A Visit to Tenbury Author(s): F. G. E. Source: The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Vol. 41, No. 693 (Nov. 1, 1900), pp. 713-719

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This content downloaded from 129.96.252.188 on Sat, 09 Jan 2016 08:05:23 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE MUSICAL TIMES.-NOVEMBER I, 19oo. 713 does not appear to be a serious drain upon THE MUSICAL TIMES their resources,at least so far as the natives AND SINGING-CLASS CIRCULAR. are concerned. ' Horridstuff,' was the verdict passed in our hearing upon the waters of the NOVEMBER I, I900. wells by a Tenburyite,who, by the way, has a certain interestin the manufactureof cider! But our pilgrimageis to St. Michael's College, Two extra Supplements are presented gratis withwhich the name of Ouseleyis inseparably with this number. A Portrait the late Rev. associated. A delightfulup-hill stroll of two of milesin this fertile us to an Sir Frederick A. Gore at the regionbrings open Ouseley, Bart., breezy spot. From this pleasant table land age of sixty, from a Photograph taken by may be seen in the distance the blue Clee Hill Messrs. T. 5ones, Son and Harper, Photo- and the Ludlow Vinhalls. Here we are at the graphers,Ludlow; and an Anthemfor Christmas, 'Old Wood' common. Adjacent theretothe entitled the late Rev. Sir FrederickArthur Gore Ouseley, 'Hark glad sound,' composed by in some ten B. Bart., purchased, June, 1852, Myles Foster. acres of land, in orderto erect his celebrated College, and to bringinto living actualitythe dream of his life. The initial stage of St. A VISIT TO TENBURY. Michael's College was at Lovehill House, Langley, Buckinghamshire,in 1851. Writing ALTHOUGH is an from Langley, Ouseley said: ' I must have Tenbury out-of-the-way choral Service: choir must be a place, it well repays a visit. Geographicallydaily my modelchoir: and I will not up anythingif speaking,it is of a somewhathybrid nature-- give that is to it is situatedin the north-westI once commence.' say, laid corner of Worcestershire,within a mile of The foundationstone of the College was where the three counties of on May 3, 1854, and the finely-proportioned Shropshire, All Herefordshire,and Worcestershiremeet at church,dedicated to St. Michaeland Angels, the ofthe riversTeme and was consecrated on Michaelmas Day, 1856. junction Ledwyche. As the were into in The sleepy littletown is served by a branch clergy forming procession whose trains are not on their thevestry, one was heardto whisperto another, railway, always 'This is the firstEcclesiastical Foundation mettle in regard to punctuality. You may to an of its kind since the Reformation.' At the perchance plan your journey join consecration the treblesin the choir express trainat Birminghamfor London; but ceremony a will advise to at included C. J. Corfe,now Bishop in Korea, friendlyguard you change and Arthur then one of the Children 'Kiddy '-railwayesque forKidderminster-and Sullivan, to travelsouth vid Worcester.The leisurelinessof the Chapel Royal, who sang the treblepart in the middle movementof Goss's anthem of the trains will probably land you at an hour or so later than ' Praise the Lord.' Ouseleyhimself was one of Paddington you the four and the Rev. the anticipatedon Saturdaynight, but is it not all altos, JohnHampton, in a Festival week's ? presentWarden, formed one of a dozen tenors. enjoyment of was at the To approachTenbury from Hereford is quite Elvey, Windsor, organ--a very an matter. And what could furnisha fine instrument-and the service included easy in I have builtThee moredelightful coda to a Three ChoirsFestival Rogers D, Boyce's ' surely than a visit to. when an house,' Elvey's ' Praise the Lord of heaven,' Ouseleyland,especially and the Goss anthem mentioned. A the mostdistinguished of Tenburyex-organists already has his desire to in the High Churchmanof the old-fashionedsort, expressed join you had a touch of in the pilgrimagethereto? Thus it happened that, Ouseley Medimevalism on a I was met at promptingsof his nature which found its lovelySeptember morning, naturaloutlet in the foundationof this Tenbury Station by a valued contributorto College. THE MUSICAL in the of Mr. His practical belief in the scheme may be TIMES, person J. estimatedso far as lucre' is concerned F. R. Stainer,and outsidethe pleasanthostelry, 'filthy the of The Swan, it was at the amount of some ?30o,ooo-the cost of the bearing sign equally an endowmentof about thesame pleasant to experience another heartyhand- buildings,plus shake in the warm accorded to me sum. The Chapel, ofwhich more anon, is also greeting a Parish and the deed of endowment by the ex-organistaforementioned-Sir John Church, Stainer. is such that the Warden of the College is ipso factovicar of the parish. Thus,independently of THE EARLY DAYS OF THE COLLEGE. thechoral services, there are twoplain parochial Bustle, even on a marketday, does not seem servicesevery Sunday. Soon afterthe church to be a special characteristicof Tenbury. had been consecrateda worthyold Hereford- Easy-going to a. degree, its chief attractionshire dame gave her opinion on the eagle is a certain antiquatednessspecially exampled lectern,then a noveltyin these parts, thus- in some picturesqueold houses. It is true wise: ' O yes,' she said, ' I got a good seat; that thereare some medicinalwells, but there rightup anunstthe turkey'!

