A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Civil Service Musical Society

CIVIL SERVICE MUSICAL SOCIETY, instituted in 1864 for the practice of vocal and instrumental music among the civil servants and excise servants of the crown. The Prince of Wales is patron, and all the members of the royal family are life members. Sir W. H. Stephenson, of the Board of Inland Revenue, was its first president, and Mr. Frederick Clay its first vice-president. The first conductor of the orchestra was Mr. Arthur Sullivan, and the first conductor of the choir Mr. John Foster; but upon the resignation of Mr. Sullivan Mr. Foster became sole conductor. The society meets for practice at King's College, Strand, where it has an exceptionally good library of vocal and instrumental music. Its concerts, of which upwards of fifty have been given, take place at St. James's Hall, admission being confined to members and their friends. The programmes include symphonies, overtures, and other orchestral works; the special feature in the vocal music is the singing of the male voice choir, the society's original plan of practising exclusively music written for male voices having been rigidly adhered to. The present officers (1877) are—President, Lord Hampton; Vice-president, Sir F. J. Halliday; Conductor, Mr. John Foster; Treasurer, Mr. F. L. Robinson; and Hon. Sec., Mr. S. McCaul. [App. p.591 adds that "the society ceased to exist in 1880, owing to financial difficulties consequent upon the resignation of several of the older members. A concert was given on May 11 of that year in Steinway Hall."]

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