt the dignity, tbe holiness, and
the privilege of their position. As the choirs knelt
down to receive the parting benediction of the good
Bishop at the does, prostrating their banners it re-
minded us of the blessing of the benners in the
olden time. The whits robed choristers (their
garments an emblem of parity) with bowed heads
holding these banners and the calm sweet voice of *
man whom every heart in that Cathedral loved and
revered pouring forth God's blessing, was one of the
most hematite' and touching scenes imaginable, and
one that cannot be forgotten. The arrangement,
were very perfect. Thanks to the Rev. Percival
Ward, and his good assistants. He deserved every
word our kind Bishop said at the dinner. There
was no confusion either at the Cathedral or daring
the procemiona lint we should strongly reoomniend
those who have not been authorized by the Rev. P.
Ward or some competent person connected with the
association for the future not to give contrary
directions, and lead the choirs to take wrong places
in the procession. Luckily the choirs to which we
allude found out that they had been misled and got
to their proper positions before ranch time had
passed. Taking the festival as • whole, we can say,
with truth, that it was successful in all respects.
There were faolte now and then apparent—bat
sensible people must know that the object of each •
gathering is to detect those flaws and remedy them
as wallas possible by the next gathering. We should
rather hold up the good performances and Mow
what can be done, what is done, and trust to future
time and practise for what will be done. It was
really wonderful the beautiful order which was pre•
served amongst those 1,800 people by their attention
to the rules laid down for them. We are sore Mr.
Ward had no light task; as is usual with everytbirg
which he arranges the festival was a most perfect
success. We wish we could my as much for the
railway trains, hoping that something will be done
during this agricultural show-week to guide strangers
to the respective stations. The two platforms being
so new many went to the South-Western and lost
th • Great Western *amnions and other trains by
mistaking the platforms and trains. Many of the
people had to stay in Salisbury all night, others
went on to Bath and Bristol rather than stay, haring
remained on the South-Western platform till at last
they found out that they were at the wrong station
and the down train gone. We would give the nil•
way companies a hint to place placards on the walls
leading respectively to the South and Great Western
trains so as to prevent mistakes again arising
amongst the many visitor' to Salisbury during the
Bath and West of Eogland Show. All the arrange.
nimbi at the festival had been so complete that this
last matter was the more keenly felt.—L.W.

The third festival of the Diocese/a Choral AIIIOOIA.
lion was held at the Cathedral on Wednesday,
30th ult. This society has for its object that of
the improvement of parish choirs throughout the
diocese, and enoouraging • good and hearty style
of congregational singing in the various parish
churches. It being oonsidered that the amseibling
of all the parish choirs in the diocese in one building,
for • grand display of vocal music, would be calm.
land to Ilan • good effect ID advancing the object,'"
of the society, the committee annonnosd that on
Wedaesday they purposed bringing together up-
wards of 1,800 singers from all parts of the diocese.
It was understood that a heavy exposes would be
' entailed by this gigantic undmisking, but it was
hoped and .zpeot.d that the meet:rig would result
In much good to those choirs which had not often the
opportunity of bearing such men as that performed
at our Cathedral. Accordingly, programmes of the
mule and words to be used on the occasion were
printed and circulated amongst the va-ious pariah
choirs, and, as was proved on Wednesday by the
harmony which generally prevailed throughout the
service, the mendiers of these choirs set vigorously
and carefully to work to procaine tis• melted= of
minis provided. Thanks to the exertions of the
choirmasters, most of the venoms ohoin in the
diocese sacosedsd in properly issotoriali their lemon
previous to the great trial of their shanks on Wed.
neaday, and the result was sonesquently
holory. Two other festivals had psspios.ly been
held In the Chthedzal, but the prawn arm

by far the most numerous, and the experiment
was therefore of course more haaardous. Sst.
as we have before hinted the singers acquitted
themselves well, and we bops and ez.
peon that they enjoyed their pert in the per.
formatted of the day as much as the malregatioe
did that of listening to their harmonious voices.