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THE ORGANISTS, AND ONE IN PARTICULAR. conclusion, Sir Frederick gave me a few words of advice and much As to the group of good kindlyencouragement. picturesque buildings-- ' The next interview I had with him was full designed the well known architect, Mr. by of momentto me it constituteda Henry Woodyer-which form the church and ; turning-point in life. I was then between sixteen and college, the view given on the adjoining page my will furnisha better idea of their attractiveness seventeen years of age, and was playing the afternoonservice at St. both Goss and than any technical The Paul's, description. beautifully absent for a few designed church is Middle Pointed, it is Cooper being days. During Early the service came into the 122 feet long with a very strikingroof, seventy Ouseley quickly organ feet in and is rich in carved woodwork loft and, aftergreeting me, watched me closely height, as I the music from the old and stained glass. The fine four-manualorgan, accompanied " scores." On the same I had a letter rebuilt and added to Father Willis in 1873, evening by fromhim to that the of his visit to occupies a raised position in the south say object St. Paul's had been to find an for St. transept. The have held organist following gentlemen Michael's and he offeredme the the post of at College, post. organist Tenbury :-John Capel I must for thus Hanbury Stainer Langdon apologise introducing myself (1856), John (1857), into this but it and how I Colborne (186o), Alfred Alexander (1874), paper,t explains why William Claxton Walter came to know so much about the character and (1877), James and friend. In Lancaster Allan Paterson abilities of my patron 1857 I1 (1886), (1889), James found after a to and Edgar C. Broadhurst, the myself, railway journey Lyon (1893), Worcester and then miles on the of present holder of the office." In this organist twenty top a settled in the which connection the following interesting incidents coach, charmingbuilding in the career of Sir Stainer, as he had raised at his own cost for the advance- early John ment of church music.' organist of St. Michael's, Tenbury (1857-59), find a may appropriately place. OUSELEY'S CANONIC FACILITY. 'It was soon after Ouseley's appointment as Professor that he came to examine the chorister Sir John Stainer bears testimony to the boys of St. Paul's, of whom I was one. I shall extraordinaryfacility with which Ouseley com- never forget the nervousness with which I posed intricate canons. 'The Bart.,' as the approached this musical and clerical dignitary Founder is still called at Tenbury, looked upon when summoned to meet him in the drawing this occupation not only as a daily delight, but in room of our master, the Rev. J. H. Coward. the nature of a daily duty. By the kindness of But I played a Prelude and Fugue by Bach, Sir John we are enabled to give the following from the 'forty-eight,'by memory, and, at its specimen:-

PERPETUAL CANON, 3 IN I, AT THE UNDER-SEVENTH AND NINTH, AT THE BEAT, WITH CODA.

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In sending it Sir John Stainer writes:- a range of lofty dormitories with thirty-two 'The above is one of the most ingenious cubicles, the W'arden's house, &c., all of which Canons that I have ever seen. The problem are as well planned as they are architecturally is exceedingly difficult. Sir F. Ouseley wrote pleasing. The grounds, covering some five it in my presence in the year 1857, and his MS. acres, are most beautifully kept, and the view contained only two or three erasures. When from the terrace is extensive and pleasant of finished he clapped his hands for joy like a vision. The fertilityof the soil in these parts child. He did not sign it. I have a quantity manifestsitself in the verdant loveliness of the of his canons.' surroundings of Tenbury. The flowers strike brilliant of THE COLLEGE BUILDINGS. one as being unusually hue, and, speaking froma ripe experience, the apples in To return to the College. The buildings St. Michael's orchard are exceedingly good. consist of a hall, library, great schoolroom, t' The characterand influenceof the late Sir FrederickOuseley.' *'Cathedral Organists,Past and Present.' By John E. West. By Sir JohnStainer. A paper read beforethe Musical Association, (Novelloand Co., Ltd.) p. 128. December2, i889.

