On 11th November 1905, the inaugural meeting of the Kingston Madrigal Society was held, making it the oldest Music Society in Kingston. It sprang from the enthusiasm and joint efforts of the organists of the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court, Kingston Parish Church and St. Alban’s Church, Teddington (now the Landmark Arts Centre). Seventeen gentlemen attended and after dinner sang madrigals. The membership comprised men and choirboys, the latter being paid a fee of ‘half-a-crown’ (two shillings and six-pence or 12.5p in today’s money, but quite a large sum for a boy in those days).
During the early years, all three organists took their turn at conducting. In 1933 Dr Edmund H. Fellowes, a recognised authority on madrigals, took over the conducting for the next four years, followed by Richard Latham. He was succeeded in 1939 by Frank Mansfield, who continued to conduct into the 1980’s. Since then, there have been a number of conductors, one of whom was Lyn Parkyn in the mid-1990s. The previous one was Desmond Bazley whose madrigal “Come Sing and Merry Be” was composed to mark the Society’s Centenary.
During its history, distinguished musicians have been associated with the Society: among them Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Percy Buck, Alec Rowley and Thurston Dart.
The Society maintained the tradition on dining before singing madrigals and met throughout the two world wars. By 1947 the cost of dining each time had become too expensive. Since then, an annual dinner followed by singing madrigals has rounded off each season.
By the middle of the nineteen-forties it had become increasingly difficult to get the participation of choirboys. After much debate it was decided to invite ladies to sing the soprano and alto parts as guest singers without subscription. This course would leave the Society uncommitted, should the shortage of choirboys be overcome. It was not until 1953 that ladies were admitted as subscribing members.
Members meet to sight-read and sing madrigals informally and do not normally give public performances, Meetings are held monthly, between October and March, to sing unaccompanied for mutual enjoyment. If an item is particularly appreciated, members traditionally clap, indicating to the conductor that they would like to sing it again. The Society has gradually built up a library of over 180 madrigals, of which about eight are sung at each meeting.
Past and Present
The Society has been host to many public figures from various walks of life including Bishops, Curates, JPs and a Lord Chief Justice.
The early Signature Books are hard backed with their front covers engraved in gold leaf. They contain signatures of some musicians who were also eminent in other fields of music. As far as can be ascertained, Ralph Vaughan Williams came only once, but Thurston Dart and Gustav Holst attended on several occasions.
Many meetings were required to decide upon details before the inaugural meeting took place. The founding members then met together to carry on the art of singing madrigals informally, but not giving public performances.
Apart from dining arrangements mentioned above, there have been few significant changes. In 2004, a rare public performance was given when members sang madrigals in the open air at Hampton Court during an 'Open House Weekend'. This was a prelude to the Centenary Celebrations in 2005, arranged to mark the origins of the Society. A festive dinner was held on the exact anniversary reflecting the style of earlier times. Along with this a display of historical memorabilia was assembled and this complemented a talk about 'Kingston in 1905' held later in the year. The Centenary events were concluded with a three-hour madrigal singing trip on the River Thames.
On 11th November 1905, the inaugural meeting of the Kingston Madrigal Society was held, making it the oldest Music Society in Kingston. It sprang from the enthusiasm and joint efforts of the organists of the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court, Kingston Parish Church and St. Alban’s Church, Teddington (now the Landmark Arts Centre). Seventeen gentlemen attended and after dinner sang madrigals. The membership comprised men and choirboys, the latter being paid a fee of ‘half-a-crown’ (two shillings and six-pence or 12.5p in today’s money, but quite a large sum for a boy in those days).
During the early years, all three organists took their turn at conducting. In 1933 Dr Edmund H. Fellowes, a recognised authority on madrigals, took over the conducting for the next four years, followed by Richard Latham. He was succeeded in 1939 by Frank Mansfield, who continued to conduct into the 1980’s. Since then, there have been a number of conductors, one of whom was Lyn Parkyn in the mid-1990s. The previous one was Desmond Bazley whose madrigal “Come Sing and Merry Be” was composed to mark the Society’s Centenary.
During its history, distinguished musicians have been associated with the Society: among them Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Percy Buck, Alec Rowley and Thurston Dart.
The Society maintained the tradition on dining before singing madrigals and met throughout the two world wars. By 1947 the cost of dining each time had become too expensive. Since then, an annual dinner followed by singing madrigals has rounded off each season.
By the middle of the nineteen-forties it had become increasingly difficult to get the participation of choirboys. After much debate it was decided to invite ladies to sing the soprano and alto parts as guest singers without subscription. This course would leave the Society uncommitted, should the shortage of choirboys be overcome. It was not until 1953 that ladies were admitted as subscribing members.
