Jerusalem – Come and celebrate the song’s centenary at Beamish (Beamish Museum, 11th June 2016)

Event Summary: Jerusalem Centenary Celebration

Event Type: Cultural heritage celebration and mass participation event

Location & Date: Beamish Museum, Saturday 11 June 2016, 10am–5pm

Primary Subject: Centenary of “Jerusalem” composed by Hubert Parry in 1916 for the “Fight for Right” movement

Historical Significance: Song became synonymous with women's suffrage movement and served as Women's Institute anthem, establishing enduring association with women's advocacy.

Key Activities: Suffragette rallies (10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm), academic lecture by Professor Jeremy Dibble, musical performances from Durham University brass band and regional choral groups, flag-making workshop, mass sing-along at 2pm Town Bandstand.

Admission Details: Performers and Durham University affiliates receive discounted or complimentary entry; general admission available with lyric sheets distributed to all visitors.

Academic Partnership: Collaboration between Beamish Museum and Durham University to examine Hubert Parry's enduring legacy on British musical culture.

Beamish are working with Durham University to celebrate the centenary of Jerusalem and the enduring legacy that the song’s composer, Hubert Parry, had on music across the country. Jerusalem was originally composed for a meeting in 1916 of ‘Fight for Right’ which was a movement that was trying to boost morale and support for the War on the home front, it then became synonymous with the fight for women’s enfranchisement; the song was later used as the anthem of the Women’s Institute so has had a long standing association with women’s groups. This celebration takes place at on Saturday 11 June 2016, 10am – 5pm with a mass sing along of Jerusalem at 2pm in the Town Park.

Discounted entry into the Museum on Saturday 11 June

Anyone performing during the event will receive free entry plus free entry for one additional person. Any student, staff member and friends and family of anyone connected to Durham University will receive discounted entry for one day to the Museum at £6 per person. You must bring along your campus card in order to secure this discount.

What is happening?

There will be lots going on during the day to celebrate the contribution of Hubert Parry’s work and to celebrate the centenary of Jerusalem too. Visitors on this day will be able to:

Take part in a lively Suffragette rally on the Town Street at 10.30am, 12.30pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm and find out more about the women’s movement and their demands
Find out more about Jerusalem, Hubert Parry and his contribution to British music from Professor Jeremy Dibble from Durham University in the Band Hall
Come and meet the Secretary of the Beamish WI in Miss Smith’s house in the Town and hear about the history of the Women’s Institute
Listen to a musical performance from Durham University’s brass band in the bandstand
Listen to the St James Singers of Selby in the Pit Village Chapel at 12pm and 2pm
Listen to Compass A cappella at 12.30pm and 1.30pm and Tyneside A cappella at 1pm and 2pm, both in the Masonic Hall in the Town
Make a flag in the School in the Pit Village to wave during the mass sing along at 2pm
Mass sing along

At 2pm in the Town Bandstand there will be a mass sing along of Jerusalem with all visitors welcome to join in! The words to this iconic anthem will be distributed to all visitors as they enter the Museum on this day.

Contact Hazel Edwards for more information about this event.