A GREAT FESTIVAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVIII, Issue LVIII, 3 December 1909, Page 6

A GREAT FESTIVAL.

Birmingham, besides being a great manufacturing town and the home ot Mr Chamberlain,-can boast of a musical festival that dates back to 1768. This being the year of this famous triennial festival, the "Windsor" has an interesting article on its history. The Birmingham General Hospital being m want of funds in 1768, it was resolved to organise a musical entertainment to raise moHey. The festival extended over three days, and the programme was entirely- Handelian. Two balls were held after performances, a practice that was continued for some years. The next festival took place in 17 /», and in 1784 the first of the triennial fostivals, which have, save for two breaks', been continued regularly to this day. The profits grejv from £ 300 m 1768 to £2300 in 1802, and over £6000 in 1873. Mendelssohn's connection with the Birmingham Festival is wellknown to all students of music He t first went to Birmingham in 1837 to ! conduct "St. Paul," and was particularly struck by the enthusiasm with which he was received. Several of his works were on the 1840 programme, and in 1846 "Elijah," which Mendelssohn had specially written for the testival, was produced. The composers masterpiece has been on the festival programmes ever since, despite the criticisms of the modern school. It has long been a matter of pride with Bir-mingham-musical people that the festival encourages the native composer. Macfarren, Glover, Smart, Barnett, Sullivan,* Sterndale Bennett, Cowern, Parry, Stanford, and Elgar were among the composers commmissioned to write for the festival. . The furore caused by Mendelssohn was never repeated, but a native composer, Elgar, caused the nearest approach to the sensation made by the "Elijah." This year new works were performed by two men prominent in Birmingham musical circles. A few words about the conductors are of interest. Prior to 184y there were several English conductors of the festival, but since that year the foreigner has reigned. The great Richter, who became conductor in 1885, will retire soon, and the hope is expressed that the post will once more be given to a British musician.