The Musical Society of London (1858-1867) was formed by former members of the New Philharmonic Society. Their objective was the "advancement of music in England" and they held orchestral, choral, and chamber music concerts and conversazione, sponsored composition competitions, and operated a small music library open to fellows and associates of the society.
The Society was made up of professional and amateur musicians from throughout United Kingdom, including women (admitted only as associates of the Society). Many of the Society's founding members were composers, performers, and scholars, including Charles Salaman, Augustine Sargood, Charles E. Horsely, W. Vincent Wallace, George A. Macfarren, Henry Smart, Alfred Mellon, and Edward F. Rimbault. Charles Salaman, who served as secretary of the Society from its founding until 1865, was a noted lecturer, pianist and composer and was involved in forming the Musical Association. Also noteworthy among the founding members was George A. Macfarren, who was one of the most prolific composers of the nineteenth century, writing several operas, cantatas, and symphonies, and W. Vincent Wallace, composer of the opera Maritana.
While normal membership was limited to those residing in the UK, the council did nominate prominent composers from the Continent for honorary fellowships to the Society. Auber, Berlioz, Meyerbeer, Rossini, and Spohr were among those that received the honor, and their works, as well as the works of their British colleagues, were frequently performed by the Society.
Under the main objective of the Society, concerts and conversazione included a mixture of works from Classical repertoire, "ancient" works (usually meaning the Renaissance in England), and works by contemporary composers. Arthur Sullivan (who became a fellow in 1863) had the debut of his Tempest Music at a Society concert in 1862. The Society also debuted several other works, including those of Macfarren and Salaman.
While there was concern at the Society's inception that London did not need a second large music organization, the Society was able to prove its worth through several seasons, and at one time had close to 1,500 members. However, by April 1867, the Society lacked funds to continue its season and it was forced to suspend operations. The final concert of the Society was 20 March 1867 and included Beethoven's Choral Fantasia with Clara Schumann on piano.
Edward Francis Rimbault (1816-1876) was a musicologist, composer, and organist, best known for his editions of music by English Renaissance and Baroque composers. He received a doctorate from Göttingen University, and was offered (but declined) a position at Harvard University. He was a founding member of the Music Antiquarian Society and the Percy Society, in addition to being a founding member of the Musical Society of London. Rimbault was also a member of the Handel Society, editing several volumes of Handel's works for publication.
From 1862-1863 he served as the librarian of the Musical Society of London, after the departure of the Society's first librarian, Charles E. Horsley.
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