THE WIRELESS ORCHESTRA and THE WIRELESS CHORUS, conducted by VICTOR HELY-HUTCHIN son
An Irish Ballad. written by J. Sheridan Le Fanu, set to music by Charles Villiers Stanford
PHAUDRIG CRO
HOORE was one of a number of works that Stanford produced about 1896, during a period of prolific composition, in which appeared also the Opera, Shamus O'Brien. The score is published by Boosey.
Phaudrig Crohoore (i.e., Patrick Connor ) was
' a broth of a boy,' six foot eight, and built in proportion-a fighting lad, whom all the girls liked. The girl of his heart, Kathleen O'Brien , was loved also by Phaudrig's rival. Michael O'Hanlon. Michael pleased the girl's father, and a match was made up between him and Kathleen. On the wedding day all the guests were assembled, and, after great merrymaking, the priest was just going to begin the ceremony when the door flew open and in walked Crohoore. Confronting Kathleen, he begged her to say if she were marrying Michael of her own free choice or not. Her tearful eye and pale cheek told him the truth-that her heart was his. Then up spake Phaudrig : ' She's mine, in spite of you all ! ' O'Hanlon challenged him to fight, but with one blow Phaudrig struck him dead. Then, seizing Kathleen in his arms, he leaped on his horse and galloped away before the amazed guests could stop him. They never more saw Phaudrig and Kathleen. So ends the actual tale. In an epilogue the Chorus sings a parting stanza about the fate of Phaudrig, who ' could not ' be aisy or quiet at all ' :-
As he lived a brave boy, he resolved so to fall-He took a good pike, for Phaudrig was great. An' he fought, an' he died in the year 'ninety-eight.....
An' the day that Crohoore in the green field was killed
A strong boy was stretched, an' a strong heart was stili'd.
Ode by Milton, set to music by C. Hubert H. Parry
THIS is a noble setting for eight-part Chorus and Full Orchestra of Milton's fine poem, At a Solemn Mitsick. The score is published by Novello.
It is dedicated to ' C. V. Stanford and the Members of the Bach Choir ,' and was performed by them in 1887. Since then it has been given by every considerable Choral Society in the country, and at every Choral Festival.
It begins with a swinging, dignified Orchestral
Introduction, which constitutes u sort of orchestral ' Main Tune,' out of the material of which the orchestral accompaniment of the piece is fashioned.
At last the Chorus enters, in eight parts, in plain, strong harmonies :
Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heaven's joy, Sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse,
Wed your divine sounds, and mixed power employ.
Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce.
The setting goes on, interweaving the voice parts in a splendid tapestry of sound, building up noble climaxes, and ending with the aspiration :
0 may we soon again renew that song,
And keep in tune with Heaven, till God ere long
To His celestial concert us unite
To live with Him, and sing in endless morn of light.
