We celebrate the bi-centenary of the second of a series of four Yorkshire musical festivals held in York, in 1823, 1825, 1828 and 1835, with a selection of extracts from An account of the Second Yorkshire Musical Festival, held on the 13^th, 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th, of September, 1825, in York Minster.

“The programme for the Festival included a ball, on Monday evening Sept. 12; four performances of sacred music, on the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: three Grand Concerts, in the New Concert Room, on the evenings of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; and to conclude with a Grand Fancy Dress Ball, on the evening of Friday.  This arrangement was judiciously planned, and well calculated to fill up the week with amusements of the highest order.”

“The Committee, anxious to secure the aid of the highest talent, in every department, entered into a correspondence with Madame Catalani, or rather with Monsieur Valebregue [Paul Valabrègue her husband]; who, much to that lady’s disadvantage, conducts all her professional negociations [sic]. …

“The negociation with this lady failed, after pecuniary terms had been arranged, in consequence of a stipulation on her part having been insisted upon, of interfering in the transposition of several songs into a lower key, to suit her voice – a condition, which though conceded by the Committee with respect to detached songs, was firmly opposed in the instance of songs which were connected with choruses; as it could not have been acceded to without considerable disadvantage to the performances.”

“The preparations in the Minster being completed, that building and the Concert Room were, on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday previous to the Festival, thrown open to visitors, each of whom left some donation for the charities. – The Minster presented a different appearance from that which it exhibited at the last Festival, and one by no means so well harmonizing with its sacred character.  The ORCHESTRA was erected as before, under the great tower; but it projected about fifteen feet further into the nave than on the former occasion, by which means the principal vocalists were carried beyond the area of that vast absorbent of sound.  A wing was carried up from each side of the orchestra into the side aisles, between the first arch, in which the tenor and bass choristers were arranged; the trebles and counter-tenors took their station on each side of the main orchestra.  Under the able management of Mr. Ward, whose contrivance for that purpose was at once as simple as efficacious, – the organ was made available at a much greater distance from the instrument than before. – Fronting the orchestra, was the PATRON’S GALLERY, under the great West window, the space between being filled with seats.  Galleries were erected in the side aisles, with octagon fronts coming between the massy columns, and in a line with them: and seats were also placed under the galleries.  The seats were covered with crimson cloth; and the whole had a splendid appearance.  The North transept was fitted up with seats, as it was thought many persons would like to avail themselves of the superior facility for hearing which that situation would afford.”

“The Concert Room is a magnificent building, 90 feet [27 metres] long by 60 [18 metres] broad, within the walls, and 45 feet [14 metres] high.  The orchestra, which is built to imitate rose-wood, will hold from 140 to 150 performers; and opposite the orchestra is a spacious gallery.  The music-stands in the orchestra are very elegant and appropriate.  Moveable seats, covered with crimson, and with railed backs, occupy the area, and the whole affords accommodation for 1600 persons. … The room is lighted, for the evening performances, by two rich chandeliers, depending from the glazed domes, each containing 30 lights; and clusters of gas lights are ranged along the sides of the rooms.  The toute ensemble of this splendid apartment is impressive in the greatest degree.”

“On MONDAY, a second rehearsal took place at the Minster.  This was a general muster of both vocalist and instrumentalists; and most of the pieces that were not familiar to the performers were rehearsed.”

“It is quite impossible to describe the bustle which the town was in all day, from the constant arrival of carriages in every direction.  Every description of vehicle was put in requisition; and the poor horses had no easy day’s work to perform.  Many families were delayed on the road from not being able to procure relays; and those who arrived, and had not been lucky enough to secure lodgings before-hand had great difficulty in procuring accommodation.  The principal streets were literally crowded; and in Coney-street and Stonegate, it was at times almost impossible to proceed, so dense was the mass of people by which they were occupied.”

“THE BALL.
The amusements of the Festival commenced with a BALL, in the Assembly Rooms, which was attended by about seven hundred persons of the first distinction.  The dancing was confined to Quadrilles and Waltzes; and the excellent band of Messrs. Collinet and Michaud was highly effective.”

“THE FIRST MORNING. – Tuesday, Sept. 13.”

“At nearly an hour before the doors opened, throngs of people were observed flocking to the Minster; which was numerously attended, and the spectacle the interior presented was splendid in the extreme. The Selection opened with the Chorus – “Gloria Patri,” from the Jubilate, composed in 1713. – Handel.
This piece was selected for the opening of the Festival, in order to let the whole of the mass of sound arising from the complete vocal and instrumental band, burst at once upon the ear, without any symphony or preparatory prelude.  The effect more than answered the anticipation, and was so powerful, as even to excite part of the audience to start upon their feet.”

“GRAND FANCY BALL.
The FANCY BALL, as it was the last, was the most splendid amusement of the week.  The public excitement had been great; and when we call to mind, that the CONCERT ROOM was to be opened (for the first time as a Ball Room) in addition to the present site of Assembly-Rooms, … we are not surprised that the near approach of the time which was to gratify so many wishes and desires, should excite lively and anxious anticipations in the breast of the young and the gay.  Preparations had long been making among the leaders of the fashionable world, and both native and foreign artistes had been busily employed in designing and executing the various costumes.”

“From the importance justly attached by the General Committee to securing a large receipt for the Charities, the managers were precluded from strictly enforcing the regulation as to the universal adoption of Fancy, and Court Dresses.  Some gentlemen in consequence, probably those from a distance and unprovided with costumes, appeared in a plain evening dress. – Nevertheless the great preponderance of gay, splendid, or grotesque costumes, rendered the scene from the first entrance of the company indescribably amusing and picturesque.  The dresses of the FAIR part of the assembly were peculiarly tasteful and appropriate; and seldom has so much beauty and loveliness been congregated under one roof.”

“… Tea and coffee were included in the price of each ticket; other refreshments were provided in the Logia at the opposite side of the Great Assembly-Room, and furnished to the company at regulated prices.”

“The principal vocal performers mixed in the crowd, and appeared very much to enjoy the festive scene after the conclusion of their arduous exertions.  The ball was kept up with great spirit until day light; and the company separated highly delighted with the splendid arrangements and unparalleled scale of the evening’s gaiety, and there appeared to be but one feeling as to the COMPLETE SUCCESS which attended the efforts of the managers, to promote the comfort and enjoyment of the public.”

“The whole festival went off without any accident: the light-fingered gentry were actively employed, and succeeded in appropriating some part of the good things of this world unlawfully to themselves, and several of them got into durance vile in consequence.  We heard of no other unpleasant occurrence during the week.”