1911-1919

REGINA MALE VOICE CHOIR 1911 – 1919

The year 1911 dawned much like any other of that era. Alexander’s Ragtime Band, written by Irving Berlin, would become a hit and earn him the title ‘King of Ragtime’; George V was crowned King of the British Empire; Marie Curie won her second Nobel Prize; Jigsaw puzzles became the craze of thousands; Hiram Bingham found the lost city Machu Picchu high in the Andes Mountains of Peru..

Regina Male Chorus Club 1912

All this is well and good for the world scene but in Regina an event of importance in the music community had its humble beginning – the organization of the Regina Male Chorus Club, later to become the Regina Male Voice Choir. In the fall of 1911, Arthur L. Wheatley became the first President and Conductor of the group. Practices were held during the winter of 1911/1912.

First Concert City Hall 1912

The first Annual Concert was held on Sunday, April 1, 1912 in the Old City Hall on the present location of the Alvin Hamilton Government Building. 26 men were on stage. Accompanist was Mrs. G. W. Bragg wife of one of the founding members. 8:30 pm was the start time. Ticket prices were $1.00, 75¢ and 50¢ with the seating plan at Wheatley Brothers’ Jewelry Store.

The Toronto Ladies’ Quarttete travelled from Toronto, by train, to appear as Assisting Artists. They were

    • Miss Florence Mackayir, Pianist.
    • Miss Kellie Corbett, Soprano .
    • Miss Theresa Sheehan, Entertainer.
    • Miss Maude Bachlen, violinist.

The Regina Leader, April 2, 1912 had this to say about the debut of the men.

“The first Annual Concert of the club was a distinct success, artistically and otherwise and the audience enjoyed a rare treat. The club was assisted by the Toronto Ladies’ Quartet. The Male Chorus Club was organized a year ago but this is their first concert of any importance. Of the work of the Male Chorus Club naught but praise can be given. The whole choir is well balanced and well trained. Particular attention has been given to delicate shading, expression and precision of attack. The result is a satisfying whole, for which the Conductor is mainly responsible.”

The program:

    • The Hunter’s Farewell – Mendelssohn. MCC.
    • Scherzo in b flat minor – piano solo, Miss Florence
    • Mackay (Chopin). villanelle, song – Miss Kellie Corbett, Soprano.
    • The Honor Of The Woods – a reading by Miss Theresa Sheehan.
    • Concerto No. 7 – Violin solo, first movement, Miss Maude Buchlen.
    • Sextette from Lucia de Lammermmor – Miss Florence Mackay; left hand only.
    • Come Here – a sketch by Miss Theresa Sheehan.
    • In vocal combat (Balfe) – MCC. ·
    • Po Little Lamb (Parks) – MCC.
    • Poor Wandering One, Aria (Gilbert and Sullivan), Miss Kellie Corbett.
    • Scottish Airs – Miss Maud Buchlen. Hymn to Music (Lachner) – MCC.

1912 started as a good year with the formation and successful debut of the Regina Male Chorus Club. But, tragedy struck on the international scene when, on April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic after striking an iceberg causing many deaths. Closer to home, in Regina, a tornado struck, at the end of June, causing many homes and businesses to be destroyed and many lives were lost.

In 1913 Henry Ford was building Model T’s, on his assembly line at the rate of one every 93 minutes. You could get any colour you wanted as long as it was BLACK! In the same amount of time it took Henry to build two new Model T’s. the Regina Male Chorus Club presented its second Annual Concert on Tuesday February 4, 1913 in the Old City Hall at 8:30 P.M. Conductor was Arthur L. Wheatley. Mrs. G.W. Bragg was the Accompanist. The Toronto. Ladies Quarttete travelled by train from Toronto to be the Assisting Artists. Two years in a row!..

1914 began in grand style with the Regina Male Chorus Club’s Annual Concert on January 1, 1914 in the Old City Hall. This time the Accompanist was Mrs. A.L. Wheatley, wife of the Conductor. Assisting artists were Miss E.B. Jamieson violinist, Mr. J.R. Hallman, Tenor and Mr. A.H. McIntosh, Habitant Reader. There were 16 Tenors and 22 Bass on stage…

February of that year saw one more program on the 19th. There was one in March on the 5th. Tenors 20. Bass 23.

But, all of this good singing came to a crashing halt when, on August 4, 1914, Great Britain and Germany were at war. This declaration of war came after years of simmering suspicion and distrust between Germany, Britain and Russia.

This upset the RMCC plans to tour Great Britain and Europe. Many members enlisted for service. The remaining members carried on by participating with other singing groups to raise money for the war effort.

Some of the selections presented during concerts were

        • Ho, Jolly Jenkins
        • Pilgrim’s Chorus (Tannhauser)
        • Last Rose Of Summer
        • For All eternity
        • Good-Bye
        • John Peel
        • Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
        • While Shepherds Watched Their flocks
        • I Arise From Dreams Of Thee
        • Blue Bonnets Over The Border
        • Auld Joe Nicholson’s Bonnie Lassie
        • Comrades’s Song of Hope
        • O Peaceful Night
        • Hunting Song
        • In This Hour of Softened Splendour
        • The Beleaguered Martyre Of The Arena
        • Hymn To Music
        • The Battle of Stirling
        • The Rowan Tree
        • Mary Of Argy

The World War I years were a series of defeats, victories, loss of life on both sides, gas attacks, air raids, U-boats, propaganda, the trenches, ‘Flanders and, finally the end of the war on November 11,1918. Following the end of WWI and a return to normal activities the Regina Male Chorus Club was back to singing. Membership in 1912 – 26. Membership in 1914 – 43.