Messiah programme cover. 1958

The focus of the 1958 celebrations centred around one week in November with a Centenary Concert at the Usher Hall, a service in St. Giles' Cathedral and a gala dinner at the North British Hotel.

However, it would be wrong to think that this was the only concert that ERCU performed during this special season. In tandem with the Scottish National Orchestra, the choir sang both Bach’s Magnificat and Haydn’s Nelson Mass at the Edinburgh International Festival in September, Beethoven’s ‘ymphony No 9 in December, Handel’s Messiah in January, Bach’s Mass in B Minor in March and Messiah again at another March concert!

As was noted at the time, it was quite beyond the resources of the society to bring the Hallé from Manchester as had been done for the jubilee concert in 1908. Fortunately, the engagement of an orchestra was not necessary, for the SNO called its concert on the nearest Friday (21 November) to the actual date, the Centenary Concert of the Society, when the choir sang Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony with Sir Adrian Boult conducting and Bach’s Magnificat conducted by ERCU’s own Herrick Bunney. The soloists that evening were Heather Harper, Janet Baker, Honor Shepherd, John Mitchinson and John Cameron.

Office bearers in the 1958 centenary.

Centenary Concert in the Usher Hall, Friday November 21 1958. Photo courtesy of The Scotsman.

The service in St. Giles' was held on Sunday 23 November and drew the following observations from the Rev. Dr. H C Whitley:
“The singing of the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union had, for a hundred years, contributed to the cultural life and musical prestige of the city and given pleasure and enjoyment to generations…. This is a memorable occasion, with ample cause for rejoicing and an opportunity to be taught through the comradeship of song.”
The centenary dinner was held on 25 November, exactly one hundred years after the institution of the society, and the Edinburgh Corporation who gave a civic reception to members of the choir at the jubilee, similarly honoured them to mark the centenary on 16 February 1959.

Centenary Celebrations

The Centenary history book.

An update to the history of ERCU was published in 1958, although at 54 pages more modest in comparison to the 1908 magnum opus and selling at a reasonable five shillings (25p).

Valentine’s of Dundee also produced a postcard featuring Edinburgh’s famous floral clock which in 1958 had as its theme the ERCU centenary. Fame indeed.

You can see photographs and read about our anniversaries and other celebrations by clicking the links below.
Back to history - Jubilee - Centenary - 125th anniversary - 150th anniversary - Royal Charter centenary - Usher Hall centenary