Danny Howell writes:
The Christ Church Singing Class, at Warminster, was inaugurated during the autumn of 1891, with “the dual object of providing a pleasant and profitable way of spending the winter evenings and at the same time improving the musical tastes and affording a healthy recreation for the young of the town, especially of the Common.” The Rev. H.A. Hickin undertook the arduous duties of conducting, Miss Luke kindly consented to act as accompanist, and several musical friends of the parish came forward to assist in starting the classes. To enable youngsters from all walks of life to avail themselves of the opportunity, no fees were charged and the sheet music was sold to members at a reduced rate. As was anticipated and hoped, many young people who had not had the privilege of learning music during their schooldays were induced to join. To particularly assist these the first half-hour of each practice was devoted to the teaching of music theory.
The first public performance of the class was a rendition of J. Farmer’s oratorio, Christ And His Soldiers, with a full orchestra, at Christ Church on the evening of 19th January 1892. As a mark of respect to the memory of the Duke of Clarence, who had recently passed away, the oratorio was preceded by a solemn performance of Handel’s Dead March in Saul. A large congregation enjoyed the entire performance, which lasted for upwards of two hours, but a collection made afterwards was rather small considering how many attended – four pounds, twelve shillings, two and a half pence.
One reviewer noted “The whole of the proceedings passed off without a hitch and much of the success of the performance was due to the valuable assistance rendered by the orchestra, under the leadership of Dr. Alcock, whose name is sufficient guarantee for the efficiency of the band. Considering, therefore, the material of what the class was chiefly composed, and that with two exceptions the orchestra was purely local, it must be admitted that the rendering of the piece was highly creditable to the town and the promoters. The prevailing epidemic had somewhat thinned the ranks of the performers, who numbered rather under a hundred, and many of these were suffering from colds. The oratorio has been significantly described as a Messiah for the young, but though it is not so superbly grand as Handel’s masterpiece, still, with a full orchestra, the effect produced is grand. The class, therefore, was particularly happy in the selection of such a work for their first performance, especially when it is remembered, the object it has in view, and the manner in which the piece was rendered on Tuesday speaks volumes for the careful and painstaking tuition imparted by the conductor, the Rev. H.A. Hickin.”
The programme for Christ And His Soldiers, as performed at Christ Church on 19th January 1892, is reproduced below: