What a myriad of musical offerings and opportunities we have here on the South Coast of Massachusetts, especially in the dark days of winter! School musicals and church services, chamber music recitals and candlelight carols, community chorus concerts and Messiah sing-alongs – a wealth of musical riches!One of the true gems of the South Coast is the Sippican Choral Society, which has been presenting concerts for Marion and its neighbors for over 50 years! With hundreds of singers performing since its inception, the SCS has become a much-loved institution, bringing joy to participants and audiences alike. Perhaps you had the good fortune to attend or perform in their 2019 holiday concert last weekend?
The Sippican Historical Society has recently received word that a former member of the Choral Society will be donating his collection of concert programs, flyers, and photographs from as far back as the 1960s, as well as a number of CDs that have been produced over the past years. This is especially exciting for us at the SHS, as we have virtually no archival material about this long-standing and beloved choral group. Once the materials have been donated and processed, we will enter them in our database, making them accessible for all to read and enjoy.
In the meantime, please enjoy the above photograph from the SHS archives. This choral group, called Le Cercle Gounod (The Gounod Circle), is seated in front of Marion’s Sippican Hotel in 1917. Directed by Rodolphe Godreau, Le Cercle Gounod was mentioned in the October 20 edition of the journal Musical America as “the biggest undertaking of the season,” having 175 chorus and 50 orchestra members for their 1917 December concerts. While it is unclear whether it performed in Marion or simply had its photograph taken in front of the scenic Sippican Hotel, Le Cercle Gounod was certainly a significant addition to the musical life of the South Coast in the early part of the 20th century.
(More about this group in future posts . . . )
We hope you enjoy some neighborhood caroling, church celebrations, holiday concerts, and school performances in the days to come!