The Careers of British Musicians, 1750–1850 : A Profession of Artisans

The Study Of The Social Context Of Music Must Consider The Day-to-day Experiences Of Its Practitioners; Their Economic, Social, Professional, And Artistic Goals; And The Material And Cultural Conditions Under Which These Goals Were Pursued. This Book Traces The Daily Working Life And Aspirations Of British Musicians During The Sweeping Social And Economic Transformation Of Britain From 1750 To 1850. It Features Working Musicians Of All Types And At All Levels - Organists, Singers, Instrumentalists, Teachers, Composers, And Entrepreneurs - And Explores Their Educational Background, Their Conditions Of Employment, Their Wages; The Systems Of Patronage That Supported Them; And Their Individual Perceptions. Deborah Rohr Focuses Not Only On Social And Economic Pressures But Also On A Range Of Negative Cultural Beliefs Faced By The Musicians. Also Considered Are The Implications Of Such Conditions For Their Social And Professional Status, And For Their Musical Aspirations.--jacket. 1. The Social And Professional Status Of Musicians In The Eighteenth Century -- 2. Social Profile -- 3. Patronage -- 4. Musical Education -- 5. Church Musicians -- 6. Secular Musicians: Singers -- 7. Secular Musicians: Instrumentalists -- 8. Teachers, Composers, And Entrepreneurs -- 9. The Fortunes Of Musicians -- 10. The Struggle For Social And Professional Status. Deborah Rohr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [215]-226) And Index.

The study of the social context of music must consider the day-to-day experiences of its practitioners. This book traces the daily working life and aspirations of British musicians during the sweeping social and economic transformation of Britain from 1750 to 1850. It features working musicians of all types and at all levels-organists, singers, instrumentalists, teachers, composers, and entrepreneurs-and explores their educational background, their conditions of employment, their wages, the systems of patronage that supported them, and their individual perceptions.

Like many other eighteenth-century professionals, musicians belonged to the large, socially and economically fluid group that historians term the "middling sort". Focuses on the day-to-day lives and careers of musicians in Britain from 1750-1850