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The atmosphereof the place is chargedwith an professionalmusicians; in most instancesthey old-worldserenity. Not the least interestingultimately proceed to the Universities and object of attentionis the peacefulGod's acre in distinguishthemselves in other professions. whichis the grave of the munificentfounder of Of formerpupils, two hold Fellowshipsat the the College. Situatedmost fittingly beneath the present time at Oxford, another obtained a east windowof the church,and consistingof a scholarshipat Clifton,and afterwardsat Trinity Memorial recumbentcross of white marble College, Oxford,took a firstclass in ' Mods' placed on a block of polished red granite,it and now holds a valuable college living. Two bears the followinginscription:-, served as Cathedral organists abroad (at and and one (Dr. G. In Hong Kong Dunedin), loving memory of the R. Sinclair) is the presentorganist of Hereford REV. SIR FREDERICK ARTHUR GORE OUSELEY, Cathedral. About are or have been BARONET : twenty minorcanons in English Cathedrals,and the Born the 12thday of August,1825; died the6th dayof April,1889: was one of of revered Bishop Corfe,of Korea, Vicar this Parish: those from at Founderof the Churchand College of St. Michael'sand All Angels: who came to Tenbury Langley This stoneis laid on his graveby a numberof his friends. the commencement.

THE AIMS OF THE COLLEGE. THE WARDEN. It is now time to record some of the The Warden of the College is the Rev. impressionsderived froma brief visit to St. attachedfriend and Michael's First: the be JohnHampton, Ouseley's College. questionsmay former colleague, who has been connected withthe Institutionfor nearly half-a-century- indeed,since its initiation. He is assisted by three masters-the Rev. E. Hinchliff,M.A., the Rev. C. E. Carnegie, M.A., Mons. de Vit for modernlanguages, and the organist,Mr. Edgar Broadhurst,who is the music-master. During all these long years the Warden,who is an excellentmusician, has held the officeof choirmaster. In fact, only the few surviving early friendsof the late founderknow how much the College owes to Mr. Hampton. If Ouseleyshowed the virtueof munificence,his co-workerpossessed no less the necessarygift of business habits and sound common-sense. While,at thesame time,his raregifts as a choir- trainer,tenor singer, and his practical musical knowledgewere invaluableto theCollege in the days of its growth. It is no secret that Mr. Hampton received fromtime to time many temptingoffers of promotionin the church,all of which he refusedout of sheer loyaltyand attachmentto his friend,Ouseley, the first Warden. It was only fittingand natural, therefore,that he should himselfbecome head of the College which he had nurtured so lovingly,and also succeed his predecessorin (Froma Photographby the honourablepost of Precentorof Hereford Messrs.T. Bennettand Sons,Worcester and Malvern.) Cathedral. The Warden has a goodlyinfusion of genialityin his nature,and nothingcould be heartier than his greeting of welcome accordedto us pilgrims.

THE MUSIC LIBRARY.

asked, what is the College? Is it a purely The chiefpoint of interestto a trio of book- musical institution? And is it a knowledge-worms is the splendid music libraryof some gaining ground for men or for boys? These 2,000 volumes, collected by Ouseley, the questions may be answeredin a sentence: the raretiesof which are kept in a privateroom, College is for the education of about thirtyformerly the sanctumof' The Bart.' Here we boys, the sons of gentlemen-in fact, it is are permittedto inspectthe conductingscore of practicallya well-equippedpreparatory semi- Handel's 'Messiah,' partlyin the composer's naryfor the great public schools. There are, mighty caligraphy and partly in the hand- it is true,choral scholarships, but the majoritywriting of his amanuensis,John Christopher of the boys are not trained to become Smith. This is the identical copy of the

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score fromwhich Handel conductedhis great Lassus, Benevoli, Blow, Croft, Bononcini, oratorio in Dublin at its first performanceTravers, Boyce, Arnold,Mozart, Paganini, and in 1742,and which containsseveral importantMendelssohn. Here is located the famous and interesting annotations. This music 'Organ Book' of Adrian Batten,organist and libraryis very rich in theoreticaltreatises by vicar-choral of Old St. Paul's (1621-37), also one early French, Italian, and Spanish writers,of the seven knownMS. scoresof Tallis's motet all of whichgive evidenceof havingbeen read in fortyparts, and, of course, Ouseley's own by Ouseley fromhis marginalnotes to be found compositions. Amongstthe last-namedis an in the volumes. There is a verylarge collection instrumental tone-picture of a malady nature, of MS. Italian sacred music of the Palestrina composed when he was only seven years of schools, copied fromthe magnificentlibrary age. This precociousand curiouscomposition of the Abb6 Santini of Rome; all the containssuch thematiclabellings as: ' Begin- treatises of Gafurius, including the earliest ning to be ill. Now I'm very ill. Iller than and rarestone, published in Naples in 1480; ever. Blisters. A little better. Not quite the rare 'Opus aureummusice castigatissimum well yet. Now I'm quite well.' Time, how- de Gregoriana et Figurativa' of Nicholas ever,passes all too quicklyin this fascinating Wollick, 1504; the ' Lilium musice plane chamberof treasures.*"

