December is a busy month for musicians; so many balls and parties, concerts and church services, winter festivals and carol singing.
For Felix Burns, at the turn of the 20th century, the gramophone was catching on, but was still very expensive and most music was still live. December would have been a flurry of travelling and performing. He was often seen leading the celebrations for civic, corporate and public events, as solo pianist, accompanist or leading one of his bands, including the band of the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment. On top of that were the private parties and balls for Cumberland's gentry.
He became best known for his huge repertoire of popular dance pieces; schottisches, waltzes, two-steps or barn dances, along with arrangements of popular folk tunes; but Felix was a versatile musician in all genres.
From about 1897, Felix was principal organist at Our Lady and St Joseph's Church in Carlisle. The church was known for its excellent choir, which included some very good soloists. On special occasions, such as Christmas Eve or Easter Sunday mass, the orchestra from Her Majesty's Theatre might also attend, allowing some of the great classical masses to be heard in their full glory.
Gounod's Messe Solemnelle was a popular choice for Christmas Eve midnight mass. Weber's Mass in G and Haydn's no. 1 Mass were frequently chosen for church anniversaries.
Felix Burns, Bandmaster of the 4th Battalion, Border Regiment.
In 1903, following the death of Pope Leo XIII, it was Beethoven's Requiem Mass - including at a special service held at 5am (!) for the benefit of working people.
Church music changed for Roman Catholics after Pope Leo's death. The new Pope, Pius X, wanted a return to older, plainer styles of music, for example, Gregorian chants. Masses with orchestras and soloists became frowned upon as overly theatrical, as performances rather than worship of God. There was even a ban on females singing in church choirs; affecting notable Carlisle soloists such as Miss Beers, Miss McBride, Grace Mullen and Clara Smith.
The classical masses continued, but with organ only.
Our Lady and St Joseph's Church, Carlisle
Felix's second son, Fred, became the regular organist at St Bede's, Caldewgate, at the age of 18.
For Christmas Eve in 1913, churchgoers had the choice of attending Our Lady and St Joseph's, where they could join with Gounod's Messe Solennelle led by Felix, or St Bede's with Haydn's no. 1 Mass, as led by Fred.
The next day, Felix and Fred were likely to be back in church again, for the Christmas day mass. Hopefully they could then get some rest and enjoy Christmas with the family, before New Year's eve parties, and then rehearsals for the next series of Carlisle's corporation winter concerts, for which Felix was musical director.
As a professional musician this time of year no doubt brought an amount of stress; but for this busy father of 13 children, also much needed income.
For more about Felix Burns, the composer, musician, entertainer and Bandmaster of Carlisle, see my book.