7 X 11 Long.P65

Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-89609-2 - Music in London and the Myth of Decline: From Haydn to the Philharmonic Ian Taylor Frontmatter More information

Music in London and the Myth of Decline

Drawing on a range of contemporary performance documentation, including concert programmes, newspaper reviews and periodical reports, this book addresses what it refers to as the Philharmonic ‘myth’: the notion that London experienced a period of orchestral inactivity between the departure of Haydn in 1795 and the founding of the Philharmonic Society some eighteen years later. The book illustrates that, far from constituting a radical new departure in patterns of London concert life, the Philharmonic Society built on the growing interest in orchestral music evident during the preceding years. At the same time, it suggests that the deliberate adoption of orchestral repertory marked the first institutional articulation of a professional opposition to the traditional dominance of fashionable Italian opera, and that the Philharmonic might therefore be seen to reflect the emergence of important new strands in musical, artistic and cultural leadership.

ian taylor is Assistant Director of Music at Downe House School. His work has appeared in Nineteenth-Century Music Review, Brio and Handbooks for Studies in Eighteenth-Century English Music.

© in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-0-521-89609-2 - Music in London and the Myth of Decline: From Haydn to the Philharmonic Ian Taylor Frontmatter More information

Music in London and the Myth of Decline

From Haydn to the Philharmonic

ian taylor

cambridge university press Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo, Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo

Cambridge University Press The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 8RU, UK

Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York

www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521896092

This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.

First published 2010

Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication data Taylor, Ian, 1979– Music in London and the myth of decline : from Haydn to the Philharmonic / Ian Taylor. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-521-89609-2 (hardback) 1. Music – Social aspects – England – London – History – 19th century. 2. Music – Social aspects – England – London – History – 18th century. 3. Symphony – England – London – 19th century. 4. Symphony – England – London – 18th century. I. Title. ML3917.G7T39 2010 780.9421Ł09034–dc22 2010003265

ISBN 978-0-521-89609-2 Hardback

Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this publication, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Contents

List of illustrations [page vii] List of figures [viii] List of tables [x] Acknowledgements [xii] Bibliographic abbreviations [xiii]

Introduction: ‘A period of orchestral starvation’? Perceptions of London concert life, 1795–1813 [1] Source material and methodology [4] A revised opinion [8]

1 The makings of a myth: from Haydn to the Philharmonic [9] Haydn in London concert life [9] The founding of the Philharmonic Society [13] The Philharmonic ‘myth’ [17]

2 The ‘rage’ for music: West End concert culture and patterns of social change [23] Commercial society and the emergence of a public concert culture [23] Concert life after 1795 [30]

3 Continuity and disruption in London concert programming, 1795–1813 [32] Subscription concerts after Haydn [32] Haydn in London concert life, 1795–1813 [35] Programme organization in non-subscription events [38] Re-evaluating London concert life, 1795–1813 [39] Johann Peter Salomon (1745–1815) [41] Franz Cramer (1772–1848) [47] Individuals and institutions [51]

4 Institutional continuity in London concert life, 1795–1813 [53] The New Musical Fund [53] The Vocal Concerts [57] Billington–Naldi–Braham concerts [72] v

vi Contents

5 Musical life outside the West End [84] The pleasure gardens [84] Vauxhall Gardens (1732–1859) [86] The Vauxhall ‘Lists’ [87] Ranelagh Gardens (1742–1804) [94] Re-evaluating the pleasure gardens [97] Musical life in the ‘City’ [101] ‘Commercial and middle-class values’ [103] The London Tavern [107] The Harmonic and the Philharmonic [112]

6 Public music in private spheres: domestic music in London, 1795–1813 [116] Domestic concerts [116] The Nobility Concerts [118] Ladies’ Concerts [119] Amateur Concerts [123] The piano in England [124] Musical arrangement [128] The significance of the piano transcription [134]

7 ‘A period of orchestral starvation’? [137] The ‘professionalization’ of musical culture [141]

Notes [147] Bibliography [197] Newspaper sources (1791–1813) [197] Archival collections [197] Primary sources (to 1830) [198] Secondary sources (from 1830) [199] Index [206]

