Books › Famous violinists and fine violins : historical notes, anecdotes, and reminiscences, 1896 › scan 56
Scan 56
Famous violinists and fine violins : historical notes, anecdotes, and reminiscences, 1896
4 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1whose modesty required curtains. This room was rounded with small tables—alehouse fashion. One shilling was the price, and call for what you pleased; there was very good music, for Bannister found means to procure the best hands in towne, and some voices to come and perform there; and there wanted no variety of humour, for Bannister himself (inter alia) did wonders upon the flageolet to thoro' bass, and the several masters had their solos. This continued full one winter, and more I remember not."
3We know, however, that these concerts continued for many years. The first of all, which took place on the 30th September 1672, was announced as follows:—"These are to give notice that at Mr. John Bannister's house (now called the Music School) over against The George Tavern in Whyte Friars, this present Monday will be performed musick by excellent masters, beginning precisely at four o'clock in the afternoon, and every afternoon for the future precisely at the same hour." That announcement appeared in the London Gazette, 30th September 1672. A younger contemporary of Bannister, a musician named Shuttleworth, whose father was a teacher of music in Spitalfields, afterwards led similar concerts at The Swan Tavern in Cornhill, in 1735; and in process of time others followed, until concerts became general throughout Great Britain, thanks to the happy initiative of John Bannister, the leader of the Royal Violins.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.