Music for the King: The Concert of Antient Music

Interesting exhibition at the Foundling Museum exploring the eighteenth-century concert series, the 'Concert of Antient Music'.

These concerts began in 1776 with a programme of about 12 concerts a year until 1848. They were programmed by nobles but managed by the conductor, beginning with Joah Bates. They featured ‘ancient’ music, defined as pieces more than 20 years old, at a time when concerts tended to feature new works. This often includes works by Handel who was one of the founders of the museum.

The display consisted of portraits of the main protagonists and ephemera related to the concerts including a cabinet on Sarah Harrop, the soloist and wife of Joah Bates. I loved this register of performances from the start to 1791.

The show revealed an aspect of the 18th century which I hadn’t know about before. My father was a geek about the music of this period and he would have loved this display. 

Closed 8 October 2023

 

 

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