A miscellaneous collection of handbills and programmes for performances given at various venues in London and at a number of English provincial venues between 1837 and 1856, the vast majority citing the involvement of the viola player Henry Hill (1808–56), held loosely in a single box.

Hill was the principal viola player in Her Majesty's Private Band, the orchestra of the Royal Italian Opera and at the London Philharmonic Society concerts. He was the founder of the London Beethoven Quartet Society, for whose concerts he wrote analytical programme notes.

The collection includes a large number of programmes for chamber music performances and for quasi-privatized matinees/soirees. The contents are listed here by series/venue.

1. Beethoven Quartet Society (1845-52)
2. Mr Dando's Quartet Concerts (1847-56)
3. Mr Lucas Annual Series of Musical Evenings (1846-52)
4. Madame Dulcken Matinees/Soirees Musicales (1847-49)
5. Miscellaneous concerts: London venues (1841-55)
6. Miscellaneous concerts: Provincial venues (1837-53)
7. Miscellaneous concerts: unknown venues (1842-52)

In addition to the large number of loose programmes, the box contains 3 folders (2 plastic and one paper), the contents of which are identified by the numbers 1, 2 and 3 in square brackets below. There is also a separate bundle of prospectuses and programmes for the Beethoven Quartet Society.

1. Beethoven Quartet Society
All concerts were referred to as Honor [sic] to Beethoven and were given at 76 Harley Street, London. The programmes for the 1845 and 1846 seasons include notes, with those for the former incorporating musical examples.
21 April, 5 and 19 May and 2 and 16 June 1845: nos. 1-5 (with 4 copies for no. 1).
25 May and 22 June 1846: nos. 6 and 8.
22 March, 19 April and 28 June 1847: nos. 2, 3 and 8 (2 copies for 19 April).
20 March, 8 May, 19 June and 3 July 1848: nos. 1, 4, 7 and 8 (2 copies for 19 June and 3 copies for 3 July).
9 May 1849: no. 1 (2 copies).
1 May, 12 June and 8 July 1850: nos. 2, 5 and Herr Ernst' Benefit.
2 April, 9 May, 11 June and 9 July 1851: nos. 1, 2, 6 and Rousselot's Benefit.
21 April 1852: no. 2 (2 copies).


2. Mr Dando's Quartet Concerts
Handbills and programmes with words for concerts given in the Throne Room, Crosby Hall, London on the following dates:
2 March 1846, 25 January 1847 [3], 12 February and 6 March 1849, 11 March 1850, 20 January, 24 February, 17 and 31 March and 14 April [3] 1851, 13 January 1852, 31 January and 14 February 1853, 16 January 1854, 19 March 1855 [3] and 10 and 31 March [2] 1856.

These concerts included the first public performances of: Onslow, Quartet in E flat major, op. 10 no. 3 (24 February 1851); Spohr, Duetto in D op. 67 no. 2 (17 March 1851); and A. Mellon, Quartet in F major (31 March 1851).

Also, the first English performances of: F. Ries, Quartet in C major no. 1 (25 January 1847); Spohr, Quartet in C major, op. 45 no. 1 (12 February 1849); Mendelssohn, New Quintet in B flat Major, op. 87 (20 January 1851); R. Schumann, Quartet op. 41 no. 1 (24 February 1851); J. N. Hummel, Grand Sonata in F sharp minor, op. 81 (14 February 1853); and A. Fesca, Grand Septour op. 26 (16 January 1854).


3. Mr Lucas Annual Series of Musical Evenings
Programmes for performances given as part of Mr Lucas Annual Series of Musical Evenings for the performance of Classical Chamber Compositions, given at his residence of 54 Berners Street on 12 and 26 February 1846 (nos. 1 and 3); 17 June and 1 and 8 July 1846 (nos. 1, 3 and 4); 4 and 18 March 1847 (nos. 2 and 4); 29 March and 26 April 1848 (nos.2 and 4); 25 April 1849 (no. 4, two copies); 3 April 1850 (no. 3); and 19 May 1852 (no. 4).


