ABSTRACT
Curtis makes the point, stressing that despite the absorption, choral music had always remained a secondary consideration in the Anacreontic Society. Even the formation of the Belfast Choral Society did not alter matters much: during its short existence the Society was never strong enough to perform a complete large-scale choral work, such as an oratorio. The Society organised a concert of sacred music in aid of famine relief, which took place in the Music Hall on Tuesday 2 February 1847 and made a contribution to the Relief Committee of £65. Although none of the unambitious concerts of the 1853–1854 season was doing other than keeping the Society's name before the public and giving its members practice in public performance, the success of the Classical Harmonists was encouraging other choral bodies. As the 1857–1858 season began, the Society now had funds 'abundantly at its disposal' to enable it to procure first-rate professional talent.
