21st May 1978
On Sunday 21st May 1978 members of the North Staffs Symphony Orchestra formed the core of the ad hoc "Stoke Gothic Symphony Orchestra", in the performance of The Gothic Symphony by Havergal Brian, the composer born in Stoke-on-Trent.This was only its third complete performance and the first to have the full instrumental forces including thunder machine (not 'thunder sheet') and bird scare (or 'gas rattle') as required by Brian's score. Apart from a handful of professional musicians in key positions, all of its performers were amateurs.
The event cost about £6,500 to stage. According to price and wage indexes, the cost is equivalent to about £65,000 in 2024.
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| The Stoke Gothic The Gothic performed at The Victoria Hall Hanley 21st May 1978 |
The Gothic Symphony, No. 1 (known originally as No.2) in D minor by Havergal Brian, was composed between 1919 and 1927. It lasts around one and three quarter hours, and is among the longest symphonies ever composed. Together with choral symphonies such as Beethoven's 9th or Mahler's 8th, it is one of a few works attempting to use the musically gigantic to address the spiritual concerns of humanity.
" ... a huge act of communal music-making and homage, tremendously moving in the hall on the night, shot through with the Goethean vision of human frailty surviving almost insurmountable odds, made flesh in the sight and sound of hundreds and hundreds of amateur musicians trying desperately, and succeeding, just, to cope with some of the most stupendous, and stupendously difficult, music ever written."
Extract courtesy David J Brown, Vice President of the Havergal Brian Society
God Save the King
The concert was preceded by a performance of the Sir Granville Bantock arrangement of the National Anthem "God Save the King"The great friendship between Sir Granville Bantock and Havergal Brian was described by Kenneth Easthaugh in his biography of Brian: "Bantock for forty years, from 1906 until his death, was responsible for much of the success that Brian had before the First World War. During that time he was Brian's closest friend. Stood by him when nobody else would. Believed in his music when few did."
As far as our researches can tell, "God Save The King " had its first public performance in the Victoria Hall, Hanley; the same venue for the Stoke Gothic. In 1914 Bantock himself conducted the work during a 'Patriotic Concert'.
The concert was conducted by Trevor Stokes, another member of the NSSO. Famously, Stokes, during a conversation with Shaw, threw down the challenge:
Behind the orchestra, the children’s chorus was placed on the platform, two of the adult choruses behind them in the choir seats banked up on each side of the organ and the two remaining adult choruses seated in the long, narrow side balconies flanking the hall. The four brass bands were located with the four choruses.
The Gothic Symphony lasts for just under two hours (the Stoke Gothic lasted 1 hour 55 mins) and requires extravagant forces:
Strings
20 first violins, 20 second violins, 16 violas, 14 cellos, 12 double basses, 2 harps
Woodwind
2 piccolos, 6 flutes, 1 alto flute, 6 oboes, 1 oboe d'amore, 1 bass oboe, 2 cors anglais, clarinet in E-flat, 5 clarinets in B-flat, 1 2nd E-flat clarinet, 2 basset horns, 2 bass clarinets in B-flat, contrabass clarinet in B-flat, 3 bassoons, 2 contrabassoons
Orchestral brass
8 horns in F, 8 trumpets, 2 cornets in E-flat, 1 bass trumpet, 3 tenor trombones, bass trombone, 1 2nd contrabass trombone, contrabass trombone, 2 euphoniums, 2 tubas
Percussion
2 sets of timpani, 2 bass drums, 3 snare drums, African long drum, 2 tambourines, 2 triangles, 6 pairs of large cymbals, gong, bird scare, thunder machine, small chains, xylophone, glockenspiel, tubular bells, chimes in E-flat
Keyboards
celesta, organ
Voices
solo quartet - soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, 4 mixed choirs, children's choir
Four offstage brass bands
used in the fifth and sixth movements - comprising: 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 tenor trombones, 2 tubas, 1 set of timpani
Leader : Raymond Baddeley
Conductor : Trevor Stokes
Assistant Conductor : Peter Young
The Stoke Gothic Organisers
The concert was Produced by Paul Shaw, himself a member of the NSSO and a percussionist and timpanist.The concert was conducted by Trevor Stokes, another member of the NSSO. Famously, Stokes, during a conversation with Shaw, threw down the challenge:
"Well I'll conduct it if you organise it!"
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| Paul Shaw (Producer) and Trevor Stokes (Conductor) |
"It was in January 1976 when I first became aware of Havergal Brian and his music," wrote Paul Shaw. "A documentary evening at the Victoria Theatre in Stoke to celebrate the Centenary of Brian's birth set the seed for the thirty month build-up to tonight's performance of The Gothic. In March 1977, following a conversation with Trevor Stokes, our conductor, and a bit of friendly arm twisting, I set about raising enough interest and money to make tonight's concert possible. From the very start my biggest concern has been that of finance and perhaps if we had not had the generous donation from a Brian enthusiast at the start of the venture I am sure that the performance would not have reached the final state you see tonight." Full text here in the programme here>
Paul Shaw assembled a core team to help him produce the event. It included:
There were many, many other volunteers who helped get the performance off the ground.
Paul Shaw assembled a core team to help him produce the event. It included:
- Keith Davis - Treasurer (Viola, member of the NSSO)
- Paul Niblett - Stage Manager
- Kathy Niblett - Ticket Secretary
- Pam Bott - First Assistant
- Terry Woolliscroft - Publicity Manager (Trumpet, member of the NSSO)
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| Keith Davis, Paul Niblett, Kathy Niblett, Pam Bott, Terry Woolliscroft |
There were many, many other volunteers who helped get the performance off the ground.
