Penzance Orchestral Society

Contents of the display cases

George Lloyd 'Iernin' : 5 - 10 November 1934 at The Pavilion, Penzance

Memorabilia (see list below)

1. Michael Cardew platter : Given to Walter Barnes in November 1929 on the occasion of the Orchestra’s performances of the Mozart Concertante for Four Wind Instruments, which was a premier performance in Britain. It bears the opening bars of the work.

2. 80th Anniversary collage : A souvenir of the Orchestral Society’s 80th Anniversary.

3. Minute Book : Penzance Orchestral Society Committee Minute Book 1933 – 1949, the earliest which has been found to date.

4. Leach Pottery Jug : Given to Walter Barnes, the inscription reads ‘The best wine is the oldest the best water is the newest’.

6. Watch engraved on back : ‘Presented to Mr. Walter Barnes by the members of the Penzance Orchestral Society as a mark of esteem 1906 – 1927’.

7. Walter Barnes’ ring, as seen on his right hand in the Stanhope Forbes painting ‘The Violinist’.

9. Photograph of Jeanette Powell : Jeanette Powell (née Davey) was auditioned by Walter Barnes at his home when she called to go swimming with his daughter, Enid, and played in the Orchestra for 60 years from 1932.

11. Hermann Scherchen’s Handbook of Conducting : A gift from Walter Barnes to Morgan Hosking on his 21st birthday, 1 October 1934.

12. Two batons:- Left : Baton – the inscription reads ‘Beethoven cements friendship’. Given to Walter Barnes in April 1927, possibly by HH Margaret, Dowager Ranee of Sarawak
Right : Silver handled baton presented to Walter Barnes in 1911.

13. Poem with autographs. This commemorated the contribution of Walter Barnes and his musicians in performances at the Minack Theatre in August 1935, and includes autographs of the whole company:-

AN IMPRESSION OF THE MUSICAL REHEARSAL
AT THE MINACK THEATRE AUG. 9^TH 1935
by one of the elite.

In pious anger with lifted hand,
He solemnly cursed that rascally band.
He cursed the ’cello, he cursed the horn,
He damned the day that each was born,
He cursed the oboe, he cursed the flute
From the crown of his cap to the sole of his boot,
He cursed them in breathing, he cursed them in blowing,
He cursed them in stopping, in fing’ring, in bowing.
He cursed the harp, he cursed the bassoon,
But what gave rise
To no little surprise –
NONE OF THEM PLAYED ANY BETTER IN TUNE.

Memories are made of paper:-
photograph. caricatures, letters, newspaper cuttings amd programmes