Musical Associations of Calderdale
Calderdale has a long established musical
tradition which has emerged in a variety of forms over the years
- in choral music, orchestras, religious gatherings, brass bands
and amateur operatic societies.
The Halifax Choral Society, established in
1817, is the oldest surviving society of its kind in the country,
although the Huddersfield Choral has become more prominent due
to its media appearances. Halifax Choral Society and its rendition
of Handel's 'Messiah' has become an annual feature in the local
calendar.
Other societies abound, including the Halifax
Male Voice Choir, which dates from 1931 and in earlier days was
a regular and successful entrant in festivals and competitions,
the Halifax Madrigal Society and innumerable lesser-known ones
connected with local schools, churches and Sunday schools. Singing
is a form of expression which appeals strongly to the inhabitants
of these rugged Pennine hills and is an enjoyable way of giving
vent to emotions which otherwise would in many cases remain hidden.
Much of this love of singing has its roots in the local nonconformist
background and the choirs of little hillside chapels have been
a training ground for many a local singer.
The Halifax Orchestral Society was formed
in 1833 and carried on until 1850. In the following year it was
succeeded by the Halifax Philharmonic Society which lasted until
1880. The Northgate-End Orchestral Society was formed in 1882
and carried on until 1908 when the name reverted to the Halifax
Orchestral Society. In more recent times school orchestras have
been formed, culminating in the Calderdale Youth Orchestra which
has proved extremely successful providing training for many aspiring
musicians.
A prominent event for many years was the
'Halifax Sing' which, from 1831 to 1890, was held every five
years in the Halifax Piece Hall. This was a gathering of scholars
from the Sunday schools throughout Calderdale when they converged
on Halifax and took their allotted places in the great courtyard
prepared to sing all day with gusto the carefully rehearsed hymns
they had been taught. Regaled with light refreshments in the
intervals they all appear to have enjoyed their day out and the
memory of it was long to remain.
Brass bands have always been popular in Calderdale
among the musicians who have taken part and also with their many
devotees. The brass band seems to be to some extent a phenomenon
of northern England where it has long been accepted as a way
of learning music and to enjoy playing a wind instrument in the
company of friends. This interest in brass bands and the music
they play has led to the formation of several local bands which
have become famous. The Black Dyke Band is particularly well-known,
as too is the Brighouse and Rastrick Band, whose rendering of
'The Floral Dance' topped the charts some years ago. The Elland
Silver Band has its following also, and in many districts of
Calderdale there is a brass band, some not as well-known, but
all enjoying meeting together to produce the music they love.
The Lee Mount Brass Band, which when it was first formed in 1888 rehearsed in a greenhouse,
came back from a competition at the Crystal Palace in 1901 bearing
the coveted thousand guineas gold championship trophy. Sadly,
the coming of World War 2 spelt the end of the band c.1940. In
many cases bands have been backed by the firms where the musicians
were employed and local people, both musicians and their audiences
owe a debt of gratitude to these philanthropic employers.
Amateur operatic societies abound in Calderdale
where the tradition of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas is enthusiastically
carried on and where the music of Strauss, Romberg and modern
composers of light operas and musicals such as Rogers and Hart,
and Lloyd Webber is never silent. In church halls, theatres and
rehearsal rooms societies prepare to give of their best for a
few evenings when they enjoy a brief hour of fame, and their
audiences are quick to assert that it was worth turning out for
despite the cold of the winter's night.
Sir George Dyson (1883-1964) was a son of
Halifax who rose to fame as a composer and conductor, chiefly
with his choral piece 'The Canterbury Pilgrims' (1931)
The great tenor Walter Widdop (1892-1949)
was also born in Calderdale, at Norland, and as a famous singer
brought great credit to his home town. He began working in a
dyehouse and sang in Norland Church choir before realising his
potential as a singer and he became a leading Wagnerian tenor.
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