| Performance Title | Choral Commemoration of the First Seven Divisions |
| Performance Date | 15 December 1917 |
| Performance Day | Saturday |
| Performance Time | 15:00 |
| Main Performers | A J Balfour,
Earl of Derby - speakers,
Lilian Stiles-Allen,
H Plunket Greene - vocals |
| Orchestra or Band | London Symphony Orchestra (leader, William H Reed)
Pipers of the Scots Guards,
Coldstream Guards |
| Choirs | Bach Choir,
Royal Albert Hall Choral Society |
| Conductors | Hugh P Allen |
| Set List | 'The Toy', Henry Newbolt,
'Into Battle', Julian Grenfell,
'The Soldier', Rupert Brookes
'The Dead', Rupert Brookes,
Order of Commemoration:
Overture: 'Cockaigne', Elgar,
Song for Chorus and Orchestra: 'Towards the Unknown Region', Vaughan-Williams,
'Elegy for Stings', Howells,
Ode for Soprano Solo, Chorus and Orchestra: 'To the Vanguard, 1914', Somervell (Lillian Stiles-Allen),
Motet for unaccompanied voices: 'There Is An Old Belief', Parry,
Song for Bass Solo, Chorus and Orchestra: 'Farewell', Stanford (Plunket Greene),
Commemoration Ecclesiasticus xliv. 1-14 (A J Balfour),
Fanfare and Calls (Pipers of the Scots Guard, Coldstream Guards),
The Roll Call of the First Seven Divisions (Earl of Derby),
'For All The Saints',
Reveille,
'God Save the King' (National Anthem) |
| Royal Presence | HM King George V,
HM Queen Mary,
HRH Queen Alexandra,
HRH Princess Mary,
HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone,
HRH Princess Victoria |
| Performance Notes | Premiere Performance of Somervell's 'To the Vanguard, 1914', dedicated to the First Seven Divisions, the Fallen, the Prisoners, the Disabled, and those still Fighting.
'When the commemoration was first planned the scheme was a happy but a very modest one. A few well known people interested in music, poetry and literature arranged to give a concert which should be a tribute to the splendid soldiers who fought and died in 1914 to save England and the freedom of the world. An appeal was made for funds so that tickets could be given to to people connected with the men of the Seven Divisions who cared to come to the concert. The announcement of the commemoration released a wave of enthusiasm and devotion, long held back, which poured through the opening thus breached in our traditional British reserve. A first intention to hold the concert at Queens Hall had to be revised, and the Albert Hall was secured: the programme has been expanded in a way which will make the occasion a solemn and beautiful national celebration. The first hint of the feeling aroused came in the form of applications from the wives and mothers of the men of the Divisions to be allowed to take some definite share in the commemoration. It was suggested to the women that they should embroider banners with the crests of the regiments in which they were interested so that the banners might be hung around the concert hall. In the words of a member of the executive committee, the women 'simply took the bit between their teeth.' the most beautiful banners that could be worked upon began to arrive; women came up to London to embroider the memorials or even to beg for the privilege of being allowed to put in a few stitches. Soon a hundred banners were ready, and with the demand for seats for the commemoration increasing every day the decision to move to the Albert Hall had to be taken. This was nine weeks ago, and now every box and every seat have been allotted.'
(The Times, 11 December 1917)
'A choral commemoration of the first seven divisions - the men who stemmed the onrush of the Germans in the summer and Autumn of 1914 - will be held at the Albert Hall today. The King and Queen will attend, and there will be present seven hundred survivors of the gallant army. These men many of whom have been wounded, will take apart in the procession to the Albert Hall from the Embankment, after being entertained at luncheon by the Lord Mayor and Corporation and the City Companies. The whole of the music for to-days commemoration is by British composers, and embodies a definite scheme.
(The Times, 15 December 1917)
Many of the banners were embroidered by the Royal School of Art Needlework, from their base in Exhibition Road.
Programme and Handbills for this performance do not state which orchestra performed at the concert, but list William H Reed as leader (William H Reed was leader of the London Symphony Orchestra for 23 years (19121935)).
Field-Marshal Lord French and Lord Jellicoe both attended.
