The Concerts of Antient Music, also known as the ''Ancient Concerts'' or ''The King's Concerts'', were an influential concert series put on annually in London from 1776 to 1848. The concerts consisted solely of music composed at least twenty years previous (although sometimes revised for the tastes or instrumentation of the time). The concerts had aristocratic or royal sponsorship and featured some of the best musicians of the day. At first, twelve concerts were given each year; in 1785 a thirteenth concert, a performance of

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

's ''Messiah'' to benefit retired musicians, was added at

King George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

's command. The founding committee in 1776 included the

Earl of Sandwich Earl of Sandwich is a noble title in the Peerage of England, held since its creation by the House of Montagu. It is nominally associated with Sandwich, Kent. It was created in 1660 for the prominent naval commander Admiral Sir Edward Montag ...

, the

Earl of Exeter Marquess of Exeter is a title that has been created twice, once in the peerage of England and once in the peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the peerage of England in 1525 for Henry Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon. For more ...

, the Viscount Dudley and Ward, and John Egerton, the Bishop of Durham. From the year 1785 the royal family was usually in attendance, and patronized the concerts as well. King George III personally wrote out the programmes, and in the later years

Prince Albert Prince Albert most commonly refers to: *Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819–1861), consort of Queen Victoria *Albert II, Prince of Monaco (born 1958), present head of state of Monaco Prince Albert may also refer to: Royalty * Alb ...

was one of the directors. The programmes at first consisted mostly of

, with a few works by Corelli, Geminiani,

Charles Avison Charles Avison (; 16 February 1709 (baptised)9 or 10 May 1770) was an English composer during the Baroque and Classical periods. He was a church organist at St John The Baptist Church in Newcastle and at St Nicholas's Church (later Newcastl ...

, and others. After 1826 the concerts added works by

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

and a greater variety of other composers;

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...

's works appeared after 1835. Dictionary of Music and Musicians, ed. George Grove, 1900, entry "Ancient Concerts" The concerts were first held in the New Rooms on Tottenham Street, later known as the Queen's or West London Theatre. In 1795 they were moved to a concert hall at the

Opera House An opera house is a theater building used for performances of opera. Like many theaters, it usually includes a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, backstage facilities for costumes and building sets, as well as offices for the institut ...

, and then in 1804 to the

Hanover Square Rooms The Hanover Square Rooms or the Queen's Concert Rooms were assembly rooms established, principally for musical performances, on the corner of Hanover Square, London, England, by Sir John Gallini in partnership with Johann Christian Bach and Ca ...

Notable musicians involved with the concerts

*Conductors:

Joah Bates Joah Bates ( – 8 June 1799) was an English musician. Life Joah Bates was baptized at the parish church in Halifax on 8 March 1740 O.S. (8 March 1741 N.S.). He was the son of Henry Bates, an innkeeper and parish clerk. He received his early ...

(1776-1793), Thomas Greatorex (1793-1831), William Knyvett (1832–39), Henry Bishop (1843-8) (Sir George Smart, Henry Bishop,

Charles Lucas Sir Charles Lucas, 1613 to 28 August 1648, was a professional soldier from Essex, who served as a Royalist cavalry leader during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Taken prisoner at the end of the First English Civil War in March 1646, he was re ...

, and

James Turle James Turle (5 March 1802 – 28 June 1882) was an English organist and composer, best known today as the writer of several widely sung Anglican chants and the hymn tune "Westminster" sung to the words of Frederick William Faber "My God, how wonde ...

conducted concerts in 1840-3, when the series was without a permanent conductor.) *Orchestra leaders:

Wilhelm Cramer Wilhelm Cramer (2 June 1746, Mannheim – 5 October 1799, London) was a famous London violinist and musical conductor of German origin. He was the son of a Mannheim violinist, Jakob Cramer (1705–70), and part of a large family who were con ...

(1780-1799) *Organist: Charles Lucas (1841-8) *Singers: Harriett Abrams,

Brigida Banti Brigida Banti (; c. 1757–1806), best known by her husband's surname and her stage-name, as Brigida Banti, was an Italian soprano. Biography Obscure beginnings Her origins are rather obscure and the data on her birth are very dubious: she ...

James Bartleman James Karl Bartleman (24 December 1939 – 14 August 2023) was a Canadian diplomat and author who served as the 27th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 2002 to 2007. Bartleman was a son of Percy Scott Bartleman and Maureen Florence Bartlem ...

Elizabeth Billington Elizabeth Billington (27 December 176525 August 1818) was a British opera singer. Life She was born on 27 December 1765 in Litchfield Street, Soho, London, the daughter of Carl Weichsel, a native of Freiberg, in Saxony, who was principal obois ...

Anna Bishop Anna, Lady Bishop (9 January 181018 March 1884) was an English operatic soprano. She sang in many countries and was believed to be the most widely travelled singer of the 19th century.John Braham, Angelica Catalani, Samuel Thomas Champnes, Michael Kelly,

Gertrud Elisabeth Mara Gertrud Elisabeth Mara (née Schmeling) (23 February 1749 – 20 January 1833) was a German operatic soprano. Life Gertrude was born in Kassel, the daughter of a poor musician, Johann Schmeling. From him she learnt to play the violin, and whi ...

Maria Frances Parke Maria Frances Parke (26 August 1772 – 31 July 1822) was an English soprano, pianist and composer of keyboard works. Parke was born in London. Her father was the oboist John Parke, while her uncle was the oboist and composer William Thomas Parke ...

, Catherine Stephens, Eliza Salmon,

Jane Shirreff Jane Shirreff (1808-1883) was a British soprano opera singer. She was described as America's "most admired prima donna between the days of Mrs. Wood and those of Louisa Pyne". Early life and education As a young woman, Shirreff taught singi ...

Nancy Storace Anna (or Ann) Selina Storace (; 27 October 176524 August 1817), known professionally as Nancy Storace, was an English operatic soprano. The role of Susanna in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Mozart's ''The Marriage of Figaro, Le nozze di Figaro'' was w ...

*Instrumentalists: John Crosdill,

Domenico Dragonetti Domenico Carlo Maria Dragonetti (7 April 1763 – 16 April 1846) was an Italian double bass virtuoso and composer with a 3 string double bass. He stayed for thirty years in his hometown of Venice, Italy and worked at the opera buffa, Opera Buffa, ...

John Ella John Ella (1802–1888) was an English violinist and director of concerts. Early life Ella was born Leicester 19 December 1802, baptism at St. Martins, now Leicester Cathedral, his parents buried there. He was intended by his father, Richard E ...

Frantisek Kotzwara František Kočvara, known later in England as Frantisek Kotzwara (1730 – September 2, 1791), was a Czech violist, virtuoso double bassist and composer. His death was one of the first recorded instances of death by erotic asphyxiation. Li ...

Nicolas Mori Nicolas Mori (24 January 1796 – 14 June 1839) was an Anglo-Italian violinist, music publisher and conductor. Once regarded as the finest violinist in Europe, Mori was somewhat overshadowed by the rise of Paganini. Life Born in London, the so ...

. In 1847

Felix Mendelssohn Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 18094 November 1847), widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic music, Romantic period. Mendelssohn's compositions inc ...

performed solo on the organ the ''Prelude and Fugue in B-flat major on the name B-A-C-H'' attributed at the time to

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety of instruments and forms, including the or ...

. Much of the music from these concerts was presented to the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music (RCM) is a conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the undergraduate to the doctoral level in all aspects of Western Music including pe ...

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

, where it now forms part of the College's extensive collections.

References

British music history Concerts in the United Kingdom Early music

Notable musicians involved with the concerts

See also

References