The School Songs |
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Carmen SeculareWords by the Rev. H. H. Symonds, M.A., Headmaster Music by J. E. Wallace, Mus. Doc., F.R.C.O. First composed for the Centenary Celebration, 1925
Gaudeamus, eia fausto gaudeanmus omine, Harry Patterson recalls his memories of this song in an interview with Frank Holland, 27 June 2002. A translation is given in the appendix (last page) of the interview. |
Lo! The Sound of Youthful VoicesWords by W. G. Cretney. Sung to the tune Cwm Rhondda.
Lo, the sound of youthful voices
Down the ages comes the message,
Earthly cares and human sadness |
Other School SongsDavid Miller writes:I wondered if there may still be time to add what we know of other songs adopted as the School Song during the history of the School in addition to 'Lo! the sound of youthful voices . . .' and to Headmaster H.H. Symonds' Latin version of Carmen Saeculare, music by former Music master Dr. J.R. Wallace, the latter written to mark the School's 1925 centenary. These two are already recorded on the website. It was interesting to note from the website photo of the published words and music of Carmen Saeculare (Inny version) that copyright was given to Rushworth & Draper of Liverpool. Payment in lieu for the sheet music, I wonder? 'Lo! the sound of youthful voices . .' was written by English teacher W.G. Cretney to be accompanied by the tune Cwm Rhondda. It seems to have been regarded as the de facto School Song although I've seen no official documentation that describes it as such. It was very much a song for the Christmas season which perhaps explains the reluctance formally to acknowledge its status. We know from the Prize Giving/Speech Night records that it was sung by the whole of the School as the final act of the evening from the 1947 Distribution of Prizes at least until the 1975 Speech Day. In all the programmes for these events it is simply described as '"Hymn" after its title. No reference to 'School Song'. The 1946 Distribution of Prizes programme, the year immediately prior to the premiere of 'Lo the sound ..' ends with two "Carols" followed by God Save The King. January 1954 School Magazine Chat on the Corridor states "Several boys have responded to the appeal made for suitable words which could be set to music and used as a School Song. A decision to be announced shortly" July 1954 School Magazine Chat on the Corridor states "On the last day of the Easter term the Headmaster read out the words of the new School Song which had been composed by M.F. McNaughton (L5b) and presented the composer with his prize. Mr. Williams has now put the words to music and the song will soon have its first public performance. The next Speech Day would have been an ideal occasion to premiere the song. The Speech Day programme for December 15th 1954 makes no mention of a School Song. The evening ended with the customary 'Hymn' 'Lo The Sound Of Youthful Voices' No more is known or written in School magazines regarding the fate of composer McNaughton's song nor of the score to accompany it written by music master L.N. Williams who left the School at the end of the 1955 Spring term. The McNaughton/Williams song was never to be performed on a Speech Day nor as far as we know on any other occasion. We can only speculate that there might have been an issue regarding payment relating to the ownership or copyright of Mr. Williams' musical composition. None of the Institute School songs adopted in the 19th Cent had the timeless appeal required to become a song for the ages. We may even begin to wonder if, at that time, School Magazine and Prize Giving references to 'School Song' merely meant a song chosen for the whole school to sing on a specific occasion. See the apparent anomaly in my notes on the October 1895 Prize Giving Report below. We know of the following :
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Liverpool Institute High School for BoysMount Street, Liverpool. (1825-1985) |
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