Illustrations

1 Messrs Cha. and Wm. Knyvett’s Annual Vocal Concert, Monday May 9, 1803 (Ashe, 17405 d.6, item 4 – Opera Concert Room). [page 6] 2 Harrison, Bartleman, and Greatorex’s Vocal Concert, Friday, February 17, 1809 (Ashe, 17405 d.7, item 23 – New Rooms, Hanover Square). [66] 3 Mrs. Billington, Mr. Naldi, and Mr. Braham’s Sixth Concert. Monday, May 29, 1809 (Ashe, 17405 d.7, item 46 – Willis’s Room). [76] 4 Nobility’s Private Concerts, First Night [Thursday, February 16, 1807] (Ashe 17405 d.7, item 3 – Fashionable Institution). [120] 5 New Amateur Concert and Assembly, Monday May 21, 1804 (Ashe 17405 d.6, item 6 – New Rooms, Hanover Square). [125]

These illustrations are reproduced with permission from the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. The cover image is an extract from Beethoven/John Sterland, Symphony no. 3 (1807) and is © The British Library Board. All Rights Reserved, 29/12/2008 (RPS MS 2, f161v).

vii

Figures

1.1 Philharmonic Society Inaugural Concert, 8 March 1813 [page 16] 3.1 Opera Concert no. 1, 2 February 1795 [33] 3.2 Model for ‘miscellaneous’ programme construction [34] 3.3 Opera Concert no. 4, 5 March 1798 [38] 3.4 Mr Viotti’s Benefit Concert, 23 May 1794 [39] 3.5 Signor Morelli and Signor Rovedino’s Benefit Concert, 25 April 1796 [39] 3.6 Salomon Concert no. 4, 20 May 1801 [43] 3.7 Salomon Concert no. 4, 16 June 1808 [43] 3.8 Salomon’s ‘Dublin’ Benefit Concert, 23 June 1789 [46] 3.9 Salomon’s Benefit Concert, 21 April 1804 [47] 3.10 Franz Cramer Benefit Concert, 21 May 1801 [48] 3.11 Wilhelm Cramer’s Benefit Night, 1 May 1795 [50] 3.12 Mr Harrison’s Benefit Concert, 11 May 1804 [50] 3.13 Mr Cimador’s Benefit Concert, 18 May 1803 [51] 4.1 New Musical Fund Concert, 20 April 1795 [56] 4.2 Mr Harrison and Mr Knyvett First Vocal Concert, 11 February 1792 [58] 4.3 Harrison, Bartleman and Greatorex Vocal Concert, 27 February 1801 [60] 4.4 Instrumental performers at Harrison, Bartleman and Greatorex’s Vocal Concert, Friday February 18 1803 [62] 4.5 Harrison, Bartleman and Greatorex Vocal Concert no. 1, 14 February 1806 [63] 4.6 Harrison, Bartleman and Greatorex Vocal Concert no. 7, 6 April 1810 [65] 4.7 Billington–Naldi–Braham Concert no. 1, 13 May 1808 [74] 4.8 The orchestra at the Billington–Naldi–Braham Concerts, 1809 [74] 5.1 Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music, 11 August viii 1787 [88]

List of figures ix

5.2 Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music, 1 June 1790 [89] 5.3 First Commemoration Concert, 13 April 1789 [96] 5.4 Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music, 4 May 1798 [97] 6.1 Instrumental performers at the Nobility’s Private Concerts, 1807 [119] 6.2 Ladies’ Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music no. 2, 28 March 1805 [121] 6.3 Ladies’ Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music, 14 May 1807 [122] 6.4 Amateur Concert no. 5, 14 June 1805 [126]

