Archive Item of the Month – February 2021
Giuseppe Verdi (Roncole, 9 October 1813 – Milan, 27 January 1901)
On the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the death of the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, a brief search in the RSM Archive revealed only two items: the first probably having little to rouse the reader’s excitement and the second of considerable curiosity from the perspective of the history of autograph and manuscript collecting.
Read More»Archive Item of the Month – January 2021
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Haydn left Vienna on 1 December 1790 for a visit to London in the company of violinist Johann Peter Salomon (1734-1815, Member A069). They arrived in Dover on the afternoon of 1 January 1791. On arriving in London, Haydn was a guest of the music publisher John Bland in his home above the shop at No.45 Holborn. Bland appears to have commissioned a portrait of the composer from Thomas Hardy (1756/7-1804), an artist who painted several portraits of musical figures; his portraits of Madame Mara, Madame Gautherot, Madame Krumpholz and Samuel Arnold, alongside the Haydn portrait, were exhibited at the Royal Academy in May 1792. Many of these were also engraved by the artist and the prints were sold at Bland’s music shop; the engraving of the Haydn portrait was first advertised for sale on 13 February 1792.
Read More»Archive item of the month – December 2020
“Beethoven 2020”: 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth
Ludwig van Beethoven, engraving by Blasius Höfel (1792-1863) “after” a drawing by Louis René Letronne (1788-1841); published in Vienna by Artaria und Comp., 1814.
Read More»A further £500,000 contribution to support the profession during the COVID-19 crisis
In response to the continuing challenges posed by COVID-19, RSM has released a second £500,000 to help those suffering financial hardship as a direct result of the pandemic. Aimed primarily at those who have slipped through the net of Government support schemes, these funds are being distributed by Help Musicians UK (HMUK) as part of their Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund. The fund is now open and all applications must be submitted directly to HMUK.
Our partnership with HMUK enables RSM to focus on our one core aim of providing vital support to those whose lives have been affected by accident or illness.
RSM provides help in many ways. We fund physical and emotional therapies, referrals to specialised practitioners and associated treatments. We also help those needing support on a more long-term basis or during retirement years. This may include provision of home adaptations or living expenses. To read our Applications for Assistance Guidelines, please click here.
If you, or someone you know needs our help, please get in touch – [email protected] / 020 7629 6137
For more information about the Coronavirus Fund, please contact HMUK. This funding is in addition to the initial £500,000 RSM contributed in March.
Archive item of the month – November 2020
Benjamin Britten (Lowestoft 22 November, 1913 – Aldeburgh 4 December, 1976): composer, conductor and pianist.
Thanksgiving for music and musicians is traditionally held on the church’s feast day of St Cecilia (22 November), the patron saint of music. The earliest known British celebration of an overtly musical occasion or Cecilian festival was held in 1683 by the “Musical Society”. The Musical Society held services at St Bride’s church in Fleet Street, during which an anthem with orchestral accompaniment and a sermon in praise of music was performed; when these occasions moved to Stationers’ Hall, an ode was especially composed for the occasions with texts by celebrated poets such as John Dryden, William Congreve and Alexander Pope. These festivals took place in several of the provincial cathedral towns, and in Edinburgh the concert hall was to be named after St Cecilia.
Read More»BAPAM Healthy Practice Session: Fit to Play, Mental Health & Return to Work – NEW DATE ANNOUNCED
Due to popular demand, we have decided to repeat our introductory Healthy Practice Session: Fit to Play, Mental Health & Return to Work at 10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. on Tuesday 13 October 2020.
Presented by the Society in partnership with BAPAM, this session will outline risk factors and key strategies to sustain good physical health, mental health and wellbeing throughout a long and healthy career and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that this event has limited spaces.
To attend this virtual event, please register in advance below.
This event is currently sold out; however, we are hoping to re-run it as soon as possible. If you would like to be contacted when a new date has been released, please contact The Royal Society of Musicians on [email protected]
Archive item of the month – October 2020
George Thomas Smart
(London 10 May, 1776 – London 23 February 1876): organist, conductor and composer.
Oil painting of George Smart by an unknown artist; donated to the RSM by Charles Hodgson (1798-1873, RSM Member A314) in 1873 or earlier.
Read More»BAPAM Healthy Practice Series:
Fit to Play, Staying Mentally Well & Returning to Work
(COVID-19 Risk Assessment)
We are delighted to present an introductory Healthy Practice Session in partnership with The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM). The event will take place virtually between 10.30-13.30 on Wednesday 30 September 2020.
We all share a sense of relief that musical life is beginning to restart (albeit very gradually). However, many musicians are feeling daunted by both the physical and psychological challenges of getting back to performing after a 6-month break.
This session will outline risk factors and key strategies to sustain good physical health, mental health and wellbeing throughout a long and healthy career and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will introduce the BAPAM COVID-19 Risk Assessment tools and guidance and how musicians can use these to confidently negotiate their return to work and play.
The session focuses on evidence-based practical skills and draws from research findings, performance psychology, and proven clinical pathways.
Part 1: Fit to Play
Will explore how to avoid injury, identify the signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal problems, what to do to promote good health and where to go for help.
Part 2: Keeping Mentally Well
Will explore mental health challenges for musicians including performance anxiety. Attendees will learn skills for optimal practice and performance, how to keep mentally well, how to set goals and build resilience and where to find help.
Part 3: Returning to Work (COVID-19 Risk Assessment)
Will explore how COVID-19 has impacted performing artists, how to calculate and manage your personal COVID risk and how to navigate your return to work based on the current guidance.
The event is free to attend and open to everyone in the profession. Anyone interested in attending should register in advance of the event.
This event is currently sold out; however, we are hoping to re-run it as soon as possible. If you would like to be contacted when a new date has been released, please contact The Royal Society of Musicians on [email protected]