MUSICAL SOCIETY - EARLY DAYS.
Miss Sybil H. Buckley joined the school in 1905 leaving at the same
time as the first Headmaster in 1932. In two special school magazines
(1932 and 1953) she told us two interesting things: that Dr. H,. N.
Howells declares she once told him that he had no interest in music
(if so I have little doubt he was doing a little musical dreaming at
the time and provoked her by his apparent inattention - as so many
of us who followed her have been - to a statement that proved somewhat
wide of the mark); also; she soon found herself in charge of the singing
with that same small boy as her accompanist, which he remained for
several years. She remarks,"He was a wonderful accompanist and
the school had the honour of performing some of his early songs before
he was allowed to publish"."The Owl." and"Come
Away Death" were specially composed for the 1909 Speech Day and"Over
Hill, over Dale" for the 1910 Speech Day.
Miss S. H. Buckley produced about four songs for each Speech Day: some ‘home-made' (of
of course); others traditional. Also a carol concert was given in the December
of each year. The very first was on December 12. 1912 and the visitors numbered
exactly 14; the next was attended by 110. This itself is sufficient comment
on their quality and appeal.
In 1922, the Musical Society was founded and met every fortnight so as not
to clash with the Dramatic Society. On April 10th they gave"The Bohemian
Girl" to the school only, with a school orchestra providing the necessary
accompaniment. Kathleen Howells, Kathleen Meek, Poppy Merrett and Isobel Downes
( a member of the Staff) took the leading parts. Later in the same year madrigals
were practiced and the school was given a concert on November 24th. They also
studied seriously"The May Queen" by Sterndale Bennett during 1923,
hoping to give it before a school audience in the following year. In addition
they worked hard on Sophocles'"Antigone", with music by
Mendelssohn and for this the Dramatic and Musical Societies joined forces.
Unfortunately - to quote the school magazine of March 1923 -"A little
bird has whispered that a Greek tragedy would not please a Lydney audience;
but surely this is not true? Evidently the bird had heard correctly for it
was given to a school audience only, though on two occasions.
In 1925, the two societies again combined for"The Sleeping Beauty" with
two sisters, Ruth and Ida Cooke as principals (the latter is know to us as
Mrs. Ida Mullan and later joined the Staff). It was given to a very large and
appreciative audience in June, with the usual carol concert at the end of that
year.
In 1926 Handel's Messiah" was practiced but the performance had
to be postponed owing to illness. The next year, Isobel Downes, Bertha Charles,
Walden, Ivon Adams and Cecil Virgo took the principal parts and each sang very
well. Miss Downes accompanied, besides singing four solos. The chorus singing
was described by Cicely Jones (who was unable to sing because of a sore throat)
as"better than ever". Miss Downes left to be married at the end
of that term so Miss Buckley lost a soloist and accompanist; and also her secretary
(Cicely Jones) at the same time.
In 1927 both"Patience" and"The Yeomen of the Guard" were
the subjects of much hard, but enjoyable work. Unfortunately, the proposed
performance to the School was postponed because of Miss Buckley's illness,
though there was the usual December Carol Concert.
1928 saw the Society give songs from"Patience" to the A. I. At
Aylburton and they also worked on Schubert;s Songs - suggested by the centenary
of his death.
1929 saw the Society return to practice on various Gilbert and Sullivan songs;
and in the following year a great deal was don on"Dido and Aeneas" though
it was considered" the general public would not be especially interested
in such a work".
1931 saw a return to work on the immortal"Messiah", with the annual
carol concert in December. In the following year Miss S. H. Buckley retired
on becoming Mrs. Longley, and her swan song was I suppose the end of term concert.
No tribute could be too great to pay to such an enthusiastic and capable servant
of the school who wrote her own epitaph in the 1953 Jubilee Magazine. She wrote
then"May you all have the love for the school that I had in the twenty-seven
years I was there".
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