EARLY ENGLISH SONG.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17936, 3 December 1923, Page 13

EARLY ENGLISH SONG.

AN INTERESTING A very interesting and instructive lecture upon "Tho Earliost Development of English Song 1 ' was delivered in the Masonic Ha-il on Saturday night by Mr A. presiden of the Canterbury Society of Professional Musicians. There wits a. fairly good attendance, Archdeacon i\ iN*. Taylor occupying tlio chair. >lr iu dealing with his subject, outlined the earliest of trong in The barus, giee hinge is aua wandering minstreifi wcio our .mumcians, He a a id ; aua by tn.jm were composed our oju'j-ost song music. Jilr .Merlon ilien outlined tho music which vr&s composed 111 the monaeieriea. The wanciering m insured iiourianed until the end c-j: the 15ih century, but 03 they relied to a £reat extent on memory, noc xnuch of their music had been handed down to the present day. in tiio reigns 01 Henry VII. ttnd Henry VIII., sumo ot tho hrisfc hymns were written, and Bung, and although they Bounded somewhat atrungc to-day, tney noverlholcs contained aonio excellent musical qualities. Throughout his address. the epeaukcr yra3 able to illustrate several types oi Kngland's earliest music, through tho medium ot a number of local artists, who contributed euitiolo items. There were Gower Burns, and 2£iss M. W'Dodhoueo, Archdeacon Taylor, a-ixl Messrs S. Vincent, Charles Williamson, L. Fleming and H. Hobfofl, riirto ladies from Sfc. Crciliii Cboir, under tho baton of Mr Sydney Williamson, also contributed a delightful number. The accompanists wci'Q iiis Ku&sell ajid' Ij. Xicwia.