Special trains on the Great Western, South-
western, sod Somerset and Dorset Railways, con-
veyed most of the members of the Diocesan choir'
residing at a distance. From about eight o'clock in
the morning the High-street, and some of the other
principal streets in the city, began to meanie an
nominally lively appearance, as the musical strangers
and their friends came pouring in. Malty of the
isbabitanta also began to bogie* themselvei and
evidentlz had made up their minds to be present to
" assist at the grand festival to be bald in the
Cathedral that day. At about 10 o'clock the male
singers wended their way to the Cathedral yard
in processional order' and in small companies which
were understood to be separate choirs, each choir
being headed by a gaily coloured silk beaneret,
bearing tbe name of the parish church to which the
P"lf 101 lowing it belonged. The female singer. had
previously been mustered on the lawn in front of the
'Diocesan Training School, and all being ready, the
choir entered the Cathedral for a rehearsal previous
to the public service. Short, however, was the
time allowed them for this purpose, for at eleven
o'clock the public vu admitted to the sacred
edifice, and shortly after half-pest eleven, the ser-
vice commenced. The surpliced choirs occupied the
spec, under the tower; the unsorplieed melee, a
part of the nave; and the feinialin the north transept.
The south transept was occupied mainly by the inhabit-
=twit the Close and their friend& The public on being
admitted soon filled the remainder of the nave, and
before the service oommenced every available ender
found an occupant. And grand indeed was the
sight of that great crowd in our Cathedral, and
gra,ifying it is to relate that throughout the services
the most decorous behaviour wee Observed by these
present, so that no one's enjoyment of the glorious
music performed, was for a moment marred by the
—tturP7edlieed
bad behaviour of his neighbour. The member' of
itriltgeidimffeareynthcehociw.int wfihedicb
utookt.pa:wsin,
43i trebles, 37 altos. 63 tenors, 75 hang; Ciurarpliced
393 trebles, 104 altos, 217 trier, 270 bass ; Females
408 trebles, 47 altos; Greed Total. 1762. There
was a large attendance of the clergy, and
amongst those present we noticed the following :
Th. Right Rev. the Lord Billion of the Diocese
the Very Rev. the Donn of Hy, the Von. Arad's:.
son Sanctuary, the Yen. Archdeacon Harris, Rev,
Prebendary Neville, Rev. Prebendary Chermaide,
Rev. Prebendary Stanton, Rev. Prebendary Smed-
ley, Ray. Prebendary Faronhanon (Logien. Bland.
ford), Rev. Precentor Lear, Bev. E Dauheny,
(Bishop's Chaplain.) Revs. E. Huston (Sherborne),
G. Thompson (Leigh), G. Smithson (Yetminster),
R. Quirk (Blandford), S. M. Lakin, C. Hitixtnith,
K Laird, J. Carnegie, F. Girdleetone, N. Frieling, J.
Penruddocke, Percival Ward (secretary). E. F. Trot-
man. H. T. trmlleld, Bennett (South Newton),
FL . Pullen, W. E. Roe (Melbury), T. W. Dowding
(Marlborough), 0.8. Idasler ( West Dean), H. Don,
6. Pollard (Coombe Bennett). R. Bechanass ( W ',Mord),
J. J. Jacob, (Florningebans) J. H. Certwright, (Wittier.
bourne) Ceon Fisher, R. H. Teals. B. 0. Dosslan, 8.
inutteleworth, C. King. S. Dee, A. Codd (Beaminster),
4. Rawlinson (Symondsbury), C. T. Proctor (Do-
theater), F. Fisher (Weynsoath), Francis (gridport),
Barnes (Cattistockl, Ito. he. Of the laity the
attendance was nay large. The mercies commenc d
at twelve o'clock, when the clergy and seri:diced choirs
entered the nave in prnosssional order and sang the
precessional hymn. "Christ is onr corner stone to
Handel's 148th. The choirs which, with the clergy,
formed Uzi, proces-'on and were distinguished from the
other by being
.eurplisedoreve the Beaminster, Bridport,
Brad pole,Cheddington, Loneliest, Partition*, Sturmineter
liarthall, Weymouth, (St Johns.) Compton Bassett,
(7stberstone, Warminster, Dorehester (All Saints).
