Main Performers | Mr Balfour MP, (Leader of the Opposition), General Botha, (Prime Minister of South Africa), Wildred Laurier, (Prime Minister of Canada), Alfred Deakin, (Prime Minister of Australia), Joseph Ward, (Prime Minister of New Zealand), F R Moor (Prime Minister of Natal),
Clara Butt, Edith Miller - vocals, |
Orchestra or Band | The Band of HM Royal Artillery |
Set List | Toast List, 'The King' proposed (Arthur James Balfour), 'The National Anthem' (Clara Butt), 'The Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Rest of the Royal Family' proposed (Arthur James Balfour), 'God Bless the Prince of Wales' (Arthur James Balfour), 'England's Welcome', Alfred Austin, Percy Pitt, 'Land of Hope and Glory', (Edith Miller), 'Our Guests', proposed (Arthur James Balfour), Reply (Wilfred Laurier, Alfred Deakin, Joseph Ward), The '1900 Club' proposed (LSJ, supported by General Botha), 'The Chairman' proposed by (RB, supported by F R Moor) Reply by (Arthur James Balfour)
The Band of HM Royal Artillery: March, 'Imperial Edward', Sousa, Overture, 'Ruy Blas', Mendelssohn, Grand Selection, 'I Pagliacci', Leoncavallo, Graceful Dance, 'Henry VIII', Sullivan, Morceau, 'Sizilietta', von Blon, 'Aubade Printaniere', Lacombe, Three Dances, 'Nell Gwyn', ed. German, Morceau, 'Salut D'amour', Elgar, Czardas, No. 6, 'Danse Styrienne', Michiels, 'Ballet Music' from Faust, Gounod, 'Prelude to Act III' from Lohengrin, Wagner, 'Fantasia on 'Canadian Songs'', Retford, 'God Save the King' (The National Anthem)
H L Balfour: 'Imperial March', Sullivan, 'Graceful Dance' from Henry VIII, Sullivan, Grande March, 'Pomp and Circumstance', Elgar, 'Salut D'amour', Elgar, 'Introduction, Act III, and Bridal Music' from Lohengrin, Wagner, March, 'Tannhauser', Wagner |
Performance Notes | "The interior of the Albert Hall was so lavishly decorated and embellished that the building was transformed almost beyond recognition. It is not an easy thing to convert this great hall into a place suitable for dining, but the task was accomplished, and accomplished moreover, with a success which reflected great credit upon all concerned. Some 1,400 guests sat down to dinner, and a very large number of others attended subsequently to listen to the speeches, so that the hall, spacious as it is, was none to big for the occasion. For the purpose of this banquet the floor had been raised some 12 feet above the level of the arena. It was covered with a Union Jack specially planned and manufactured, and accurately laid down so as to form a faithful representation of the National Flag. This Union Jack, which contained over 20,000 square feet of material, and which is said to be by far the largest ever made, was an appropriate and symbolic carpet for a dinner given by a club which aims above all, at maintaining and strengthening the Unity of the Empire." ( The Times, April 19, 1907)
A letter of support was read by Joseph Chamberlain, Vice President of the 1900 Club.
The Ode, 'England's Welcome', was written specially for the occasion by England's Poet Laureate, Alfred Austin and set to music by Percy Pitt. |
Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1907/1), Menu Card, Sheet Music and Words (for 'England's Welcome', an Ode by Alfred Austin and Percy Pitt), Illustration (RAHE/9/1907/1) |