4 - On the General Prospects of Music in England

Summary

London Institution, 6 May 1858

I propose this evening to take you with me on a visit to the principal schools of modern music in Europe, as they exist at the present moment – glancing occasionally at the past; comparing former times with the present, whether to the advantage or disadvantage of those countries which will come under our notice; interspersing my remarks with such illustration as will do no injustice to the composers whom I shall bring forward; and in conclusion to say a few words upon the prospects of music in England in the future.

I trust that wherever I shall feel it my duty to point out any symptom of decay in countries long and deservedly celebrated for their might and influence in upholding the art in its integrity, I may express myself in language which could not possibly give offence, and although couched in words of regret should be void of all tone of contempt or forgetfulness of what we, as English people, owe to our foreign neighbours.

In my second lecture, ‘On the visits of foreign musicians to England’, it was with the sincerest pleasure that I brought forward to your notice the vast debt of gratitude which was due to those giants of the art who aided our progress by their presence and example, and by their contributions to our musical stores; and although in a subsequent discourse, I was enabled with a very clear conscience to present England in a light in which I think her little, if at all, inferior to other musical nations, we must not, indeed we cannot overlook the fact that in many points she is still sadly deficient, and, at present, but little prepared to represent the art generally. I should only bring ridicule upon myself, and injury to my professional brethren, were I to attempt to prove that England can do all which is done by foreign nations. That she will do so at some future time I have not the slightest doubt. But enough of this for the present. I am only anxious to set an example of candour and honesty to some of the critics on the other side of the water, who, as you have already heard me say several times, contrive to leave England entirely out of the question when taking up their inspired pens to dilate upon art progress.