Ahead of The Really Big Chorus performance of Handel’s Messiah this November, we look back to the annual performances of Handel’s Messiah which took place for the benefit of RSM for 50 years, including during our centenary year of 1838. This featured celebrated tenor John Braham, who was made an Honorary Member for his services.

A cantata composed for the benefit of RSM in 1835, mentioning the Society’s ballot box.

Violinist George Bridgtower joins as a Member in 1807

An unusual playbill printed on silk for the Theatre Royal Drury Lane

A portrait of former RSM Member William Dorrell, who taught piano and viola at the Royal Academy of Music

Head and shoulders above the rest, this item is a bust of flautist Richard Carte, presented to the Society in 1981.

A look at the earliest document relating to the Society’s founding, the Declaration of Trust, which features the names of the original 230 subscribers, including Handel

Take a look at this 18th century pencil drawing of pianist, violinist and composer William Dance, who played a major part in the governance of the Society during his lifetime.

Do you know what an ‘Angelute’ is? Learn more about its inventor John Charles Ward.

An autographed manuscript of Puccini’s Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly

We take a look at a line engraving of composer Christopher Gluck, published in The Harmonicon in 1823.

RSM’s earliest surviving minute books, previously photographed onto microfilm in the1980s, have recently been converted to digital images, which we now need your help to make the most of.

On the occasion of the Monarch’s gracious continued patronage of RSM, we look at the Royal Charter granted by George III in 1790.

On the occasion of the Monarch’s gracious continued patronage of RSM, we look at the Royal Charter granted by George III in 1790.

We look at the posthumous publication of the full score of Dossert’s Mass in B minor.

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Presented to The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain by Frederick G. Lyon in 1874.

On the centenary of the death of Sir Walter Parratt, Master of the Queen’s Music from 1893 until his death, we display a selection of concert programmes from performances which were conducted by Parratt.

Handel was the first composer to have a public statue raised to his fame (Vauxhall Gardens) and the first composer to have a collected edition of his works produced (by Samuel Arnold in the period 1784-1794). In addition he was also the first to have a full-length biography published.

Annotated manuscripts, written in Coleridge-Taylor’s own hand.