Members meet to sight-read and sing madrigals informally and do not normally give public performances, Meetings are held monthly, between October and March, to sing unaccompanied for mutual enjoyment. If an item is particularly appreciated, members traditionally clap, indicating to the conductor that they would like to sing it again. The Society has gradually built up a library of over 180 madrigals, of which about eight are sung at each meeting.
Past and Present
The Society has been host to many public figures from various walks of life including Bishops, Curates, JPs and a Lord Chief Justice.
The early Signature Books are hard backed with their front covers engraved in gold leaf. They contain signatures of some musicians who were also eminent in other fields of music. As far as can be ascertained, Ralph Vaughan Williams came only once, but Thurston Dart and Gustav Holst attended on several occasions.
Many meetings were required to decide upon details before the inaugural meeting took place. The founding members then met together to carry on the art of singing madrigals informally, but not giving public performances.
Apart from dining arrangements mentioned above, there have been few significant changes. In 2004, a rare public performance was given when members sang madrigals in the open air at Hampton Court during an 'Open House Weekend'. This was a prelude to the Centenary Celebrations in 2005, arranged to mark the origins of the Society. A festive dinner was held on the exact anniversary reflecting the style of earlier times. Along with this a display of historical memorabilia was assembled and this complemented a talk about 'Kingston in 1905' held later in the year. The Centenary events were concluded with a three-hour madrigal singing trip on the River Thames.
On 11th November 1905, the inaugural meeting of the Kingston Madrigal Society was held, making it the oldest Music Society in Kingston. It sprang from the enthusiasm and joint efforts of the organists of the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court, Kingston Parish Church and St. Alban’s Church, Teddington (now the Landmark Arts Centre). Seventeen gentlemen attended and after dinner sang madrigals. The membership comprised men and choirboys, the latter being paid a fee of ‘half-a-crown’ (two shillings and six-pence or 12.5p in today’s money, but quite a large sum for a boy in those days).
During the early years, all three organists took their turn at conducting. In 1933 Dr Edmund H. Fellowes, a recognised authority on madrigals, took over the conducting for the next four years, followed by Richard Latham. He was succeeded in 1939 by Frank Mansfield, who continued to conduct into the 1980’s. Since then, there have been a number of conductors, one of whom was Lyn Parkyn in the mid-1990s. The previous one was Desmond Bazley whose madrigal “Come Sing and Merry Be” was composed to mark the Society’s Centenary.
During its history, distinguished musicians have been associated with the Society: among them Ralph Vaughan Williams, Gustav Holst, Percy Buck, Alec Rowley and Thurston Dart.
The Society maintained the tradition on dining before singing madrigals and met throughout the two world wars. By 1947 the cost of dining each time had become too expensive. Since then, an annual dinner followed by singing madrigals has rounded off each season.
By the middle of the nineteen-forties it had become increasingly difficult to get the participation of choirboys. After much debate it was decided to invite ladies to sing the soprano and alto parts as guest singers without subscription. This course would leave the Society uncommitted, should the shortage of choirboys be overcome. It was not until 1953 that ladies were admitted as subscribing members.
Members meet to sight-read and sing madrigals informally and do not normally give public performances, Meetings are held monthly, between October and March, to sing unaccompanied for mutual enjoyment. If an item is particularly appreciated, members traditionally clap, indicating to the conductor that they would like to sing it again. The Society has gradually built up a library of over 180 madrigals, of which about eight are sung at each meeting.
Past and Present
The Society has been host to many public figures from various walks of life including Bishops, Curates, JPs and a Lord Chief Justice.
The early Signature Books are hard backed with their front covers engraved in gold leaf. They contain signatures of some musicians who were also eminent in other fields of music. As far as can be ascertained, Ralph Vaughan Williams came only once, but Thurston Dart and Gustav Holst attended on several occasions.
Many meetings were required to decide upon details before the inaugural meeting took place. The founding members then met together to carry on the art of singing madrigals informally, but not giving public performances.
Apart from dining arrangements mentioned above, there have been few significant changes. In 2004, a rare public performance was given when members sang madrigals in the open air at Hampton Court during an 'Open House Weekend'. This was a prelude to the Centenary Celebrations in 2005, arranged to mark the origins of the Society. A festive dinner was held on the exact anniversary reflecting the style of earlier times. Along with this a display of historical memorabilia was assembled and this complemented a talk about 'Kingston in 1905' held later in the year. The Centenary events were concluded with a three-hour madrigal singing trip on the River Thames.