The Stoke Gothic Performers
There were almost 800 performers. The audience was confined to the gallery (586 seats) and the balcony (211 seats), leaving the arena floor to be occupied by the orchestra.Behind the orchestra, the children’s chorus was placed on the platform, two of the adult choruses behind them in the choir seats banked up on each side of the organ and the two remaining adult choruses seated in the long, narrow side balconies flanking the hall. The four brass bands were located with the four choruses.
The Gothic Symphony lasts for just under two hours (the Stoke Gothic lasted 1 hour 55 mins) and requires extravagant forces:
Strings
20 first violins, 20 second violins, 16 violas, 14 cellos, 12 double basses, 2 harps
Woodwind
2 piccolos, 6 flutes, 1 alto flute, 6 oboes, 1 oboe d'amore, 1 bass oboe, 2 cors anglais, clarinet in E-flat, 5 clarinets in B-flat, 1 2nd E-flat clarinet, 2 basset horns, 2 bass clarinets in B-flat, contrabass clarinet in B-flat, 3 bassoons, 2 contrabassoons
Orchestral brass
8 horns in F, 8 trumpets, 2 cornets in E-flat, 1 bass trumpet, 3 tenor trombones, bass trombone, 1 2nd contrabass trombone, contrabass trombone, 2 euphoniums, 2 tubas
Percussion
2 sets of timpani, 2 bass drums, 3 snare drums, African long drum, 2 tambourines, 2 triangles, 6 pairs of large cymbals, gong, bird scare, thunder machine, small chains, xylophone, glockenspiel, tubular bells, chimes in E-flat
Keyboards
celesta, organ
Voices
solo quartet - soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, 4 mixed choirs, children's choir
Four offstage brass bands
used in the fifth and sixth movements - comprising: 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 tenor trombones, 2 tubas, 1 set of timpani
The Stoke Gothic Symphony Orchestra, Soloists and Choirs
The Orchestra - mainly comprising the North Staffs Symphony OrchestraLeader : Raymond Baddeley
Conductor : Trevor Stokes
Assistant Conductor : Peter Young
The Soloists
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| Marjorie Tapley - Soprano, Jean Reavley - Contralto Eric Baskeyfield - Tenor, Philip Ravenscroft - Bass |
The 11 Choirs
Keele Chamber Choir - chorus master John Sloboda
Leicester Philharmonic Society - Keith Smith
Margaret Wharam Choir, Solihull - Margaret Wharam
Nantwich and District Choral Society - Eddie Hewsion
Oriana Choir, Macclesfield - Keith Yearsley
Potteries Choral Society - Michael Lambert
Stone Choral Society - Arlene Lees
Ashborne Parish Church Boys’ Choir - Christopher Atkinson
Goudhurst Girls School Choir - Mary Halstead
Nantwich Parish Church Boys’ Choir - Michael Bax
Parish Church of St Peter, Prestbury Boys’ Choir - Michael Cheetham and Girls’ Choir - Andrew Burr
"It cannot be said too often and too insistently that the Gothic is not only one of the largest, but also one of the most fantastically difficult compositions to perform which has ever emerged from this country or any other. It is, in truth, hard enough for a professional orchestra to play Beethoven's Fifth properly; to organise a performance like this, as Paul Shaw, Trevor Stokes and their assistants did, with performers who mostly had not worked together before and who had no previous experience of this or any other work of Brian's, nor any idea of tradition to fall back on, and then not merely get through, but give a real performance of, this musical Everest, was a feat which perhaps almost began in its way to rival the actual composition of the symphony itself." Extract courtesy Havergal Brian Society. Complete review here>
Details in The Havergal Brian Society here>
Keele Chamber Choir - chorus master John Sloboda
Leicester Philharmonic Society - Keith Smith
Margaret Wharam Choir, Solihull - Margaret Wharam
Nantwich and District Choral Society - Eddie Hewsion
Oriana Choir, Macclesfield - Keith Yearsley
Potteries Choral Society - Michael Lambert
Stone Choral Society - Arlene Lees
Ashborne Parish Church Boys’ Choir - Christopher Atkinson
Goudhurst Girls School Choir - Mary Halstead
Nantwich Parish Church Boys’ Choir - Michael Bax
Parish Church of St Peter, Prestbury Boys’ Choir - Michael Cheetham and Girls’ Choir - Andrew Burr
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| The Stoke Gothic The Gothic performed at The Victoria Hall Hanley 21st May 1978 |
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| The Stoke Gothic - Trevor Stokes conducting |
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| The Stoke Gothic - thunder machine behind tubular bells |
The Programme
A commemorative booklet was produced to celebrate the performance. This gave full details of the symphony, its composer and the names of all performers were listed. You can download it here 16mb > |
| The Stoke Gothic - Programme 1978 |
The Stoke Gothic in the Guinness Book of Records
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| Click on the image to see a readable and enlarged view |
Review of the Performance
A Review of The Stoke Gothic by David J Brown, 1978"It cannot be said too often and too insistently that the Gothic is not only one of the largest, but also one of the most fantastically difficult compositions to perform which has ever emerged from this country or any other. It is, in truth, hard enough for a professional orchestra to play Beethoven's Fifth properly; to organise a performance like this, as Paul Shaw, Trevor Stokes and their assistants did, with performers who mostly had not worked together before and who had no previous experience of this or any other work of Brian's, nor any idea of tradition to fall back on, and then not merely get through, but give a real performance of, this musical Everest, was a feat which perhaps almost began in its way to rival the actual composition of the symphony itself." Extract courtesy Havergal Brian Society. Complete review here>
More Information?
Details on Wikipedia here>Details in The Havergal Brian Society here>