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West Gallery Forum
This Forum has been set up for members of the West Gallery Music Association and any others who are interested in the music, the literature (starting with Thomas Hardy!) and the social life and times during which west gallery musicians played and sang in the galleries - usually at the west end - of our country churches. It is hoped that in time this may become the forum for debate on scholarly and not-so-scholarly matters. Please use this space wisely, however, and within the accepted bounds required for such a discussion group.
Click here to receive daily updates and notification of replies. Some WG on Radio 4 ?? — David Welch, Thu Nov 20 4:43PM I notice in Radio Times that on 25 November at 1.30 pm there is a programme about two unusual musical persons, Thomas Britton and William Gardiner. The latter is of interest from his publications in 1812 and 1815 of c. 200 tunes mainly adapted from classical composers [called Sacred Melodies]. So maybe we will hear... more MS Hymn book from Nova Scotia — Fynn Titford-Mock, Tue Nov 4 10:51PM http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1827-RARE-MANUSCRIPT-HYMN-BOOK-MILL-VILLAGE-NOVA-SCOTIA_W0QQitemZ150307893667QQihZ005QQcategoryZ29223QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem This looks very interesting, someone really ought to get it! These things are too rare! Seems to be a mix of just treble parts and three-part scores -... more Stephen Jarvis of Dartmouth — Fynn Titford-Mock, Thu Sep 25 11:52AM Stephen Jarvis’s “Twelve Psalm Tunes and Eight Anthems in Score” was published in London, c.1815, and he is fairly well-known (in the sense of 'I've heard of him') amongst us in the West Galleries. It is generally acknowledged that this is the same Stephen Jarvis, sailmaker, who married Ann Shearman in St. Saviour’s... more
Lydia - an early Arnold attribution — David Welch, Fri Aug 29 5:15PM I have now visited the Aberdeen Spec. Coll. and can report: 1. No composer is named for New Lydia in the 1845 Bon-Accord Harmonist. 2. Lydia is included in Davie`s Music (1842), with composer named Arnold. 3. Davie`s Music contains another tune attributed to Arnold called Job. This is HTI 11779, and from William... more
WG tunes in Fiji — Andrew Davis, Sat Sep 11 5:40AM Hallo, The choral singing in Fiji is great, especially in Methodist chaples. Many of the tunes, and arrangements, are familiar WG material - maybe unsuprisingly because missionaries started to arrive in Fiji in the 1840s. Is there any research on this and does anyone know about the influence of WG music in... more
Hymn for Christmas Day — Peter Meanwell, Thu Aug 7 1:41PM Does anyone have the words for a carol beginning 'Hark (all) around cherubic legions'? The music exists in two versions in Cornish manuscripts. One has no text, but is a recognisable variant of a later version which starts with the above text, and ends with 'Hallelujah. Christ is born in Bethlehem', with nothing in ... more
Lydia — Francis Roads, Tue May 20 9:35AM The well known tune Lydia 55132 35143 32565 has no HTI entry but is ascribed at http://www.familyfriendlychurches.org.uk/midihymns/instruct.htm#Tunes and elsewhere to T. Philips (1735-1807). Information please.
new music? — Thurlow Weed, Sat May 3 2:34PM I'm an active shape-note singer, and hymn-tune composer in the Lancaster, Ohio, USA and also have a great interest in WGM, which shares common roots. Shape-note tunes continue to be composed to this day in a style unchanged in well over 200 years. I'm curious if there are any new pieces of WGM music being composed... more
Glockenspiels in WG — Francis Roads, Mon May 26 11:49AM In Pickard-Cambridge's 1926 "Dorset Carols", #4 "Awake ye drowsy mortals all" has an independent part for glockenspiel. Has anyone ever heard of a WG band using such an instrument, or is this an addition by the editor (my guess)?
William Arnold a possible composer — David Welch, Thu May 22 10:51PM In Old Scottish Psalm Tunes (1905) Lydia is ascribed to William Arnold (1768-1832). But it`s called New Lydia. There are notes about the "authors", and Arnold is said correctly to be Precentor of the Wesleyan Chapel, Portsea. Having looked in HTI at the works of W. Arnold, I think his tunes have similarities to... more Glass Harmonica in church — Anonymous, Sat Apr 19 7:13AM Would Benjamin Franklin invention of the glass harmonica have been used in church services ? If so, what pieces of music would it have been ???
Morning Service — The Rev. Peter Robinson, Mon Apr 7 8:14AM I am minister of a small Anglican/Episcopal parish in Arizona which has a tradition of using historic liturgies. We general backdate our liturgical practice to either 1893 or 1864, but this year we want to reflect the musical customs of c.1800. How much of the service (Mattins, Litany and Ante-Communion) would have... more
Anne Bronte was fond of Milford — David Welch, Wed Mar 12 11:42AM I have just made another chance find of the tune called Milford in Higher Walton. It`s in a manuscript book written out by Anne Bronte in 1843-1844 when she was teaching at Thorpe Green. She named it Celestial Concerts. This manuscript book was reproduced in 1980, and comments on its musical contents and context... more St. Werburgh — David Welch, Wed Feb 20 2:10PM Several weeks ago I posted a message seeking information on this tune and Milford. I have now had another look at the Higher Walton Handbell Ringers` music books of c. 1900, and have recognised St Werburgh as the tune often sung to "Lead us heavenly Father". Hence I found that in HTI St Werburgh is 11631a, believed... more Curly Hark - Newton's — Sue Taylor-Peach, Mon Feb 11 7:33AM This is as it is listed on the CD Sue
Can anyone help? — Sue Taylor-Peach, Sun Feb 3 9:39PM Can anyone help me to source sheet music for 'Curly Hark - Newton's' as sung by Coope, Boyes and Simpson on their CD 'Voices at the Door'? Thanks, Sue
Milford CM — David Welch, Mon Dec 24 9:38PM Can anyone tell me if Milford is a published tune for While Shepherds. It`s not in HTI, but seems in WG style with repeats; possibly mid C19. We`ve been working through handbell music belonging to the Higher Walton, nr Preston team, which was written out c. 1900. I think the first line is 13323432 in HTI notation. ... more
Christmas Hymn — Tony Singleton, Sun Jan 20 5:40PM Thanks David and Tim for your responses. It would appear then that well before 1800, a piece of music called the "Christmas Hymn", found in a ms book without underlay, or reported as being sung by a choir in a church, could be any of the three possible texts, not just WSW. "Hark the herald" is quite a different... more
Keith Rogers — Edwin Macadam, Mon Jan 21 12:23PM Doug Yeo, a life-long friend of Keith Rogers, sent this message round earlier this morning to members of the Serpent list. If anyone would like to send a personal message to his wife, Kathryn, I have her address, likewise I will pass on any information about the funeral arrangements, if asked to do so off line. = =... more Christmas Hymn — Tony Singleton, Wed Jan 16 1:54PM My 1857 Church Service book includes 3 Hymns for Christmas Day: WSW, "High let us swell" (Dodderidge) for morning service, and "Hark the Herald Angels" (the 8-line verse with chorus version adapted from Wesley) for evening service. Does anyone know when the latter two first appeared in the Anglican prayer book - was... more
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