Half a Century of Music in England, 18371887 Essays Towards a History [Paperback]

A Victorian critic's account of the influence of foreign composers on British music during his lifetime.This is a lively contemporary account of the development of musical culture in Victorian England. Published in 1889, it records the influence of leading foreign composers of earlier periods, and of recent figures including Wagner, Liszt and Berlioz, on the English musical world.This is a lively contemporary account of the development of musical culture in Victorian England. Published in 1889, it records the influence of leading foreign composers of earlier periods, and of recent figures including Wagner, Liszt and Berlioz, on the English musical world.This collection of essays by the music critic Francis Hueffer (18431889) is a lively, contemporary account of musical life in Victorian England. First published in 1889, it records the influence of leading foreign composers on English music. Ranging from the music of Handel, Gluck and Haydn to Weber, Rossini,and Mendelssohn, composers who have had a lasting influence on the British musical world, Hueffer, who did not live to see the publication of his book, offers a panoramic view of the rapid development of musical culture in England during the nineteenth century. Starting with a historical introduction to the roles played by the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music, and moving on to the specific contributions of 'new' composers including Berlioz, Wagner and Liszt, this book is a valuable guide to the history and criticism of music in Victorian England as it was understood at the time.Preface; 1. Introductory; 2. Wagner in England; 3. Liszt in England; 4. Berlioz in England; 5. Conclusion.