History of the society
Gloucester Choral Society began life in 1845 as a “Choral Meeting” comprising both sacred and secular music. That was the year in which Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s famous S.S. Great Britain, the greatest ship in the world at that time, made her maiden voyage across the Atlantic and it was also the year that Mendelssohn was commissioned to write Elijah! A second meeting took place the next year, with a chorus of ninety. By 1849, a “leader” for each singing part had been appointed. The Society also decided to provide at concerts “plum cake” for the ladies, and sixpence each for the gentlemen.
The practice of inviting the Cathedral Organist to be our conductor began in 1856, and this tradition continues. Celebrated musicians of the day became conductors, including Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Herbert Brewer, Herbert Sumsion and John Sanders. To celebrate the Society’s 150th season, a concert was given of music composed by previous musical directors and one former president, Hubert Parry. For this event, a work by John Sanders, Gloucestershire Visions, was commissioned. To celebrate the Millennium the Society and the Dean and Chapter co-commissioned Creation from David Briggs, our then musical director. In the past, noted dignitaries have been our presidents. For many years now, successive Deans of Gloucester have assumed this role; the position is now occupied by the present Dean, Nicholas Bury.
Until the Second World War, concerts took place at the Shire Hall. At that time a move to Gloucester Cathedral took place; it has remained our home ever since. Initially this meant that only sacred works could be performed and it was not until 1984 that Society members voted to allow applause after The Dream of Gerontius. Many well known soloists have appeared with GCS over the years, including the legendary Jenny Lind and Dame Janet Baker.
In 1937, the Verdi Requiem was performed with the City of Birmingham Orchestra under the baton of Herbert Sumsion; this performance was broadcast by the BBC. Another memorable performance of this work was given in 2005, in aid of the Tsunami Appeal. All performers, including distinguished soloists, volunteered their services, and we were joined by singers from as far afield as Birmingham and Truro. In excess of £10,000 was raised for the appeal.
Repertoire is broad. Within the last decade or so, composers featured have ranged from Monteverdi and Gabrieli through J S Bach, Handel, Brahms and Elgar to Poulenc, Tavener and Karl Jenkins, and many more. Our present conductor, Adrian Partington, joined us in January 2008, his predecessor Andrew Nethsingha having moved on to St John’s College, Cambridge. Unusually for a cathedral director of music, Adrian had worked for a number of years as a freelance musician before moving to Gloucester.
A tradition of supporting charities dates back to 1861. In that year, two “People’s Concerts” raised £5 each for the Infirmary and Ragged School. Our annual Boxing Day Carol Concert has, in recent years, also included a collection for a local charity. Last Christmas a record sum of over £1,600 was raised for the chosen charity, Cotswold Hop Skip and Jump, which supports children with disabilities and their families.
GCS has pioneered a number of outreach initiatives over the last few years, including inviting other Gloucestershire singers from primary school age upwards to join with them in making and performing choral music, singing on hospital wards and using GCS volunteers to assist in the Three Choirs Plus Mindsong project (working with people with dementia).
There are close links between GCS and the Three Choirs Festival. In 1921 Herbert Brewer stated, “Music in Gloucester, the hardy plant which for many generations has triennially flowered nationally and internationally into the Three Choirs Festival, has for its sustaining root - outside the Cathedral Choir - the Gloucester Choral Society”.
We remain mindful of this tradition, and take every opportunity to build on our musical heritage.
