The GLIO Site

PETERSFIELD MUSICAL FESTIVAL

     We hail with great pleasure the annonneeinent of the first Petersfield Musical Festival, which will take place in the Drill Hall, on Thursday, the 25th April. The festival has been established mainly through the instrumentality of Miss Craig Sellar, of Little Green, Peters(leld, to encourage part singing in the neighbourhood, and much interest is naturally centred in the enterprise, as it must he sorrowfully admitted that vocal music is a sadly neglected art in most rural districts in the South of England. Those who know the state of things prevalent in most country villages can conceive that to effect any great alteration a tremendous amount of effort and patience and skill would be needed. The task will not be an easy one, but with sufficient perseverance and devotion to the cause we are sure much can be done, and in this praiseworthy venture we hope to see the beginning of a real transformation in the character and quality of village choral singing in this locality. The festival and choral competitions are open to village choral societies or choirs, and we believe a goodly number of entries have been made. In the two principal classes sight reading exercises are included. A banner will be presented to each of the winning choirs, to be held until the following year, when it will be again competed for. Should the competition increase it is hoped that village orchestral comeptitions may be started in connection with it. The choral competition will commence at 11.30 a m.. and Mr. Arthur S Sommervell, whose works are so popular, will be the judge. Mr. Henry Bird will be the accompanist. In the evening a Grand Concert will take place at 8 p.m., when Mrs. Cave will distribute the challenge banners and prizes. A chorus and orchestra of 227 will render Mr. Arthur Somervell’s ‟Charge of the Light Brigade,” under the conductorship of Miss Craig Seller. They will he assisted by Mrs. A. A. Montgomery, Mr. Arthur Somervell, Mr. Lawrence Rea, Mr. F. Royston Cambridge, and Mr. Henry Bird. A special train leaves Petersfield for Fratton after the concert at 10 40 p.m., stopping at Rowlands Castle and Havant. There should be a crowded audience, for such a treat as is here promised is all too rare in Petersfield. For particulars as to prices of admission we refer our readers to the advertisement in another part of this issue.