THE HALL, ST. MICHAEL'S COLLEGE, TENBURY. (Froma Photographtaken specially for this article by the Rev. C. E. Carnegie,M.A.) Michaelis Kfinspeck,' 15o6; the old Palais LIFE AT THE COLLEGE. with the French Arms Royal collection, Royal The hour of luncheon has arrived. on the covers,consisting of scores of operas, This, motets, like the other meals, is taken in common in &c., by Lully, Colasse, Destouches, which is in its and Lalande, Campra, and many other French Hall, stately proportions now until its is well lightedand imposing in its appoint- composers forgotten; and, ments. On the walls are of the recent acquisition by the British Museum, portraits the known in of Eslava's Founder at the age of thirty-two,of Dean only copy England Dr. and Dr. At importantecclesiastical work, entitled ' Lira Aldrich, Blow, Philip Hayes. the high table, placed as in other collegiate Sacro-Hispafia,'in ten vols. (1869). Amongst the autographs may be mentioneda large collectionof curious and * Vide two papers read beforethe Musical Association by Sir fugal music,original FrederickOuseley: (I) 'On the early Italian and Spanish Treatises selected, in the of Dr. Crotch,on Counterpointand Harmony' (March 3, 1879),and (-) ' On some handwriting Italian and SpanishTreatises on Music of the SeventeenthCentury' manuscriptsin the handwritingof Orlando di (February6, 1882).

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buildingson a dais, sits the Warden in a great opportunityto the Warden and Sir Johnfor a carved chair of black oak. The masters,who, chat on theold St. Michael's daysof fortyyears like the Warden,are arrayedin academic garb, ago. Inter alia, Mr. Hampton recalls a visit also have theirplaces at this elevatedboard, as of thelate Sir GeorgeGrove, when the energetic do the threepilgrims-the ex-organist,his son, and mercurial' G.' arrived at Tenbury late and the presentscribe. The boys,also in their one night and took his departure early the gowns,occupy a table runningdown the length next morning,after he and Ouseley had sat of the room. Quite an old-worldfeeling comes up the whole nighttransacting their business over one during the long responsive Latin and probablya good deal else besides. grace, chanted,both beforeand aftermeat, by the Warden and boys alternately,and which THE MISLAID DOUBLE-BASS. concludeswith a one-foldAmen sung in four- Here is a Tenburystory of the days when a partharmony. This mid-dayrepast is attended weeklyinstrumental practice was held,and in with much pleasant intercourseand a true whichmost of the staffof St. Michael's were hospitality,free from that table-groaning super- expected to take part. These practiceswere fluityof viands bornof ostentationand tendingprolonged to a somewhatlate hour, and the to dyspepsia. double-bassplayer, preferring his own fireside,

ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS' CHURCH (THE COLLEGE CHAPEL), TENBURY. (Froma Photographtaken specially for this article by the Rev. C. E. Carnegie,M.A.) A stroll in the grounds and well tended became rather remiss in his attendance. kitchengarden, including an inspectionof some Accordingly,he was asked one day whyhe had promisingpigs, is followedby a visit to the not been at a certain rehearsal. His answer general library. This large roomcontains the was: 'Please, Sir Frederick,I am very sorry, splendidcollection of books made by Ouseley but I have mislaidmy double-bass' ! and his father,Sir Gore Ouseley,distinguished as a Persian Ambassadorand as an Oriental THE DAILY CHORAL SERVICE. scholar. Here are many theological,French, One of the most characteristicfeatures of and Orientalbooks, including not a fewtomes of St. Michael's College is the fullchoral service rare value, especially countyhistories. Thus which,except duringthe summervacation, is the time passes in an interestingmanner till held twice daily, at the hours of 9 a.m. and ' afternoontea,' whichMrs. Hamptondispenses 6 p.m. The treblepart of the choir is furnished on the lawn in her gay-floweredgarden at by the boys,the adult portionby the Warden, the Vicarage. This function furnishes an the masters,and a fewprofessional singers who

