The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-11-03 00:00:00

CONCERT AT BALMORAL CASTLE.

lAt a time when English "village concerts" are
obtaining so much publicity and creating so healthy
an interest in part-singin g through the communications
I in our columns of Mr. Frank Summerley and other
gentlemen (remarks the London Titter), it may not be
amiss to devote • few additional lines to the concert
briefiy noticed the other day, under the usual "Court
Circular" heading, as given last week at Balmoral
Castle, in presence of Her Majesty the Queen, by the
Crathie Musical Association. In the relation of the
getting up of the English village concerts apologetic
reference is made to the difficulty, in so limited a
circle, of procuring anything like trained aid in
carrying out the performance; how much stronger a
plea might be urged in behalf of the Highland liar-
monists may be inferred from the fact that the
members of this little musical association at Crathie
have on a practising night to walk and drive from four
to seven miles to the place of meeting. They number
when in full force about 30; they are thesona and daugh-
ters of the farmers and cottars in the district around
Balmoral, and for the most part constitute the choir of
Ithe pariah church of Crathie, the place of worship other
Majesty, the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Court
when resident on Preside. Through the foresight of
Dr. Robertson, Commissioner at Balmoral to the
Que,n, the services of a young gentleman was, in the
late Prince Consort's time, secured for her Majesty's
school at Strathgirnoc, who, in addition to his genertal
, teaching qualifications, possessed excellent musical
' abilities. This gentleman, Mr. Patrick Ridd, became
precentor of Craithie Church, hence the formation acd
progress of the association whose concert is under ,
notice. It would not be expected, in the circumstances
detailed, that the programme of the Balmoral Caddie I
performance should be a very ambitious one, yet it
will not be without interest to part-singers, and it
may therefore he here noted. The first two numbers
were sacred—Dr. Whitfield's "In Jewry is God
known," and an anthem, "Sing unto God," by R A.
Smith, a musician who did good service to Scottish
psalmody, but whose name will live longeet from his
Petting of Tannahill'e song of 'The Flower of
Dunblane." Then followed Mr. Bringley Richards's
popular semi-national "God Bless the Prince of
Wales," and after that a Pleasant part song for treble,
alto and bees, entitled "Waiting for the May," a piece
of American growth. The next three numbers were of
Scotch birth—namely, "The Hicks of Abergeldie " (a
slight liberty with Burns's " Birks of Aberfeldie," in
consideration of the locale of the concert), then the fine
old air of 'Ca' the Howes to the Knowee," arranged
as a duet for trebles (sung with so much artless grace
by two of the Highland maidens that Her Majesty
was pleased to command its repetition), and after this
Burris'e song of "Afton Water, the music by the late
Alexander Hume, and one of the prettiest of modern
Scotch melodies. Lord Mornington'e always accept-
able and effective glee. "Here in cool grot," brought
the association out in their strength again ; the follow-
ing vember, the plaintive "Thou host left me ever,
Jamie," the air which Burns said, when played slow
by Fraser, the Edinburgh oboe performer, breathed
the '' language of despair," affording the member. •
favourable opportunity of displaying their power of
rendering the plaintive wail-like music of Scotland.
The National Anthem brought the concert to a clone,
when Her Majesty wan graciously pleased to per-
sonally compliment Mr. Kidd and friends on their
excellence as part singers. The members of the asso-
ciation were entertained at supper previous to leaving
the Highland Palace.