4. Madame Dulcken Matinees/Soirees Musicales
Programmes for concerts given at 80 Harley Street, Cavendish Square on 10 and 24 February 1847 (nos. 2 and 3); 15 March [3] and 29 March 1848 (nos. 1 and 3); and 2 May 1849 (no. 2).


5. London venues
- Exeter Hall
Thursday 5 April [no year]: Mr Lavenu's Annual Concert.
Wednesday 25 April [no year]: London Wednesday Concert no. 22.
14 February 1850: Mr H. C. Cooper and Mr T. W. Hancock's 2nd Subscription Classical Chamber Concert.
11 March 1856: Mr and Madame Goldschmidt's Evening Concert of Sacred and Miscellaneous Music, conducted by Mr Benedict, including the first performance of Otto Goldschmidt, 130th Psalm (handbill and programme with words and list of the orchestral ensemble).

- Hanover Square Rooms/Queen's Concert Rooms, Hanover Square
Thursday 8 June [no year]: Mr T. M. Mudie's Third Concert (with words).
4 May 1837: Mr Blagrove's Benefit Concert (with words) [1].
3 July 1840: Mr Cramer's Morning Concert, conducted by Sir George Smart (handbill).
25 February 1841: Quartett Concerts no. 1 (6th season), including the first English performance of Henri Reber, Trio in E Flat Major (with words).
13 April 1842: Mr Willy and Mr J. Henry Griesbach Grand Concert.
29 April 1842: Miss Lightfoot's Concert.
19 May 1842: Messrs Molique, Mohr and Hausmann Soirees Musicales no. 1 (with handbill for all three concerts, given on 19 May and 2 and 16 June).
13 July 1842: Sophie Bohrer and Anton Bohrer Grand Morning Concert (handbill).
12 July 1843: Signor Camillo Sivori's Grand Evening Concert (handbill).
12 June 1844: G. Case and R. Blagrove's Concertina Quartett Concert
27 June 1844: Mr F. Cramer's Farewell Morning Concert (with words). [3.]
8 June 1846: Mr Cipriani Potter Morning Concert, including the first performance of Potter, Symphony in E flat (handbill).
2 July 1846: Mr Parish Alvars Grand Morning Concert (handbill).
8 July 1846: Last appearance of the celebrated pianist Madame Pleyel.
1 June 1848: Mademoiselle Coulon's Morning Concert
11 December 1848: Society of British Musicians (handbill) [1].
4 June 1849: Herr Ernst's concert, including the first English performance of Ernst, Rondo Papageno.
24 April 1850: Mr Platt's Farewell Concert, conducted by Mr Costa (with list of the orchestral ensemble).
14 May 1850 and 7 June 1852: Miss Dolby and Mr Lindsay Sloper's Annual Grand Morning Concert (with words for 1852).
15 June 1852: Alfred Mellon, Robert S. Pratten and Hausmann's Grand Orchestral Concert (with notes and list of the orchestral ensemble).
18 February 1856: Mr and Madame Goldschmidt's First Morning Concert, conducted by M Benedict (handbill with words).

- New Beethoven Rooms, 27 Queen Anne Street
27 May 1850: Matinee Musicale.
18 March 1851: Mr Scipion Rousselot's Second Performance of Classical Chamber Music.
28 May 1851: Miss Ellen Day and Mr John Day Three Matinees Musicales no. 1.
18 February 1852: Mr Neate Soirees.
18 June 1852: Herr Bernhard Molique’s Concert of Chamber Music [3].

- St. Martin's Hall, Long Acre:
[no date]: Miss P. Horton's Illustrative Gatherings.
21 December 1842, 20 January and 4 February 1843 and 2 February 1850, St. Martin's Hall: Society of British Musicians (handbills).
26 January 1850: Six Chamber Concerts no. 1 (with words).
5 May 1851: Mr Willy's Concert
2 April 1855: Mr Alfred Mellon First Concert (handbill).
6 July 1855: Mr Alfred Mellon Last Grand Orchestral Union Concert (handbill).

