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Scan 110
A dictionary of musical terms, 1889
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1harmony. Part music; e.g., concentus vocis Lyraeque. Consonance; e.g., concentus tubarum ac cornuum.
3Concert. (1) A performance of music in which several executants are employed. Concerts of music, to which the general public is admitted by payment, are of comparatively recent origin in the history of music. Public musical performances, more or less connected with state or religion, were anciently given from time to time, on occasions of importance. Kings, nobles, and civic officials, employed musicians in their trains, but their performances could scarcely be considered in the light of concerts. Organized bands of musicians who performed in the houses of the great and wealthy; "waits" and "noises" are frequently mentioned in old records, but concerts of music in hired houses, assembly rooms of taverns, &c., apart and distinct from the "entertainment" ordinarily provided at hostelries are rare before the time of Charles II. Pepys, in his Diary, speaks of "musick meetings" and "concerts," but they were private affairs, and therefore not within the meaning of the term as now understood. The first public concert in England was given at Oxford, in the year 1670, the first in London two years later. After which a periodical concert was established in Aylesbury Street, Clerkenwell, over the shop of Thomas Britton, the musical small-coalman. Before this time musicians roved from tavern to tavern, instruments in hand, waiting the pleasure of the guests "if they were willing to heare any musick." These bands of fiddlers played by the hour together such popular tunes as were best calculated to delight audiences gathered impromptu. But from all that can be learned, their performance was not scientific; "for the most part it was that of violins, hautboys, and trumpets, without any diversity of parts, and consequently in the unison."
5The advertisement of the first London concert is still extant, and runs as follows:—
7"These are to give notice, that at Mr. John Banister's house (now called the Musick School) over against the George Tavern, in White Fryers, this present Monday, will be music performed by excellent masters, beginning precisely at 4 of the clock in the afternoon, and every afternoon for the future, precisely at the same hour. London Gazette, Dec. 30th, 1672." From this time forward concerts of all kinds, vocal and instrumental, given not only "by excellent masters" but also by those who cannot with justice be called either "masters" or "excellent," become common enough. It would be both tedious and unnecessary to trace the history of concerts step by step, neither is it to the present purpose to describe in detail the several sorts of concerts which have taken place since that given "over against the George Tavern." It may not, however, be uninteresting to state that the word has been applied to the performance of oratorios in church as the following quotation will show:
9"The Oratorios for the opening of the elegant Organ now erected in the Minster, at Beverley, will be on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of September, 1769, viz:
10"On Wednesday the 20th, the Sacred Oratorio of the Messiah.
11"On Thursday, the 21st, the Oratorio of Judas Maccabæus.
12"On Friday the 22nd, the Oratorio of Samson; and that being the Anniversary of the King's Coronation, the Performance will conclude with Mr. Handel's grand Coronation Anthem.
13"The first violin by Mr. Giardini. The principal voices by Mrs. Hudson, of York, Miss Radcliffe, Mr. Norris, and Mr. Matthews, both of Oxford. The remainder of the band will be numerous, and will consist of the best performers, vocal and instrumental, that can be procured.
14"Tickets for the Great Aisle at 5s. each. Galleries at 2s. 6d. each, to be had of Mr. Hawdon, organist, of Mr. Norris, at the Bell, and of Mrs. Todd, at the Tyger, in Beverley; of Mr. Forster, carver, in Salthouse Lane, and of Mr. Ferraby, Bookseller, in the Butchery, in Hull. Of whom may be had Books of the Oratorios, with Mr. Handell's Alterations and Additions, as they will be performed at Beverley. Price 4d. each. The North doors will be open'd at Ten in the Morning, and the Concert to begin at Eleven. The Great Aisle will be fill'd with Benches. And to add to the solemnity of the performance, the singers will be dress'd in surplices.
15"All tickets transferable. No Money taken at the Door.
16"A Concerto upon the Organ each Day. And Mr. Giardini will oblige the company with a Solo.
17"An Assembly on Wednesday and Friday."
19(2) (Ger.) A concerto.
21Concertante (It.) (1) A composition suitable for performance at a concert. (2) A composition in which several of the parts are in turn brought into prominence.
23Concerted Music. Music for two or more performers, either vocal or instrumental, as opposed to vocal or instrumental solo, with or without accompaniment by a single instrument.
25Concertina (Eng.) A portable musical instrument of hexagonal form, invented by Professor Wheatstone, consisting of a series of vibrating metal reeds acted upon and set
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