This content downloaded from 129.96.252.188 on Sat, 09 Jan 2016 08:05:23 UTC All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE MUSICAL TIMES.-NOVEMBER I, 1900. 719 find employment in the town. On the occasion men and women of the present are, in regard of of our visit the service is Kempton in B flat, literature and art, mere children. and the anthem Ouseley's ' From the rising of A conclusion such as that just stated may the sun.' Monk and Ouseley's Psalter is used. supply matter for interesting enquiry as to It would, of course, be unfittingto criticise the whether it be correct or an error. Here are manner of rendering the musical part of this some questions which suggest themselves. service ; but this may be said, that it is Have we so lost the faculty of sustained and characterised by devotional feeling and main- patient effortthat quick change and relief are tains the Ouseley traditions-' my choir must needful ? Especially has the power of attention be a model choir.' Mr. Edgar Broadhurst, the and consecutive thought weakened so far as to able organist and music-master of the College, set up a like and equal necessity ? These plays as an outgoing voluntary an interesting queries can only be answered by particular concerto (unpublished) by Felton, transcribed observation, in the first place, of differences froma manuscript in the College library. The between the present and the past. As to this it excellent acoustic properties of the church will hardly be denied that, beforethe conditions add not a little to the general effect of the of modern life were determined by what we music, which has a charm all its own in this fondly call a higher civilisation, people were quiet corner of England on the occasion of less impatient of effort,less in a hurry, less this Evensong at Autumntide. volatile, and much less hungry and thirsty for No better conclusion to this holiday chit-chat the next thing. Surviving evidence of this on Tenbury and its associations could be condition is plentifullyfound in the ponderous furnishedthan the followingwords of Sir John volumes they read; the long concerts they sat Stainer, contained in his interesting paper on out; the extended sermons they never thought Ouseley already referredto:- of resenting--having, it is true, the alternative ' In these utilitarian days it would seem to of going placidly to sleep-and the interminable many a great waste of resources that splendid speeches without which their Tapers and Tad- musical services should regularlytake place on poles could not make axiomatic the fact that week-days in a church, with no congregation to two and two are four. They sang songs of many participate in them or enjoy them. But verses, and anthems in many sections; they Ouseley never viewed it in this light. The delighted in oratorios which were biographies services, he said, were for the glory of God, and set to music, and they played sonatas on the the offeringwould be none the less acceptable pianoforte for lack of anything longer. In a to Him because it came froman out-of-the-way word, they took their literary and artistic spot in a remote country district.' provender in chunks, patiently to be masticated The views of the Church and Hall are from and deliberately to be digested. To what photographs specially taken for this article by changes all these habits have succumbed the the Rev. C. E. Carnegie, M.A., second master reader well knows, and I need not formulate at St. Michael's College. The portrait of the them. But some discourse at large may serve late Rev. Sir Frederick A. Gore Ouseley, Bart. a purpose. -' at the age of about sixty'-which formsone What has wroughtthe revolution in tempera- of our extra supplements, is by Messrs. Jones, ment of which the changes above indicated Son and of Ludlow. are fruit? to we must look to Harper, F. G. E. According some, the United States as the source of the snippet movement and all that it involves. Of that SNIPPETS. restless, hurrying community, itself as much with as the air it breathes, " The craze to have everythingserved up in snippets,the charged electricity desireto be fedon seasoned or sweetened be always on the alert for material wealth, and tid-bits,may ever with the deplored."-ContemporaryReview. watching opportunity singleness and persistency of vision which a cat brings to I REMEMBERthe time when, with great offence bear upon a mouse-hole, the American news- to the pride of childhood, my solid food was paper is a significant outcome. Head-lines, cut up for me. The snippets were considered by way of menu; morsels smothered in condi- to be good for digestion, and they made ments for plats ; and personalities for unnecessary the handling of anything more table gossip-this is, apparently, what our lethal than a spoon. So a careful mother cousins would have. At any rate, it is what persisted in exhibiting them till I had reached they get, and I have not heard that more than years of comparative discretion. It was a great a small minorityof cultured folk is dissatisfied. event when I passed from the childish spoon I remember how, many years ago, I made to the manly knife and fork. Little did I the acquaintance of a distinguished American suppose that, in time long after, my literary singer. ' I don't admire your newspapers,' said and artistic sustenance would be served up in she; whereupon I made bold to ask the reason. the form of ' seasoned or sweetened tid-bits.' ' Well, it's this way,' replied my fairinterlocutor; But so it is. We have all come down again to ' English journals are dull, and I want to smile; spoon meat, and our tables are set out with their articles are long and I can't get through snippets. The reasonable inferenceis that the them, and they tell me little or nothing in the

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