| Main Performers | Lemmens-Sherrington,
Jose Sherrington,
Vernon Rigby,
Signor Foli - vocals,
Dr Stainer - organ |
| Secondary Performers | Mr G Godwin FRS - speaker |
| Choirs | Royal Albert Hall Choral Society (Royal Choral Society) |
| Set List | 'Creation Part 1', Haydn
INTERVAL (Acoustic Test)
'Creation Part 1', Haydn |
| Performance Notes | During the internal an acoustic test was carried out - the first using an audience rather than an empty auditorium.
"During a pause in the performance of 'The Creation', at the Royal Albert Hall, on Thursday week, the acoustic properties of the hall were tested with a very successful result. It was thought that, by the aid of a mechanical contrivance, it might be possible for a speaker to make himself heard in the remotest corner of the building; and with this view the council determined to try the experiment before a large audience. Arrangements were accordingly made with Mr Penrose, the architect to the dean and Chapter of St. Paul's Cathedral, for the construction of a sound-board. Some doubts were entertained as to the result of the experiment; because, although a successful trial had been previously made whilst the hall was empty, it was felt that a difficulty miht arise from the fact of the sound having to reach the ears of a large and widley dispersed audience. The new sounding-board was raised a few feet above the conductor's chair, and, during the interval in the performance, Mr G Godwin FRS., addressed the audience. He explained that the promoters of the Albert Hall designed that structure with the object that its should be applied to purposes other than those of a musical character, and that it had occurred to a member of the council that, with the aid of a specially constructed sounding-board, the hall might be used for lectures and othe rsimilar entertainments. The question, he added, to be solved that night was whether or not the words he had uttered had been fairly heard throughout the building. There was an immeditae response from all parts of the hall of 'Yes, yes!' followed by considerable applause. The experiment may therefore be siad to have been quite successful, and the Albert Hall may yet fulfil a mission of public usefulness. The new sounding-board is constructed on a principle which is known as the inverted paraboloid."
(Illustrated London News, 17 January 1877) |