How it all began
The village of Capel lies near the Surrey/Sussex border, which at the beginning of the 20th Century was a largely agricultural area. The village was well supplied with shops and businesses to serve most of the residents’ needs, and with clubs and societies for their interests.
In the autumn of 1904, this report appeared in the Parish Magazine:
Although we don’t have the exact date on which the Capel Choral Society met for the first time, the Choral Society was able to celebrate its 120th anniversary in October 2024.
A later Magazine reported that rehearsals would be held at the School on Monday evenings from 8pm to 9pm. The Society has continued to meet on Monday evenings to this day, although the rehearsal time has since been extended to 2 hours, currently starting at 7.30pm.
Another musical newcomer in 1904/5 was the Leith Hill Music Festival – originally Musical Competitions – founded in Dorking by Margaret Vaughan Williams and Evangeline Farrer.
Margaret’s composer brother Ralph conducted the Festival from its inception for nearly 50 years.
Although it doesn’t appear that the choir was formed specifically to take part in the Leith Hill Festival, it did enter the inaugural Leith Hill Musical Competitions. The November 1905 Parish Magazine had the following report:
‘The members of our Choral Society, which was started last autumn in Capel, distinguished themselves in the Leith Hill Choral Society’s Competition held in Dorking on May 10th, by winning a very handsome Challenge Banner presented by Lady Farrer, the President, for the best Quartette (sic). Dr Somervell, the judge, laid stress on the importance of the blending of the voices in quartette singing, and said he thought, on the whole, that the singing in this quartette was to be very much commended. It was a very difficult piece, and there were awkward intervals and rather unexpected chords. The subject (unaccompanied) was “In Silent Night” by Brahms’.
Concerts
The Choral Society has been a member choir of the Festival ever since, with breaks for the two World Wars, and is the only remaining founding choir.
There was plenty of time and enthusiasm however, for concerts closer to home in the Village. The very first was in January 1906 – the programme is reproduced here:
As can be seen, the Choir was obviously able to call upon much local musical talent. According to the Magazine, other concerts were regularly held by, and in aid of various institutions. In the days before recorded music became generally available, this was often the only access to music that most people had.
In the early 20th century, the Choir was also able to call on the support of the ‘big houses’ in the neighbourhood – as noted in the February 1906 Magazine report on the above concert: ‘The room and entrance were most tastefully decorated by the gardeners from Wigmore and Grenehurst’.
Organisation
It appears that the Society did not have a formal structure for the first few years, and a decision was taken annually whether to continue for the forthcoming year. The first minutes in existence are for 1913-14. Also, the first Rules for the Choir (below) are for 1913 – note the annual subscription of 1 shilling (5p)!
Conductors
To date, the Choir has been directed by 19 conductors, some of whom served more than one period. Notable amongst these is the composer Arthur Benjamin, composer of Jamaica Rumba. The full list appears below:
The Future
As far as can be ascertained, the Capel Choral has taken part in every Festival since 1905 and is now unique in this respect amongst the current Festival choirs. It is a small village choir which in recent years has become a minnow amongst most other Festival choirs, those in the areas of greater population being more able to recruit new singers, and, by their size, are able to offer much more in the way of their own concerts with orchestra, and musical tours. However, with the loyal support of its small band of singers, Capel Choral Society hopes to continue its long history.
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