PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
784
We may now consider the Philharmonic Society, successor to the Choral Society, which was founded mainly as a musical rather than a dramatic body of citizens. Apparently there had been an old Madrigal Society in Hong Kong in its early years, but unfortunately the records of the organisation are missing. We merely know, from an old reference, that such a society existed here in 1843, for it is stated that in November of that year the Madrigal Society elected Major-General Lord Saltoun to be its president, and he made himself very popular in that position.
It is unlikely that vocal entertainment entirely languished thereafter, but the Choral Society was not formed until 1861, at the instance of Mr. C. F. A. Sangster, a former Cathedral organist, and it gave its first public concert on July 10, 1863, in aid of the fund then being raised for the building of the City Hall. The body was first named the Philharmonic Society in July, 1872 (though apparently unofficially) and for a good many years gave concerts during the winter season which were very much enjoyed. A choral festival held by the Society in the Cathedral on April 18, 1876, was a feature of those days.
The records of the formation of the Choral Society are fortunately still available. They show that the first meeting was held in the former St. Andrew's School on October 1, 1861, and as the first public concert did not come until two years later it seems that originally it was merely a body of musical folk who gathered more for their own entertainment. In the case of their concert in 1863, the gross receipts, amounting to $691, were handed over to the City Hall fund.
The Society prospered up to 1894, when it fell into a period of inactivity. The last meeting of the Choral Society on record is dated July 9, 1894, at which it is interesting to note, an old resident who is still with us, Mr. G. P. Lammert, was one of those present.
A meeting was held on August 15, 1903, of interested persons (Mr. Lammert again attending) when it was decided to resuscitate the organisation, and apparently the first official use of the name Philharmonic Society took place. At this meeting the late Mr. George Grimble was elected honorary musical director. Since that year the Society has never looked back, though circumstances have occasionally checked its full activities: and local residents will recall the Philharmonic productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operas with considerable appreciation.
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY
784
We may now consider the Philharmonic Society, successor to the Choral Society, which was founded maily as a musical rather than a dramatic body of citizens. Apparently there had been an
old Madrigal Society in Hong Kong in its early years, but unfortunately the records of the organisation are missing. We merely know, from an old reference, that such a society existed here in 1843, for it is stated that in November of that year the Madrigal Society elected Major-General Lord Saltoun to be its president, and he made himself very popular in that position.
It is unlikely that vocal entertainment entirely languished thereafter, but the Choral Society was not formed until 1861, at the instance of Mr. C. F. A. Sangster, a former Cathedral organist, and it gave its first public concert on July 10, 1863, in aid of the fund then being raised for the building of the City Hall. The body was first named the Philharmonic Society in July, 1872 (though apparently unofficially) and for a good many years gave concerts during the winter season which were very much enjoyed. A choral festival held by the Society in the Cathedral on April 18, 1876, was a feature of those days.
The records of the formation of the Choral Society are fortunately' still available. They show that the first meeting was held in the former St. Andrew's School on October 1, 1861, and as the first public concert did not come until two years later it seems that originally it was merely a body of musical folk who gathered more for their own entertainment. In the case of their concert in 1863, the gross receipts, amounting to $691, were handed over to the City Hall fund.
The Society prospered up to 1894, when it fell into a period of inactivity. The last meeting of the Choral Society on record is dated July 9, 1894, at which it is interesting to note, an old resident who is still with us, Mr. G. P. Lammert, was one of those present.
A meeting was held on August 15, 1903, of interested persons (Mr. Lammert again attending) when it was decided to resuscitate the organisation, and apparently the first official use of the name Philhormonic Society took place. At this meeting the late Mr. George Grimble was elected honorary musical director. Since that year the Society has never looked back, though circumstances have occasionally checked its full activities: and local residents will recall the Philharmonic productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operas with considerable appreciation.
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