Wookton Farleieh, Wimborne, Sherborne Abbey. and
Salisbury Cathedral. Fitch choir was heeded by its
hanneret, and the Bishoo's pastoral staff was bane is
(root s 1 him by his chaplain, theft/a. J. Danbeny. 1$
was an impressive spectacle when 411 bad taken their
seats to see the vast concourse Ilium as it did the whole
nf the nave and transepts of • building which has not
inaptly being designated one of the finest specimens of
Early English style in the country. Kr. J. B. Richardson
the organist of the Cethedrel. presided at the instru-
ment, and the Rey. Noel Fretting, restored Wieterslow,
the local honorary secretary of the association. ofillriatod
as conductor. Thoth composing the procession hawing
• 4-rn their places, the prayers were intoned by the
Rev. S. K. Lakin, the asemabled choirs reepoading,
rho vows was then ehanted (half • verse alternately
by the two divisions of shoirs,) and the first lesson read
by the Rey. C. King. The Rey. Canon Fisher, the
Rev. S. K. Lakin, and the Rev. C. King in turn took
-art in the service. following, the Litany being intoned
oy the Rey. C. King. The 144th end 146th Psalms
were chanted to No. 214, Salisbury Chant Book, and
the 145th Psalm to No. 26. The To Dean was cheated
• .0 • service by
_Dr. Stedall, and the Beltealieres to the
61st chant, Walter, Chant Book. In the anthem,
-Lift op your heads. 0 ye gates." the Cathedral.
Sherbert.* and Wimberne choirs oaly, sung the first
flan. the other choirs takine up the chorus et the erop's
"He is the King of Glory." The hymn preceding the
ammo& " Hotannsh to the living Lord," was sung
to • chorale from Mendelashon's St. Pan/. The very
Rey. the Dean of Ely ascended the pulpit and
4elivered a most eloquent and appropriate sermon, of
*hick we have only apece for an outline. As we
understand the sermon ts shortly to be published, o
. doubt many will be happy to purchase a copy of it.
There. preacher took his text from the 6th terse of
' the 150th Psalm, "Let everything that bath life praise
after. The words of his text wee the last words of tie
' I,„t N 0... They might be oseup.red to the crowning
ioint of their beautiful spire. in this Psalm they
would observe that David ooly addiessed himself to
men like himself. He called
..tip:on. the
.whole

rece to join in the praise of bod. It showed the
necessity of baring musical expression to thou feelings
which Au the human heart. These feelings
would, it seemed, find vent in musical mounds.
Rush verse of the Psalm contained the com-
mand to praise God, and to love Him, and to
fear Him, and to humble ourselves before Him. We
must praise God for all He has done for us. We ale
not stooks and atones, we have hearts and feelings, and
when we come together as members of one Church it is
meet that we should express our feelings of joy and
praise. How is this to be don.? Thee Pealmist el. •
us some valuable hints concerning it. Musical inetrt-
meats of all kioda were mentioned. In our time the
organ seemed the instrument most applicable to Church
worship. He did not know why any instrument
which the band, of men might devise should
not be used in the terries of God, but
the organ seemed suction, the instrument for mend
moue Its solemn tones, the great variety of its power',
the simplicity of its operation, whereby one player may
do the work of many, all these thinp conspired to give
the pnrferenee to the organ. And under God's blessieg
we have one in almost every parish church. The
langruage of the psalm fluid the relation which inetra-
mental music should take as regards vocal music. The
Pulnitet speaks in glowing language of the music in
which God's praise' are to set forth. Observe the
clime: of the whole : "Let everything that bath breath
p-aise the Lord." The sounds of the musical instruments
were only to sustain and artist the voice, of oneo.
Instruments then and human voices made together the
choral service of the church. The very rev, preacher
then spoke of the importance of tha choir in the wor-
ship of the Church of Ragland, and of the importance
ettaohed to the members leading consistent lives, that
the services of the church might not through them be
brought into contempt. He soncloded by an earnest
and eloquent appeal to the congregation to give liberally
to the collection towards the up-nets of the festival, as
e said it wu necessary that £lOO should be raised that
clay. The busedictioo being pronounced after the
anthem, " From the rising of the sun," bad been bung. the
.urphoed choirs reformed in preen-onion and entered Lie
cloisters singing the prooessionel hymn "Lights above."
The grand lesson to be learnt from this festival by the
choirs seems to us to be, that though during the past
few ears they have made a considerable advance in
choral singing, they have yet much to learn by plaint
painsiaking and prat:ice. The greet defect in the
omicel portion of the service was bed time; this, how-
ever, is one which ever attends • performer:roe by a large
body of singers, some of whom are ignorant of the
priatia7 Hen-rents of music. As might be expected.
I this was principally noticeable in the magnificent
anthem "Lift up your heads." This spirited chorus of
Handel was given but indifferently, which we were not
urprised at, for in a concert given last week at the
Crystal Palace, when between four and Ave thoimend
members of diming dames, under John Hellish,
gave another chorus from the "Xenolith," there was
creoadually quite a jumble, and discord neigsed
supreme for a brief while. Some of the simpler
pietism given by the ehoristers were, however, very nicely
rendered, the Venue and Benedictus especially. The
Litany was given with much feeling, and was, perhape,
the most effective portion of the service. The arrange-
ment by which the Venite, Benediatus, and first of the
psalms were gang in alternate half verses by the
metier:led and tinserpliced choirs was very pleasing.
The other choirs having left the thumb, the
male miners formed in proevesional order, and
eadad by the band of the lit Wilts IL V., marched to
the market-house, while the female singers adjourned
to a tent on th, lawn in front of the training school,
where dinner had been prepared for them. In the
market-house • substantial dinner awaited the male
singers. About 1,500, including visitors, sat down
under the presidency of the Bishop. Grace having
been sang. the Bishop rose to propose "Beecum to
the Sarum Diocesan Choral Assometion," coepled
with the health of the Rev. P. Ward, the searetraty.
His lordship eulogised the manner in width the
service of the day had bun aelebrated, and he couladed
by calling upon them to drink the health of the pce,sher.
the Dean of lily. The Dean of Ely rsepcssd.d, The
party then dispersed. and WOO siterweid, each a the
eboirs as had not been obliged to leave early in the
afternoon, attended service at the eatbedraL Service
at the cathedral over, the various 'hobs departed as
they had came, no desire long to remeether the very
encessefni festival of the Diocesan Choral demeiatiou.

A Jamln to Pectoris B.—“ltie *two prevented
each evening during the sultry saresser months Vat
euesesped caravels, was a (rely tolerating °ea
the camels snood greedily and meshed the Paley this,' les,
tbe travellers availed themselves of my supply of peek'
age tee; even the poorest amoag them sat with the tea-
cup in their bands, and sipprd and praised the favourite
beverage made from ' Horan's Pare,' not withstemileg
it was innocout of mew. Htunso art has diesovered
food, liss inventei no nectar, whieh is so gratsfal, 0
refreshing in the desert, darts( a toilsome joureey, as
this is JINN, homy ; I here stills vivid resellsetioa
of its wonder-wartime; sassti& As I "Pa. 7. sipped Sb.
infusion a soft flre filled my veins, sit. waist llvisad
without totes' ; it aliested bosh heart sod hood;
the eye became pseeliarly height sad bogie Is sham la
sash moments halt an tedseerlbsbl. rapture sad mese
of sombre, notwithsteading the previous bodily sad
asidal prairalos boa s day's loamy is the and
&eat"