Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

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202 SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY SACRED HARMONIC SOCIETY
1847 was an important epoch in the Society's
annals ;
Handel's ' Belshazzar ' was revived,
and a new selection of Anthems given, but the
greatest event was the production for the first
time in its improved form of Mendelssohn's
'Elijah,' under his own personal direction.
Four performances of it were given, and it at
once took that firm position which it has ever
since maintained. Subsequently Spohr visited
this country at the invitation of the Society
and conducted two performances of his 'Fall
of Babylon ' and one of his ' Christian's Prayer
and ' Last Judgment ' (the last for the only
time in England under his direction), and
produced his '84th Psalm, Milton's version,'
composed expressly for the occasion. An
incident of this year eventually led to changes
which had an important influence on the fortunes
of the Society. A committee, appointed
to investigate the conduct of Joseph Surman,
both in respect of his dealings with the Society
and his execution of the office of conductor,
having unanimously reported adversely to him,
he was removed from his office Feb. 15, 1848.
Pending a regular appointment the remaining
concerts of the season were conducted by the
leader of the band, George Perry. Mr. (afterwards
Sir Michael) Costa was elected conductor,
Sept. 22, 1848. Very beneficial results followed
this appointment : both band and chorus were
strengthened and improved, and the number of
performers was augmented to nearly 700. The
performances of the season consisted principally
of more effective renderings of the stock pieces,
but Mendelssohn's music for ' Athalie ' was introduced
with great success. In 1 8 5 nothing new
was given but Mendelssohn's ' Lauda Sion ' in
an English dress. 1851 was chiefly remarkable
for the number of concerts given—thirty-one ;
' Messiah, '
' Elijah, ' and the ' Creation ' having
been performed alternately, one in each week,
from May to September for the gratification of
visitors to the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park.
Later in the year Haydn's ' Seasons ' was introduced
for the first time. In 1852 Spohr's
'
Calvary ' and the fragments of Mendelssohn's
'Christus' were introduced. In 1853 some
changes took place in the officers of the Society
E. K. Bowley became treasurer, and W. H.
Husk succeeded him as librarian : Mozart's
'
Requiem ' was first brought forward this year.
1854 was distinguished by two performances of
Beethoven's Mass in D. Griesbaoh's Daniel
'
was also brought forward, and the Society
undertook the performance of the music at the
opening of the Crystal Palace on May 10. In
1856 Costa's 'Eli' was performed for the first
time in London with marked success. In 1857
Rossini's
'
Stabat Mater ' was introduced, and
the Society undertook the musical arrangements
for the first Handel Festival at the Crystal
Palace. [See Hanbel Festival.] In 1862
Beethoven's Mount ' of Olives ' was given with
'
its proper libretto. Costa's Kaaman ' was
introduced to a London audience in 1866. In
1867 Benedict's 'Legend of St. Cecilia' was
given for the first time in London. In 1870
Beethoven's Mass in D was again performed.
The Society sustained the loss, by death, of
three of its principal officers, J. N. Harrison,
president ; R. K. Bowley, treasurer ; and T.
Brewer, secretary and, for a few weeks, president.
They were replaced by D. Hill, president
W. H. Withall, treasurer ; and J. F. Puttick,
secretary. In 1873 the last named died, and
E. H. Mannering was appointed in his stead.
Bach's ' St. Matthew Passion ' was given for the
first time. In 1874 Dr. Crotch's 'Palestine'
was introduced, and Macfarren's ' St. John the
Baptist ' given for the first time in London.
Mozart's Litany in Bl>, in an English dress,
was introduced in 1877. In 1878 Rossini's
'Moses in Egypt' was restored to its original
position as an oratorio. Nothing new was
brought forward in the season of 1879-80,
which ended on April 30, 1880, with 'Israel
in Egypt. ' Owing to a change in the proprietorship
of Exeter Hall the Society had to quit
that building, and the concerts of the season
1880-81 were given in St. James's Hall, the
number of performers being reduced, on account
of the limited space of the orchestra, to about
300. The first concert was on Dec. 3. Sullivan's
'
Martyr of Antioch ' (first time in London) and
Cherubini's Requiem in C minor were brought
out during the season.
The Society's library was the largest collection
of music and musical literature ever gathered
together by a musical body in England. Space
does not allow here of even a brief list of its principal
contents, and the reader is therefore referred
to the last edition of its printed catalogue, issued
in 1872. It was acquired for the Royal College
of Music at the dissolution of the original
Society. [See also Libkaries, vol. ii. p. 706.]
The Society also possessed some interesting
original portraits, statuary, and autograph
letters. It was in constitution an essentially
amateur body, none but amateurs being eligible
for membership, and the governing committee
being chosen by and from the members. Every
member was required to take some part in the
orchestra, and a strict examination as to his
qualification for so doing was made prior to his
admission. The most eminent professors were
engaged as principal vocalists and instrumentalists,
the rest of the band and the whole of the
chorus being amateurs. The members were
comparatively few in number, the majority of
the amateurs being assistants, who gave their
gratuitous services, butpaidno subscription. The
subscription of members, originally£l, was afterwards
£2 : 2s. per annum. The original Society
was dissolved in 1882, its last concert being a
performance of ' Solomon ' on April 28 of -that
year. Some members of the committee deter-