- Willis's Rooms, King Street
30 May 1849: Madame and Herr Goffrie's Grand Evening Concert (handbill).
Monday 15 April [1850]: Mr Henry Wylde's Matinée Musicale of Classical Chamber Music [3.]
11 June 1850: Ella's Musical Union (handbill)
11 July 1850: Mr Henry Wylde's Second Matinee
18 May 1853: Herr Bernhard Moliques Evening Concert

- Miscellaneous London venues
71 Harley Street: 9 May 1855 (Mr W. G. Cusin's Soirée Musicale). [2]
Albion Hall, Finsbury: 8 May 1837 (City Harmonic Society’s Subscription Concerts) [3]
Beethoven Rooms, 76 Harley Street: 12 July 1847 and 27 March 1851 (M. Scipion Rousselot's Grand Musical Performance, 4 copies for 1847).
Bridge House Hotel, London Bridge: 22 February 1843 (Mr Carte's 3rd Subscription Concert, with words) and 15 May 1844 (Evening Concert of Classical Music, handbill).
Buckingham Palace: 10 February and 21 May 1841, 7 May 1849 and 21 May 1851 (handbills).
Crosby Hall: 14 November 1843 (Literary and Scientific Institution First Concert, under the direction of W. Sterndale Bennett, handbill) [2].
Eastern Institution, Commercial Road: 28 January and 8 April 1841 (Dress Concerts, handbill with list of the vocal and orchestral performers).
Erat's Harp Saloon, 23 Berners Street: 27 December 1844 and 16 January, 13 October and 11 November 1845 (Society of British Musicians, with words).
Grove House, Camberwell: 20 December 1837 (Classical Chamber Concerts).
Her Majesty's Theatre: 6 June 1840 (Grand Musical Entertainment, conducted by M. Costa) and 13 May 1850 (Musical Entertainment, handbill).
Islington Literary and Scientific Society: 7 March, 6 June and 5 December 1842 and 17 April 1843 (Music Classes, handbills).
London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street: 13 December 1838 (Mr Lazarus' Evening Concert, handbill) [3.]
Princess' Concert Room: 7 June 1844 (Mr G. A. Macfarren and Mr J. W. Davison's Third Concert of Chamber Music, with words). [2]
Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden: 2 June 1852 (Mrs Anderson Grand Morning Concert, conducted by Mr Costa, handbill).
St. Saviour's Southwark: Tuesday 18 October [no year] (Organ Recital).
Theatre Royal, Covent Garden: 12 January 1846 (Beethoven Festival Concert no.1 by M. Jullien)


6. Provincial venues
Bath, Assembly Rooms: Monday 11 April [no year] (Annual Classical Chamber Concert) and 27 January 1851 (Mr Chute Grand Concert).
Brighton, Assembly Rooms, Old Ship Hotel: 1 and 22 November and 6 December 1847 and 6 and 9 December 1848 (Brighton Musical Union, handbills).
Bristol, Music Hall, Park-Street: Wednesday 19 September [no year] (Grand Classical Chamber Concert).
Bristol, Victoria Rooms, Clifton: 28 January 1851 (Mr H. C. Cooper's Annual Concert).
Cambridge, Town Hall: 2 March 1853 (Mr Wood's Classical Concert, handbill). [3]
Chatham, Rochester Theatre: 27 April 1842 (Mr Willy's Grand Evening Concert, with words).
Liverpool, Philharmonic Society Hall: 27, 28, 29 and 31 August 1849 (Opening the New Hall by the Liverpool Philharmonic Society, handbills)
Torquay, Royal Hotel: 31 January 1851 (Messrs D. and F. Smith Concert).
Windsor Castle: 12 October 1844, 10 February 1851 and 18 April 1855 (handbills).


