Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 4.djvu/221

UNIVERSITY SOCIETIES. and wind, the quartet being all professionals. In the next few years the Society made steady progress, the most notable performances being Mozart's Requiem; Bach's Concerto for 3 PF.s; Beethoven's Ruins of Athens;' the 'Antigone' again; a selection from Gluck's 'Iphigenia in Aulis'; Beethoven's Mass in C and Choral Fantasia; and a concert in memory of Spohr (Dec. 7, 1859).

In 1860 the Society gave its first chamber concert (Feb. 21). In the following year the Society gave a performance of the 'Œdipus' in the Hall of King's College, the dialogue being read by the Public Orator, the Rev. W. G. Clark. At a subsequent performance of the 'Antigone' in the Hall of Caius College (May 20, 1861) the verses were read by the Rev. Charles Kingsley. On March 9, 1862, the name of Schumann occurs for the first time to the beautiful Andante and Variations for two pianofortes (op. 46). In the following year the Society produced for the first time in England the same composer's Pianoforte Concerto (op. 54), played by Mr. J. R. Lunn. Other achievements worth mentioning were the performance in 1863 of the Finale to Act I. of 'Tannhäuser,' of Schumann's Adagio and Allegro (op. 70) for PF. and horn, his Fest-overture (op. 123, first time in England), and of the march and chorus from 'Tannhäuser.'

The concerts of the next nine years continued to keep up the previous reputation of the Society, and many standard works were during this period added to the repertory.

In 1870 Mr. Charles Villiers Stanford (then an undergraduate at Queen's) made his first appearance at a concert on Nov. 30, when he played a Nachtstück of Schumann's, and a Waltz of Heller's. In 1873 he succeeded Dr. Hopkins as conductor, and one of his first steps was to admit ladies to the chorus as associates. This was effected by amalgamating the C.U.M.S. with the Fitzwilliam Musical Society, a body which had existed since 1858. The first concert in which the newly-formed chorus took part was given on May 27, 1873, when Sterndale Bennett conducted 'The May Queen,' and the 'Tannhäuser' march and chorus was repeated. In the following year the Society performed Schumann's 'Paradise and the Peri' (June 3, 1874), and on May 2, 1875, his music to 'Faust' (Part III) for the first time in England. The custom of engaging an orchestra, consisting mainly of London professionals, now began, and enabled the C.U.M.S. to perform larger works than before. The number of concerts had gradually been diminished, and the whole efforts of the chorus were devoted to the practice of important compositions. By this means the Society has acquired a reputation as a pioneer amongst English musical societies, and within the last few years has produced many new and important compositions, besides reviving works which, like Handel's 'Semele' and 'Hercules,' or Purcell's 'Yorkshire Feast Song,' had fallen into undeserved oblivion. A glance at the summary of compositions performed, at the end of this article, will show the good work which it is doing for music in England.

In 1876 a series of Wednesday Popular Concerts was started, and has been continued without intermission in every Michaelmas and Lent Term to the present time. These are given in the small room of the Guildhall, and generally consist of one or two instrumental quartets or trios, one instrumental solo, and two or three songs. The performers consist of both amateur and professional instrumentalists. More important chamber concerts are also given in the Lent and Easter Terms; and to these, Professor Joachim—an honorary member of the Society—has often given his services. The Society, as at present (Nov. 1884) constituted, consists of a patron (the Duke of Devonshire), 16 vice-patrons, a president (the Rev. A. Austen Leigh), three vice-presidents, secretary, treasurer, librarian, committee of eight members, ladies' committee of six associates, conductor (Dr. C. V. Stanford), 280 performing, 130 non-performing members and associates, and 20 honorary members. The subscription is 21s. a year, or 10s. a term. Besides the popular concerts once a week in Michaelmas and Lent Terms, there is usually a choral concert every Term, and in Lent and Easter Terms a chamber concert of importance, and choral and instrumental practices once a week.

The following is a list of the most important works produced and performed by the C.U.M.S. Numerous overtures and symphonies and much chamber music, by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Bennett, etc., have been omitted for want of space. The works marked with an asterisk were performed by the Society for the first time in England. [ W. B. S. ]

[App. p.806 "To the list of important works given by the Cambridge Society add the following:

The asterisks indicate first performance in England."] [ M. ]