A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Musical Society of London, The

by J. A. Fuller-Maitland

MUSICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, THE. This society was founded in April 1858 by a body of musicians, professional and amateur, who had originally been members of the New Philharmonic Society, and wished to re-constitute it. This being found impracticable, they established a new institution, under the name of the Musical Society of London. Among the names of this body are found those of Charles Salaman, Esq., the chief mover of the project (to whose kindness the writer of the present article is indebted for his information), who held the post of Honorary Secretary until 1865, when Mr. G. C. Verrinder succeeded him; Augustine Sargood, Esq. (Treasurer); C. E. Horsley, Esq. (Honorary Librarian); W. V. Wallace; G. A. Macfarren; Henry Smart; Jules Benedict; Stephen Elvey; John Goss; E. J. Hopkins; B. Molique; Sir F. A. Gore-Ouseley; and Dr. S. S. Wesley; besides other prominent musicians. The objects of the society, as stated in its early prospectuses, were:—To promote social intercourse among its members and with musicians of this and other countries; to form a musical library for the use of members; to hold conversazioni, at which papers on musical subjects might be read, and subjects of musical interest discussed; to give orchestral, choral, and chamber concerts, and occasionally lectures; to afford the opportunity of trying new compositions; to publish occasional papers, calculated to extend the theoretical and historical knowledge of music. The members consisted of fellows, associates, and lady-associates, whose subscription was fixed at one guinea. The following were honorary fellows:—Auber, Berlioz, Ernst, Joachim, Meyerbeer, Moscheles, Rossini, and Spohr. The Conductor of the society during the whole period of its existence was Mr. Alfred Mellon. The first concert took place on Jan. 26, 1859, when the C minor Symphony of Beethoven, the 'Melusina' Overture of Mendelssohn, and a cantata by Dr. Macfarrren, 'May-Day,' etc., were given. Gade's Highland Overture was performed at the second concert. Among the most interesting items of the programme may be mentioned, Schumann's Symphony (No. 1), May 1861; Joachim's Concerto in the Hungarian style, played by the composer, March 12, 1862; the Choral Symphony of Beethoven, April 30, 1862, on which occasion Stephen Heller played Mozart's Concerto for two pianos with Charles Halle; Sullivan's Tempest Music, May 21, 1862; Schumann's Symphony in E♭, June 13, 1866. Besides the regular concerts, conversazioni were occasionally given, at which the programmes were frequently remarkable, and objects of antiquarian and artistic interest were exhibited. At the first conversazione, for example, Mr. Charles Salaman played two pieces by Orlando Gibbons on a virginal. At the last concert, March 20, 1867, the most interesting feature of the programme was Beethoven's Choral Fantasia, the pianoforte part of which was played by Mme. Schumann. On April 15 following the operations of the society were suspended, in consequence of the inadequacy of the funds for carrying out the proposed schemes, and the proceedings were never resumed.

[ J. A. F. M. ]