"For us it is hardly yet possible to realize the achievement of our First Seven Divisions. At no time in history has out nations life and honour stood in such mortal danger: never in the history of has an army so long resisted the attack of forces so huge and so disciplined, so heavily armed, and so determinedly driven. This we shall know some day, when the tale is told in peace as part of the vast epic of the war. But even now we can thank and commemorate those who saved us ; we can see them as they were and are. No men have ever stood for Britain more truly than these ; none ever represented more faithfully more perfectly the ideals of a long and honourable tradition. To surpass them is beyond the hopes of man ; to resemble them will be the desire of many generations.
In these words Sir Henry Newbolt, at the end of a vivid account of the record of the 'Old Contemptibles', from Mons to Ypres, written specifically for the programme, epitomizes the spirit which will animate the great choral commemoration of the heroic deeds of the First Seven Divisions which is to be held in the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday Afternoon."
(The Times, 11 December 1917)
"An historical event was celebrated in London on Saturday afternoon, when a choral commemoration of 'the First Seven Divisions', the men of the old British Army, who at great sacrifice and against tremendous odds, stemmed the German tide in France in 1914, was held at the Albert Hall. Their Majesties were present, also 700 survivors of the old army, many of whom, had been wounded. These men marched in procession to the Albert Hall from the Embankment, after being entertained at luncheon by the Lord Mayor. The whole music at the commemoration was by British composers. The great centre piece was one dedicated to 'The First Seven Divisions, the Fallen, the Prisoners, the Disabled, and those still fighting. After the music, Mr A J Balfour, MP, read the passage from Zephaniah, ' I will get them praise and Fame in every land, where they have been put to shame. At the time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord. Lord Derby read the Order of Battle of the First Seven Divisions, and the commemoration closed with the singing of the Hymn, 'For all the Saints', and the sounding of the Reveille."
(Barrier Miner, New South Wales, Australia, 17 December 1917)
The Hall's Council granted use of the Council Box for paralysed members of the Divisions and also for Sisters and Nurses who went through the retreat in 1914. (RAH/1/2/16, Council Meeting 589th, 11 Dec 1917) |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1917/46),
Handbill (RAHE/6/1917/10),
Presscutting - London Illustrated News,
Souvenir Print |
| URL | https://thirdlight.royalalberthall.com/pf.tlx/Rr2RlnVRBv.xrR |
| https://thirdlight.royalalberthall.com/pf.tlx/4Y4-5R4PECTDD |
| https://thirdlight.royalalberthall.com/pf.tlx/zIyzIhIzXkbhC |
| https://thirdlight.royalalberthall.com/pf.tlx/wy5wyrDwaDQd3 |
| Code | Name of Performer(s) |
| DS/UK/5367 | Stanley; Lord; Edward George Villiers (1865-1948); 17th Earl of Derby; British soldier, Conservative politician, diplomat, racehorse owner |
| DS/UK/1736 | Balfour; Lord; Arthur James (25 July 1848-19 March 1930); 1st Earl of Balfour, KG OM PC FRS, FBA DL; British Conservative Prime Minister |
| DS/UK/1117 | Stiles-Allen; Lilian (1896-1982); British soprano |
| DS/UK/1936 | Greene; Harry Plunket (1865-1936); Irish baritone |
| DS/UK/357 | The Bach Choir; 1876-; English choir |
| DS/UK/1178 | Allen; Sir; Hugh (23 December 1869-20 February 1946); GCVO; English conductor and organist |
| DS/UK/1739 | Reed; William Henry 'Billy' (1876-1942); English violinist, teacher,composer, conductor, biographer |
| DS/UK/2429 | British Army; The Band of the Coldstream Guards; 1785-; British army band |
| DS/UK/2392 | British Army; The Band of HM Scots Guards; 1642-; British Army division |
| DS/UK/1115 | George V (1865-1936); British King and Emperor of India (1910-1936) |
| DS/UK/1116 | Mary of Teck (1867-1953); British Queen consort of King-Emperor George V |
| DS/UK/231 | HRH Princess Mary (1897-1965); British Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood |
| DS/UK/2395 | HRH Princess Alice (1883-1981); Countess of Athlone; British royal family member |