178 OLD CHURCH BANDS AND VILLAGE CHOIRS. 



books the special music is for Christmastide, the Easter and 

 other church festivals being unnoticed and the harvest festival 

 unknown. 



On the payment of these church bands there is little to say. 

 A collection was generally made once a year either in the 

 church or from house to house. Oftentimes the players and 

 singers were content with a good feast at Christmas, and in 

 Thomas Chapman's book, dated 1816, we find "The Feastivall 

 Song of the Winterbourn Choir " a composition bristling with 

 faults, but of much interest from its old associations, words and 

 music being evidently of local production : 



Friends and Brothers here we meet 

 In music join divinely sweet, 

 And this convivial board surround, 

 Since we have walk'd our village round. 

 After walking thro' the snow 

 The lib'ral village this bestow. 



Later in the entertainment this chivalrous trio appears to have 

 been sung : 



Here's a health to all good lasses, 

 Pledge it merilly, fill your glasses. 

 Let a Bumper toast go round. 

 May they lieve a life of pleasure, 

 Without mixture, without measure, 

 For with them true joys are found. 



In some cases the parish provided strings and bowhair when 

 required, and such items as " Two strings for the Base Viol, 

 2S. 2d.," " Reparing 2 Base Bows, 2s. 6d.," are given in the 

 churchwardens' accounts. The Winterborne band, when we 

 knew it, was paid an annual sum by the rector with 55. for 

 strings and reeds. 



The rivalry which existed between these church bands greatly 

 conduced to their efficiency and maintenance. Though the 

 parishes of Steepleton and Winterborne Abbas are united under 

 one rector for ecclesiastical purposes, each band kept to its own 

 gallery. On one occasion, however, of particular interest to 