Tables

1.1 Original members of the Philharmonic Society [page 14] 1.2 Original associates of the Philharmonic Society [15] 1.3 Instrumental music performed at the Philharmonic Society, 1813 [17] 3.1 Ratio of orchestral works to subscription concerts, 1791–4 [35] 3.2 Ratio of orchestral works to subscription concerts, 1795–9 [35] 3.3 Orchestral music performed at London subscription concerts, 1795–9 [36] 3.4 Orchestral music performed at Salomon’s subscription concerts, 1796 [42] 3.5 Orchestral music performed at Salomon’s benefit concerts, 1795–1813 [44] 3.6 Orchestral music performed at Franz Cramer’s benefit concerts, 1800–13 [49] 4.1 Orchestral music performed at the New Musical Fund Concerts, 1795–1813 [55] 4.2 Orchestral music performed at the Vocal Concerts, 1807–13 [64] 4.3 Involvement of the 1801 Vocal Concert orchestra with the Philharmonic Society [70] 4.4 Involvement of the 1803 Vocal Concert orchestra with the Philharmonic Society [70] 4.5 Involvement of the post-1803 Vocal Concert orchestra with the Philharmonic Society [71] 4.6 Orchestral music performed at the Billington–Naldi– Braham Concerts, 1808–10 [77] 4.7 Involvement of the 1809 Billington–Naldi–Braham orchestra with the Philharmonic Society [81] 5.1 Orchestral music performed at the Vauxhall Gardens, 1790 [90] x

List of tables xi

5.2 Orchestral music performed at the Vauxhall Gardens, 1791 [91] 5.3 Orchestral music performed at the Vauxhall Gardens, 1803–4 [93] 5.4 Orchestral music performed at the Vauxhall Gardens, 1805–13 [94] 5.5 References to John Sterland in the Minutes of the Philharmonic Society [110] 6.1 Extracts from the library catalogue of Domenico Dragonetti [123] 6.2 Piano arrangements recorded in the Catalogue of Printed Music [128] 6.3 Composers published in arrangement, 1795–1813 [129] 6.4 Mozart opera overtures published in arrangement, 1795–1813 [132] 6.5 Arrangements of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, 1795–1813 [133] 7.1 List of publications by William Crotch [145]

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following people, all of whom have contributed significantly to this publication. Christina Bashford, Reinhard Strohm and, particularly, Susan Wollenberg for their involvement in my undergraduate and gradu- ate research projects. William Weber, for both his own contribution to the study of concert life and concert programmes and for his personal support and promotion of my work. Simon McVeigh, for assistance with my original thesis, advice on the subsequent book proposal and crucial observations on the opening chapters of this volume. Rupert Ridgewell, for assistance with materials at the British Library, for encouraging me to pursue this project, and for offering invaluable advice on an initial draft. Peter Ward-Jones and the music staff of the Bodleian Library, Oxford for facilitating the use of the Andrew Ashe collection. Victoria Cooper, Rebecca Jones and others at Cambridge University Press. My parents and my brother Chris, for their continued interest in my work and for the encouragement and support to keep going.

xii

Bibliographic abbreviations

Primary Source Materials

GHM Charles Burney, A General History of Music: From the Earliest Ages to the Present Period (1789), ed. Frank Mercer (London: G. T. Foulis, 1935), 2 vols. Harmonicon The Harmonicon, ed. William Ayrton (London, 1823–1833), 11 vols. QMMR Quarterly Musical Magazine and Review, ed. Richard Mackenzie Bacon (1818–1828), 10 vols.

Manuscript collections

Ashe London, New Rooms, Hanover Square [Collection of Concert Programmes] 1804– 1818, 17405 d.6–12, Bodleian Library, Oxford. RPS Official papers, etc. of the Royal Philharmonic Society; 1813–1968, MS 272–471, British Library, London.

Newspaper Sources

MC Morning Chronicle MH Morning Herald PA Public Advertiser Times The Times OPA Oracle and Public Advertiser

Biographical Dictionaries

Highfillet al. Philip J. Highfill, Kalman A. Burmin and Edward A. Langhans (eds.), A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, xiii

xiv Bibliographic abbreviations

Dancers, Managers & Other Personnel in London, 1660–1800, 16 vols. (Carbondale: Southern Illinois Press, 1973–93). NG2 Stanley Sadie and John Tyrrell (eds), New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd rev. edn, 29 vols. (London: Macmillan. 2001).

Periodicals

CM Current Musicology CMS College Music Symposium EM Early Music JAMS Journal of the American Musicological Society ML Music & Letters MMR Monthly Musical Record MR Music Review NCM 19th-Century Music PRMA Proceeding of the Royal Musical Association RMARC Royal Musical Association Research Chronicle