Virginians

The Virginians (also known as the Richmond Virginians) is a barbershop chorus located in Richmond, Virginia. Mike Wallen is currently its musical director, and has been serving in this capacity since 1998. It recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is one of the oldest continuous singing groups in the Greater Richmond Area. Originally chartered in 1952 as the Tobaccoland Chorus, the chapter was renamed to the Virginians, in 1990.

The Virginians competed at the 2000 Barbershop Harmony Society International Competition, held at Kansas City, Missouri, numbering 100 on stage. That same year, it sponsored a major benefit performance (featuring the Richmond Symphony Orchestra) for the WRVA "Alden Aaroe Shoe Fund" at the Landmark Theater. The Virginians chorus was recently selected to participate at the seventh annual Russian Barbershop Music Festival with Greg Lyne, held in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Membership

The active members of the chorus draw primarily from the city of Richmond, Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield and eastern Goochland counties. Some members come from as far away as Charlottesville and the Northern Neck, with a strong contingent from the Williamsburg area.

The Virginians

The Virginians: A Tale of the Last Century (1857-59) is a historical novel by William Makepeace Thackeray which forms a sequel to his Henry Esmond and is also loosely linked to Pendennis.

Plot summary

It tells the story of Henry Esmond's twin grandsons, George and Henry Warrington. Henry's romantic entanglements with an older woman lead up to his taking a commission in the British army and fighting under the command of General Wolfe at the capture of Quebec. On the outbreak of the American War of Independence he takes the revolutionary side. George, who is also a British officer, thereupon resigns his commission rather than take up arms against his brother.

Critical reception

Critical reception of the book was on the whole favourable, and the novel has continued to be considered one of the standard works of 19th century fiction, though many critics have held that the novel's plotting was not of the tightest.Anthony Trollope's opinion was typical:

Publication history

The Virginians was issued by Thackeray's publishers, Bradbury and Evans, in 24 monthly parts, the first one appearing on November 1, 1857. It was illustrated by the author himself. The print-run of 20,000 for the first number proved to be too optimistic, and was progressively reduced to 13,000 for the last seven. Thackeray was originally to have been paid £300 per number, but the disappointing sales resulted in this being reduced to £250.

The Virginian

The Virginian may refer to:

Literature

Film

Television

Music

See also