The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-05


will follow him In sympathy to the An
tipodes, and hope that dry air and sun
shine may do for him a service which
the fine old city Of the Severn valley
with its fogs and damp, cannot be eX-
pected to render.
Mr.. Lee Williams has done fifteen
years good work in Gloucester, and has
won the regard of all it's citizens in
quite a remarkable way by his solid and
unpretentious effort, as well as his mu-
steal insight and feeling. Here, in the
music-room of his official residence in.
Palace Yard. it is pleasant to talk with
him of these happy years. OF his work,
at least, he is ready to speak, but of the
personal question, the way in which he
has done it, he is silent
Mr.. Williams is of Welsh descent.
His father, Rev. d. Williams, LID,
came from Brecon, and was related to
the Williamses of Abercamlais. Dr.
Williams, who was in orders, was a
Fellow of New College, oxford, and
held for fifty-one years the college liv-
ling of Alton Barnes, Wiltshire, though
owing to loss of sight, he had for many
years to perform his duty by deputy
Mr.. Lee Williams, as a boy, entered the
choir of New College, oxford, and was
there for four of five years. Mr.. Will
liams' uncle was at the time warden of
the college, so that he was not with
out friends. When his voice broke his
father was living in retirement at
Winchester, and here the lad went for
a time, knowing no more of music than
a choir boy usually does, and having
81 an open mind as to his future career.
The first thing his father did was to
send him to a tutor to make up those
arrears in general education which
choir-boy's life at that time had in
Volved. 1t is the recollection of how
little he did in general studies when a
chorister that has made Mr.. Williams
so careful that the choir-boys under
him shall have a good education.
Before long he decided to make mu-
sic his profession, and being at Win
chester, it was natural thing that he
should be articled to the cathedral or
ganist, DIR. Arnold, of whom he has the
pleasantest recollections. He was for
five years with Dr. Arnold, during the
latter part of which time he acted as
deputy organist His first appoint
ment was at Ovington, village a few
miles out of Winchester, and he rode
there and back each Sunday on a
hired pony. The recollections of these
rides is humorous. The pony was Of
ten changed, and his temper and little
ways was gloriously uncertain. Some
times he would lie down, sometimes
kick, sometimes bolt. The result was
that more than once the youthful or
ganist was late for his duty. The Win
chester apprenticeship over, Mr.. Lee
Williams took an organ at Upton,
Torquay, from whence he went ST.
Columba's College, an important pub
lie school-sometimes called "the Eton
of Ireland"-near Dublin. Among his
predecessors here We're DIR. Arnold, Dr.
f. G. Monk, Mr.. T. L. Aylward, Mr. f.
Cambridge, &c. The five years at ST.
Columba's were happy ones. Mr.. Lee
Williams was a form master as well
as music master. He divided the $50
boys into four classes, and all learned
to sing, showing much enthusiasm
Fond of games and fishing, there was
plenty of recreation for him, and the
friendship which he formed with Sir
Robert Stewart was especially helpful
and cordial. While here, Mr.. Williams
graduated Mus. b. at oxford, during
Sir Frederic Ouseley's professorship.
In 1876, Dr. Arnold was laid aside
from work, and at the request of the
dean and chapter Mr.. Lee Williams
gave up st. Columba's and took his old
masters place for a year. When this
duty was done, and DIR. Arnold was
happily able to resume work, the or
ganistsmp of LANDAU Cathedral was
offered 10 Mr., Williams. His cousin, the
Very Rev Thomas Williams, was the
dean, 80 that naturally all went well
during the five or six years that ne was
there, and when, early in 1882. DR., Har-
ford Lloyd resigned his post at Giou-
cester Cathedral in order to so to Christ
Church, oxford, Mr.. Lee Williams, who
took his place, left Llandatf for Clou-
cester with regret. The Cardiff Or
chestrai Society, of which he was the
first conductor, was one of the organi-
cations which he left behind.
while 1 was at LANDAU" says Mr.
Williams, 'I was struck by the Welsh
love OF music. A Welshman by inher-
itance, had never lived in Wales, and
as listener and spectator | used to go
to the e.steddfodau and marvel at the
enthusiasm shown by working people
both as performers and auditors. OF
course the system has it's defects.
repertory of the choirs is too limited
but taken as a whole, the Welsh devo-
tion to choral singing is remaTkab BILE
and as far as 1 know unparalleled. ]
have always been myself immensely
fond of unaccompanied choral singing
--glees, madrigals, part-songs, and
even anthems. This art is distinctly
English. Wherever / have been hav,
tried to revive it. At Llandaff formed
madrigal society, and conducted Il
during my time there. The unaccom
panied singing is the purest style OF
vocal music. One of my last acts be
fore leaving Gloucester will be TO serve
with my friend Mr.. Riseley as adju,
dicator In contests for male and foi
mixed choirs. which our County Coun
Gil are'getting up with the public funds
lat their disposal
speaking generally, / think that the
cathedral service has been overdont
with organ. l should like to hear more
nnaccompanied work from the choir
1t Is devotional, and 1t is eplendid prae-