“It may... strike you as presumptuous to think of starting a Music Society which has no intention of furnishing any but the best music, nor of inviting ‘stars’ to perform at their concerts. The promoters of the scheme however indulge the hope that there are in Oxford those whose love for music is earnest and real, and to whom it would be a pleasure to hear good music well played by performers who are thoroughly competent, although their reputation is not yet world-wide.”
It was with this hope in 1898 that the Oxford Ladies’ Musical Society began, a space for women to appreciate music such as was denied them by the men-only Oxford University Musical Club. The eloquent founder-member Mrs Ghetal Burdon-Sanderson’s desire to see “thoroughly competent” musicians perform under its auspices was realised soon enough, and the society goes from strength to strength today – having enjoyed a change of name in 1968 to the rather more inclusive Oxford Chamber Music Society. Mere competence, however thorough, was soon less than was achieved, and the roster of artists performing for the Oxford Ladies soon became seriously impressive – famous performers from their early history included the pianist, composer and writer Donald Francis Tovey in 1908, and British piano legend Solomon (aged just 20) in 1922. Concert life may have changed rather – their rule banning “girls with their hair down” from attendance has long evaporated – but a commitment to high-quality musical performance has always stayed securely on the agenda.
The Oxford Chamber Music Society may have a particularly rich history, but it is not alone. A large number of similar clubs and societies sprang up around the UK at about the same time, and thanks to the often extreme commitment of members and organisers, many remain active today. HHH Concerts in Haslemere, Surrey, dates from 1934, and is another society with a distinguished archive of performers to its name. Its history has been diligently researched and documented by former chairman Jane fforde, and the picture which emerges is of a gradual move from private concerts for society members and guests only, held in members’ own houses, to a slightly more commercial venture – though still one which takes pride in a sense of community among attendees. Current Artistic Director Anna Hill tells me that it’s about “meeting friends as well as listening to music” – it’s a story common to many such societies. Pianist Llŷr Williams is just one of a range of excellent performers visiting this season.
Chamber music societies, or clubs, or whatever they’re called, are perhaps particularly important to places outside the major cities, where large-scale classical music is harder to come by – although this isn’t to say that such places lack classical music pedigree. Malvern Concert Club, for instance, was founded in 1903 by none other than local resident Edward Elgar. Though it was a rule of this club from the start that members would not perform themselves (that’s why it was a “club”, rather than a “society”) – and though Elgar appears to have had his own music performed on only the odd occasion – the esteemed composer’s address book was surely a factor in drawing such an impressive line-up of stars to Worcestershire from so early on: the Bohemian Quartet with second violinist Josef Suk (now remembered more as a composer) were early performers, as was pianist Ferrucio Busoni. They’ve all been there over the years since, too, from the Amadeus Quartet a couple of times to Joshua Bell – even that other local boy Nigel Kennedy, in his youth.
Michael Messenger, Club Archivist and former Chairman (and author of the book Elgar's Legacy on the history of the club), gives me the remarkable statistic that Malvern Concert Club has had only “five and a half” secretaries over its entire 109-year history. It ran unbroken through both world wars and continues to draw the top performers today. They’re branching out as well into commissioning: their third-ever commission will take place in May 2013, and consolidates the club’s pride in its location: Worcestershire composer Ian Venables’ The Song of the Severn will be a celebration of local poets.