A collection of 51 volumes of programmes from Ballad Concerts, 1867 to 1933. The programmes are from the significant series of ballad concerts, often entitled “London Ballad Concerts” or “Boosey Ballad Concerts”. The latter of these denotes the promoter of the concerts, Boosey & Co. The concerts were founded by the publisher to promote sales of their Ballad sheet music.

Most volumes in the collection contain a manuscript index, which is attached to the volume. These indexes list the items performed and corresponding page number. The programmes contain words to the items sung.

The programmes are from concerts that took place in St. James’s Hall (-1893), Queen’s Hall (1894-1907; 1927-1933) and Royal Albert Hall (1907-1927). At certain points in the collection, the programmes are from concerts that took place at regular points during the week; for instance, early programmes in the collection are from concerts given on Wednesdays.

The number of concerts per series varied; from approximately 1867 to 1903, there were frequently at least 12 concerts per season, occasionally more. The number of concerts appeared to have dropped after this time: for instance, there were eight concerts in 1912-1913, yet only four in 1928-1929. The final season represented in this collection – from the 1933 season – contained only one concert in the entire season.

The programmes are from concerts that consisted largely of vocal music. The concerts consisted chiefly of solo items; however later programmes in the collection also include choral items, and a few concert performances of opera. Solo vocal items were taken from a variety of sources, including light opera, serious opera and oratorio. Programmes often included a few instrumental items interspersed with the vocal items.

The collection includes a small amount of programmes from Morning Ballad Concerts. There are also a few miscellaneous programmes from, for instance, a Boosey’s Evening Recital in the Wigmore Hall.

Arrangement:
The programmes are arranged chronologically.

1867 - 1933

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Not Specific

• London Ballad Concerts -
• Boosey & Hawkes -
• Boosey's Evening Recital -
• Morning Ballad Concerts (Part of London Ballad Concerts) -

• Eastbrook Hall, Bradford
• Wigmore Hall
• St. George’s Hall, Bradford
• Royal Albert Hall
• Queen's Hall, London

• 19th century - mid Victorian 1851-1875
• 20th century - early 1900-1930
• 20th century - mid 1931-1970
• 19th century - late Victorian 1876-1899

• Musical Examples
• Analytical Notes

College Hall 220-238 Goldhawk Road London W12 9PL

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portraits@rcm.ac.uk

020 7591 4340

020 7589 7740 

Mon-Fri by appointment

The Portraits and Performance History Collection and its associated reading room is housed in a recently adapted space within the RCM's College Hall, its hall of residence for students. There is step-free access for visitors.

The Centre for Performance History (CPH) is a research centre and is also responsible for the stewardship of two well-established RCM research collections, the Museum of Instruments and the Portraits and Performance History Collection (PPHC). The latter houses a diverse collection relating to the history of performance including the RCM’s internationally famous collection of images, comprising 340 original portraits and sculptures and 25,000 prints and photographs, forming the most comprehensive archive of likenesses of musicians in the UK. The collection of 600,000 concert programmes from 1720 to the present day is of major importance for research into the history of music, society and culture.