T
he all-female band was not invented in the era portrayed in Some Like It Hot – though “hot” might not be what leaps to mind to describe Madame Angless’s Ladies’ Pompadour Orchestra, whose address in this postcard, dating from the first decade of the last century, is given as 78 Norwood Road, Herne Hill. Angless had been married to a professor of music, but after the birth of their sixth child the professor abandoned his wife and family. The resourceful lady was herself an accomplished performer on the piano and double bass, and lost no time in creating her own all-female orchestra – in time changing her name from Mrs to Madame Angless. Up to this time the genteel surroundings of the home were generally regarded as the proper place for women with musical talent. They were considered too frail for the sustained physical exertion and concentration required in orchestral performance. They might also look “unladylike”. And of course a female player in an orchestra meant one fewer job for a man. But increasingly women sought to challenge the status quo, here as in so many other areas. It seems that the first all-female orchestra of full symphonic size was the Los Angeles Women’s Orchestra, founded in 1893. Madame Angless was not far behind. Indeed, she must have been among the very first in this
A Musical pionEER country to promote the cause of women’s independence in music. The group in the picture is not full symphonic size, but an article in The Era on 22 September 1900 refers to Mrs Angless (she had not adopted Madame at this point) conducting two all-women bands, one in naval uniform and the other dressed as Swedish Hussars, and together numbering no fewer than 100 members. They were performing at The Woman’s Exhibition at Earl’s Court. The Era’s
reviewer was very impressed, though the attractiveness of the performers’ costumes seems to have played a part. Clearly how the women appeared played an important role in Madame Angless and her musicians finding work, and explains their splendid Pompadour attire. Much has changed over the last 100 years but, rightly or wrongly, the personal appearance of female musicians is an issue that has not gone away. Laurence Marsh
Winter Quiz — And the winner is... Congratulations to our winner Christine Bleathman, who was the first with all the answers correct to the Winter Quix. Her prize is copies of A Short History of Herne Hill and the new edition of Herne Hill Heritage Trail, just published. The answers: Q1. Whose 200th birthday was celebrated on 19 January 2013? Sir Henry Bessemer Q2. What musical instrument did Anna Storace’s father, Stefano, play? Double bass Q3. Who was brought “home” to Brockwell Hall on 6 June 2012? (The bust of) Thomas Lynn Bristowe Q4. In what type of conveyance was Stanley Lupino born in 1893? A hansom cab Q5. Who played Cornelius, the wise simian in Planet of the Apes? Roddy McDowall
Q6. Whose catch-phrase was: “I’m not well ... in fact, I’m proper poorly”? George Williams, comedian Q7. Who played Scrooge, Mr Micawber, Peggotty, Uriah Heap, Fagin and Bill Sikes? Bransby Williams Q8. Which murder victim was likely to have had “foul-smelling breath” and why? Edwin Bartlett: he had had all his teeth sawn off at the gums, which must have resulted in serious decay. Q9. Who said “he was flinging a pot of paint in the public’s face”? and to what (and by whom) was he referring? John Ruskin said it of James NcNeill Whistler’s picture Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket Q10. Who played Private Godfrey’s sister “Cissy”? Kathleen Saintsbury Q11. Who, in 1884, began to argue for the creation of a national organisation to acquire land and
buildings and to hold them for the benefit of the nation? He later went on to outline the guiding principles of what was to become the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or National Beauty. Sir Robert Hunter Q12. Who wrote of his house in Warmington Road: “A row of aspens ran … to the top of the hill”, beyond which “a few acres of meadow land,with a real hedge and derelict farm buildings, stretched as far as Herne Hill station. An old horse brooded by a pond … it was half-way to paradise.”? Richard Church Q13. Who was played by Ian Holm in a well-known film(1981) and what was the name of the film? Sam Mussabini; Chariots of Fire Q14. Who wrote Studies in the Psychology of Sex, published between 1897 and 1910, with a further volume in 1928? Henry Havelock Ellis
Herne Hill-Spring 2014
Q15. Who, in April 1915, presented Lambeth with 54 pieces of Doulton? Charles Woolley Q.16. Who, in November 1930, faked his own death but was later caught and charged with murder? What was his fate? Alfred Arthur Rouse; he was hanged. Q.17. Robert Eric Mortimer were the first names of which famous archaeologist? Sir Mortimer Wheeler Q.18. Whose work was called “fresh, challenging, sometimes irreverent”? Rotimi Fani-Kayode Q.19. What was Mrs Patrick Campbell’s name at birth and in which year was she born? Beatrice Rose Stella Tanner; 1865 Q.20. Who laid claim to being the last artist to have painted the Crystal Palace from life? Gabriel White Rosalind Glover
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