Archive item of the month: April 2023

The Concerts of Antient Music, sometimes known as ‘The King’s Concerts’ 

The Concerts of Antient Music, a subscription series from 1776 to 1848, was founded by the upper ranks of society and was both highly fashionable and exclusive. Performances featured some of the more notable musicians of the period.  The concerts were initially held in a Music Room in Tottenham Street, at the end of the eighteenth century in the Concert Room at the Opera House, and, from 1804, in the Hanover Square Rooms. 

Unlike the standard concerts of the era which included the most modern compositions (for instance symphonies by Joseph Haydn) the Concert of Antient Music had an appreciation of “older” music with a policy of performing music which had to be more than twenty years old. Challenging works from the Renaissance and early Baroque were sought out with a strong preference from many of the members for Handel’s works.  Even into the nineteenth century the repertoire barely changed with the exception of a little Beethoven and Italian operatic excerpts added to some programmes. The programme for each concert was chosen by a different “Director” and the individual director’s name was printed at the head of the programme. King George III attended the concerts from 1785 and instructed the directors to add a thirteenth concert to the series: this concert was to be a performance for raising financial funds towards The Royal Society of Musicians on which he granted royal patronage in 1790. 

The RSM Archive holds three volumes of the season’s programme including one for the year 1847, the penultimate year of the concerts. 

This volume includes an introductory essay outlining the history of the Concerts written by John Parry (1776-1851, Member A264), the then Honorary Treasurer of RSM. 

The season’s programme, which included the repertoire performed in the season and lists of the subscribers and performers, was published as a souvenir by Henry Field in Carburton Street just a few steps to the West of the RSM’s current premises. 

The concert programme for 30 June was chosen by the Duke of Wellington (in the absence of the Earl of Westmorland). This programme started with ‘The King shall rejoice’, one of Handel’s Coronation Anthems. Will we be hearing this anthem again next month?

Hear RSM Archivist Colin Coleman discuss the Concerts for Ancient Music further here.