7. Unknown venues
[no date]: (handbill)
7 September [no date]: selection from Crotch, Palestine/Haydn, The Creation (with words).
25 November [no year]: Morning Concert (with words). [3].
15 August 1842: Signor Crippa’s Grand Evening Concert (handbill).
17 February 1845, [London]: Choral Harmonists (with words).
18 February 1846: Madame Dulcken's Third and Last Soireee Musicale, including the first performances of Moscheles, Grande Sonata Symphoniques and Mendelssohn, New Trio in C minor.
9 September 1846: Scheme of First Concert (handbill)
30 September 1846: Mr Richard Robert's Concert (handbill).
5 March and 9 April 1847, 25 February and 26 May 1848 and 18 April 1849, [London]: Amateur Musical Society (handbills).
[1848]:
12 September 1851: words of songs sung by Committee of the Sacred Harmonic Society.
22 December 1851:
21 January 1852:

1837 - 1856

-

Not Specific

• Wylde, Henry -
• Wylde, Henry -
• Spohr, Louis -
• Society of British Musicians -
• Smart, George -
• Sloper, Lindsay -
• Sivori, Camillo -
• Schumann, Robert -
• Sacred Harmonic Society -
• Rousselot, Scipion -
• Roberts, Richard -
• Ries, Ferdinand -
• Reber, Henri -
• Potter, Cipriani -
• Pleyel, Camille -
• Onslow, George -
• Musical Union -
• Moscheles, Ignatz -
• Molique, Bernhard -
• Mendelssohn, Felix -
• Mellon, Alfred -
• Macfarren, George -
• Lucas, Charles -
• Liverpool Philharmonic Society -
• Jullien, Louis -
• Islington Literary and Scientific Society -
• Hummel, Johann Nepomuk -
• Hill, Henry -
• Hausmann, Robert -
• Griesbach, John Henry -
• Goldschmidt, Otto -
• Fesca, Alexander -
• Ernst, Heinrich Wilhelm -
• Ella, John -
• Dulcken, Louise -
• Day, John -
• Day, Ellen -
• Davison, James William -
• Dando, Joseph -
• Cusins, William George -
• Cramer, Franz -
• Costa, Michael -
• City Harmonic Society -
• Choral Harmonists -
• Brighton Musical Union -
• Bohrer, Sophie -
• Bohrer, Anton -
• Blagrove, Henry -
• Bennett, William Sterndale -
• Benedict, Julius -
• Beethoven Quartett Society -
• Amateur Musical Society -

• 54 Berners Street
• 71 Harley Street
• 76 Harley Street
• 80 Harley Street, Cavendish Square
• Albion Hall, London Wall
• Assembly Rooms, Bath
• Assembly Rooms, Old Ship Hotel
• Beethoven Rooms
• Bridge House Hotel
• Buckingham Palace
• Cowdray Hall, 1 Henrietta Street
• Crosby Hall (until 1910)
• Eastern Institution, Commercial Road
• Erat's Harp Saloon, 23 Berners Street
• Exeter Hall
• Great Room, Grove House
• Hanover Square Rooms
• Islington Literary and Scientific Society
• London Tavern, Bishopsgate street
• Music Hall, Park Street
• New Beethoven Rooms, 27 Queen Anne Street
• Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
• Queen's concert rooms (SEE Hanover Square Rooms)
• Rochester Theatre, Chatham
• Royal Hotel, Torquay
• Royal Opera House
• Southwark Cathedral
• St. Martin's Hall
• Theatre Royal, Covent Garden
• Town Hall, Cambridge

• 19th century - early Victorian 1837-1850
• 19th century - mid Victorian 1851-1875

• Analytical Notes
• Musical Examples
• Word books
• First performances
• Handbills
• List of orchestral players
• Programme notes

Centre for Performance History Prince Consort Road London London SW7 2BS United Kingdom

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cph@rcm.ac.uk

020 7 589 4340

020 7 589 7740 

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During the course of 2008 a new facility providing collection storage space, reader facilities and office space will created for the Centre for Performance History at College Hall, the site of the RCM's Hall of Residence in London W12. This will eventually offer improved access to researchers, and provide the collection with a secure and stable environment, all in one place. In order that the relevant parts of the collection can be packed and prepared for the move, and then re-shelved at the new facility as expeditiously as possible, all facilities and services (including photographic services and access to the programmes collection) of the Centre for Performance History are suspended until 12 January 2009. The Museum of Instruments will continue to operate a full service (including public opening during the summer vacation) throughout this period. We apologize for the inevitable inconvenience that this closure will cause to colleagues, students, researchers and members of the public, but believe that the improvements that will result will benefit the long-term preservation of the collections and will provide enhanced access to them for all users.