Overleg:Two psalms

Reactie van St James' naar aanleiding van vragen van de auteur van dit artikel:

GUSTAV AT GALLOWGATE
During the course of the season many requests for information land on my desk. One of the most unusual was a note from Ceescamel in Holland asking about details of a musical concert debut here at Gallowgate of Gustav Holst’s Two Psalms. I must admit I knew nothing about this, it’s amazing what turns up. But a bit of research and notes from fellow historian Alan Candlish revealed a summer concert was indeed held at St. James’ Park on Sunday, 18th July 1920, part of a Tyneside classical festival . It was held under the auspices of the Festival Choir and was in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Fund for the Stannington Sanatorium in those pre-Welfare State days. And there was a bumper attendance. The press estimated somewhere between 15,000 to 20,000 was in the ground. There were a number of works performed including by Handel, Schubert, Wagner and Tchaikovsky as well as new works by Edgar L Bainton and Gustav Holst (pictured). And not a football in sight. Holst’s work consisted what was to be known as the Two Psalms and was the first time it had been played in public. Very much a first for Gallowgate.

Gustav Holst – Two Hymns
Concert held at St James’ Park – Sunday, 18th July 1920 (performed for the most part in sunshine). This was the third festival staged. No indication is given of the venue for the two earlier festivals but this one was held under the auspices of the Festival Choir and was in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Fund for the Stannington Sanatorium. The Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress were in attendance as was the Sheriff. The press estimated the attendance to have been somewhere between 15,000 – 20,000 and concluded that, with such an attendance, the Fund “should be substantially augmented”. There were a number of works performed including Handel’s “Let Their Celestial Concerts All Unite”. But the press placed emphasis on two new compositions. The Journal said “Two of our foremost modern musicians, Mr Edgar L Bainton and Mr Gustav Holst, had written works for the festival and both composers were seen at the conductor’s desk.” Mr Bainton seemed well pleased with the manner in which his work (“A Song of Freedom and Joy”) was interpreted but no comment was made about Mr Holst’s reaction. However, considerable comment was made about the performance of his particular work. The Journal reported “Mr Holst’s work consisted of two psalms; in the first of which (Psalm LXXXVI) we had the unusual experience of seeing two conductors officiating, the composer at the desk and Mr Whittaker piloting the tenors through the recitatives. It is a graceful piece of writing which does not call for any criticism; while the chief feature of the second psalm (CXLVIII) was the skilful manipulation of the word “Alleluia”. Both psalms, we thought, would gain immeasurably in effect by an indoor performance, although the chora sang with interpretative elasticity” This lack of criticism of the work was really a bit of a compliment as the press critic seemed to think that his role was mainly to criticise. For instance, his overall view of the festival was summed up with “The programme was of singular interest but we are not convinced that it was suitable or satisfactory as previous programmes proved for an open-air festival. Neither did the choir appear to sing with the same power, brightness and resiliency, although we are aware that it may have sounded different from other places than the grandstand”. The highlight of the afternoon was when the conductor-in-chief, Mr Whittaker, gave the musicians a treat by “a polished and wholly delightful reading of Schubert’s glorious fragment, The Unfinished Symphony”. The only other choral work (apart from those mentioned above) was Handel’s “Sing unto God”. The St Hilda Band, conducted by Mr James Oliver, played selections from Tchaikovsky – “the finale of 1812 saved the first piece from utter dullness” (Personal comment - I told you that he was critical) and a pleasing excerpta from Wagner’s Lohengrin. Note Paul:- I have used two words in the above that I have never come across before - chora and excerpta. These are not my typing errors. I can guess what they mean but I am merely transcribing from the Journal report.