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Collection Description
Collection name
Philharmonic Society (1820-1909)
Unique identifier
Description
A collection of 18 volumes of programmes from the Philharmonic Society, London. The programmes date from the years 1820 to 1909 – the society was founded in 1813 and is currently extant – but there are significant gaps in the holdings. There are no programmes in the collection for the years 1831-1868, 1873-1878 and 1900-1904. In addition, the volume from 1820 to 1830 has an annotation stating that the following programmes are wanting: 1821 (1, 4), 1822 (1, 5, 6, 7) and 1830 (2).
The collection contains programmes from concerts that took place in St. James’s Hall (1869-1893) and Queen’s Hall (1895-1909): though the venue is not listed on the programmes from 1820 to 1830, these concerts are likely to have taken place in the Hanover Square Rooms. The programmes contain analytical programme notes and musical examples. The collection also includes a publication from 1871 concerning the presentation of the Beethoven bust and a report from 1906 which lists the first performance of all soloists who have appeared at the series from 1813 to 1906. The programmes feature many different soloists and conductors: however, there are a number of programmes from concerts conducted by W.G. Cusins (in particular from the late 1860s and 1870s), Frederick Cowen (in particular from the 1880s and the 1900s) and Alexander C. Mackenzie (in particular from the 1890s). The concerts represented by the collection contain a number of world premieres of British and continental music – for example, Dvorak’s Cello concerto in B minor in 1896 – in particular from the 1890s.
The collection also contains a few miscellaneous programmes at the end of the 1889-1890 volume: there are programmes from concerts given at the Crystal Palace and programmes from concerts given at the Leeds music festival.
Arrangement:
The programmes are chiefly arranged chronologically; however, the sequence is not entirely linear.
Date range
1820 - 1909
Associated People and Organisations
Philharmonic Society (see Royal Philharmonic Society) -
Cowen, Frederic -
Mackenzie, Alexander Campbell -
Robertson, James -
Wood, Henry -
Cusins, William George -
Leeds Music Festival -
Philharmonic Society -
Associated Places
St. James's Hall
Royal Albert Hall
Crystal Palace
Queen's Hall, London
Associated Times
19th century - late Victorian 1876-1899
19th century - early 1800-1836
19th century - early Victorian 1837-1850
19th century - mid Victorian 1851-1875
20th century - early 1900-1930
Associated Content
Star Item(s)
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Further details
Viewing the Collection
Mon-Fri by appointment
Visiting information
Location details
Royal College Of Music, Library
London SW7 2BS Open Map
DOMUS
Website
http://www.rcm.ac.uk/library/
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NEW CONTACT DETAILS: 020 7591 4325; [email protected].; https://www.rcm.ac.uk/library
Star Objects
For details of other collections held at the same location: See the location record
Additional Collection Information
Accrual Status
Open
Legal Status
Custodial History
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