Chapter Four - ‘Ere Armageddon came’ and after, 1900–23

Summary

May 29th. To the Corn Exchange, Bedford, it being rehearsal night for the Musical Society … At this rehearsal both singers and players did strive to please the worthy doctor, save that a few of the ladies would not look at him, which troubled him very much. And, indeed, they might have looked at him, for he had a pretty buttonhole. Yet on the whole they did please him. May 30th. In the evening, I to the Corn Exchange once more, a bad place for sound and plaguey full of draughts so I did admire at the lack of a proper concert hall. There I found many more than before and they did sing and play even more loudly, yet very well.

Dr Harry Alfred Harding (1855–1930)

Although Philip Diemer announced his resignation in June 1900, he remained as joint-conductor. Harry Harding was appointed fellow joint-conductor, but took on all the responsibilities of conductor, including taking the rehearsals, committee work and programme planning.

Harry Alfred Harding was born at Salisbury on 25 July 1855. His early ambition was to become a concert pianist, and he retained throughout his life a particularly delicate pianoforte ‘touch’ acquired in his youth. The first organ he practised on was a curious instrument with pedals that radiated inwards. While still in his ‘teens he became organist at the parish church of Fisherton-de-la-Mere, near Salisbury, where the organ had only one manual and no pedals. He was also accompanist to a travelling pantomime company by the time he was fourteen. In 1873, at the age of seventeen, he was appointed organist and choirmaster of Sidmouth Parish Church.

Harry Harding was instrumental in the formation of the Sidmouth Choral Society in 1874, not long after his arrival there. The Society's activities are faithfully recorded in the local newspapers. There had been earlier attempts to form a choral society in Sidmouth, the first of note being in 1856, but none of these had been successful. The Society that Harry Harding formed gave its first concert at the Assembly Rooms of the London Hotel, Sidmouth, on Wednesday 8 April 1874. The programme consisted of twenty short pieces, including overtures, duets and partsongs.