Books › The violin and its music, 1885 › scan 492
Scan 492
The violin and its music, 1885
4 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 474. See the scan on archive.org.
1John Young was a Violin-maker, whose establishment was in St. Paul's Churchyard, where his son, "Young Young" organized a series of music meetings. The success that attended these performances made it necessary to give them in larger premises than the house of the Fiddle-maker. The "Queen's Head Tavern," in Paternoster Row, was selected as a suitable place. A few years later, in 1724, they were held at the "Castle," in the same locality, hence the name of "Castle Concerts." Woolaston the painter, he who painted Tom Britton in his blue frock, coal-measure in hand,* now painted Young's portrait, which long hung on the walls of the "Castle Inn." These concerts continued to increase in popularity and excellence, and were ultimately held at the Haberdashers' Hall, where performances of Oratorios were given. Another society was formed upon the plan of the Castle Concerts, at the "Swan Tavern." Among the subscribers were many merchants and wealthy citizens. Here the Violinist, Obadiah Shuttleworth, led the orchestra. After an existence of about twelve years, a fire occurred, in 1748, which destroyed the music and instruments, ending the society's career. It was at these concerts that the greatest philan-
3* The circumstances attending the painting of this picture are curious. It is related that Tom Britton was plying his small coal trade in Warwick Lane, where Woolaston lived, who, upon hearing his cry, "small coal," opened the window and beckoned him in, making known his desire to paint his portrait.
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