Concerts by the Thames Orchestral Union were a hot
ticket on Thames’ social calendar in 1898. Following a successful ball the
previous year and several concerts at the Academy of Music with the Thames
Liedertafel, the Orchestral Union staged a musical ‘at home,’ with admission by
invitation only, at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Richmond St.
Despite being an exclusive event, this was not a
concert which was taking itself too seriously. Featured in the concert
programme were a series of ‘most novel and interesting items,’ including the
Orchestral Union playing Haydn’s ‘toy symphony’ for its Thames debut. ‘As its
title implies,’ wrote the Thames Star, ‘the composition is humorous and
evidently was one of the safety valves by which the superabundant energies of
the great and genial composer found vent, and at the same time brought rest and
relaxation to his creative faculty.’
Much as the name suggests, the toy symphony is written
to be played on toy instruments – noisemakers, toy drums, kazoos and train
whistles are all common additions to the orchestra’s line up for this piece. The Thames Star noted that the symphony had
been played for the Queen by ‘several of the most distinguished musicians.’ Modern
research suggests it might not have been composed by Haydn at all, but could be
by Leopold Mozart or by someone else entirely. The identity of the true author
is still up for debate.
As well as the toy symphony, the Thames Orchestral
Union treated its audience to renditions of ‘A Dream of the Italian Opera’ and
‘Jolly Blacksmiths,’ both of which were well received. ‘On the conclusion of
the programme,’ reported the Thames Star, ‘the remainder of the evening was
spent in dancing, to music supplied by the Orchestra, several lady friends
supplying "extras."'
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