When did the song Nymphs and Shepherds cease to become part of the choral tradition in schools in England and when was the famous Manchester Children's Choir recording made?

Answer 1

I think it was recorded in 1941. My Dad went to Skerton School at that time and belonged to the choir there. They were in Morecambe at the time Nymphs and Shepherds was recorded, and were asked to take part in the recording to make up the numbers. They rehearsed for a couple of hours before the recording!!!

I have no idea when the question was asked,having seen it this morning when attempting locate a copy of the famous recording.

I had the original 78 version back in 1944! The recording was made in the mid-thirties. Sir Hamilton Harty was the conductor and he died in 1941.

I know nothing of the 'Tradition' ceasing, sorry.

Jim Edmondson

The recording of nymphs and shepherds was made on the twenty fourth of June 1929 at the Manchester free trade hall. The choir consisted of 250 children picked from the Mancherster educational catchment area. The orchestra was the Halle conducted by Sir Herbert Hamilton Harty. The choir was created Gertrude Riall The song itself comes from a play by Thomas Shadwell called the Libertine which was written in June 1675. There are two CDs containing the recording that are easily available, they are: Beulah, 'Hamilton Harty composer and conductor' and 'Golden years of the gramophone.' The Beulah version also contains the obverse side of the original recording.

Jack Danbury