“John Maw Kirk was born in 1850, and made his mark in Doncaster musical circles, first as a bass singer – in 1873, and many subsequent years, he appeared in the annual Grammar School concert. He also took solos in a Doncaster Musical Society concert at the Guild Hall, in J. H. Eyre’s Popular Entertainments, in the performance of Messiah, under Eyre, in 1875 and in 1876, and, in the eighties, in Doncaster Glee Union entertainments.
By 1885 he was leading a troupe of Danum Darkies (i.e. Black & White Minstrels.) The press said he was “not made for sentimental songs but let him take something of the humorous and it is ten to one on his bringing down the house”.
Kirk, keen artist and interested in science, was also a violinist but his ambitions lay in conducting. He became choirmaster at the Parish Church early in the 1880’s, for which he received £15 a year, and had earlier directed the Amateur Vocal and Instrumental Society (50 members) in things like Matthew Lock’s Macbeth Musical (a Doncaster Premiere) and Andreas Robert’s ‘The Bay of the Bell’. In 1881 Messiah was done in the Corn Exchange with an orchestra of 53, a chorus of 230 and an audience of 2,000; a repeat in 1887 led to the formation of a new Doncaster Musical Society in November 1888 with Kirk as conductor, who programmed Messiah and creation within six months, then Juda Maccabeus, Elijah, Hymn of Praise, St. Paul, Athalie (Mendelssohn), Acis, & Galatea and a concert performance of Maritana before he died of dropsy in 1894.
He directed the Doncaster Orchestral Society from about 1885. In that year he conducted nine players (!) in Mozart’s Linz Symphony but the orchestra, which supplied the instrumental nucleus for choral and mixed concerts locally, was twenty strong for its first Annual Concert in 1891. Musically, Kirk was an amateur – he earned his living latterly as first Librarian of the Free Library – but his genius and devotion heralded the modern era in Doncaster music. His early death was a grievous blow.”
Philip S. Scowcroft, 8 Rowan Mount, Doncaster, DN2 5PJ
This draft article was prepared for the Doncaster Free Press.
[Found in the archives, was a typed copy of the above, with accompanying hand written letter, which was sent to Colin Howes, 7 September 1982.]
The Approaching Marriage of Mr. John Maw Kirk
In connection with the approaching Marriage of Mr. J. M. Kirk, the organist and members of the Parish Church choir, and also the choir boys, have decided to make Mr. Kirk presentations, The gift of the former will be a beautiful black marble timepiece, ornamented with red marble pillars in front, and decorated with gold lines. The clock strikes on a gong, and goes twenty-one days without winding.
On a silver plate attached to the block is an inscription : – “Presented to Mr. J. M. Kirk by the organist and men of the Parish Church choir, Doncaster, on the occasion of his marriage, April 11, 1882” With the timepiece is to be given an illuminated address written by Mr. W. H. Hall, of Baxter-gate, This is as follows :-
“To John Maw Kirk. We the organist and members of the choir of the Parish Church, Doncaster, think this the occasion of your marriage with Miss Meacock a fitting opportunity of expressing to you the respect and esteem in which you are held by us, and ask you to accept the accompanying timepiece as a souvenir of our friendship and goodwill towards you, and a slight token of our appreciation of you valuable and voluntary assistance in the service of our Parish Church. With best wishes for the health, welfare, and happiness of Mistress Kirk and yourself, we are ever yours sincerely.” (Here follow the names.)
The gift of the choir bots is a butter cooler, the stand and cover being of silver plate, and the dish of painted china. The address to be presented with this is :-
“To J. M. Kirk, Esq. We, the undersigned, choir boys of Doncaster Parish Church, are pleased to have this opportunity which your marriage affords to show you, in some little way, how thankful we are for all the trouble you have taken with us, and for the many kindnesses we have received; and ask you to accept the accompanying present as a memento of goodwill towards you. Wishing yourself and Mrs. Kirk every happiness.”
(Underneath are the signatures of the choir boys.)
The presentations, we understand, will be made to-morrow (Saturday) night at Amphion House, Avenue-road
[Doncaster Chronicle 7 April, 1882]
Mr. J. M. Kirk
On Friday evening the members of the Parish Church congregation, who had subscribed towards the purchase of the testimonial to be presented to Mr. J. M. Kirk on the occasion of his marriage, met at the vicarage. The vicar, the Rev. Cannon Wright, presided. It was announced that £40 had been voluntarily subscribed, and it was resolved to make Mr. Kirk a present of a microscope, it being intimated that Mr. Kirk’s desire was that the testimonial should take that form. It was agreed to write to Mr. Kirk, and to ask him to purchase a microscope on his return home through London.
[Doncaster Gazette, April 21, 1882]