3 - On the Vocal Music of England

Summary

London Institution, 29 April 1858

The ground over which I propose to travel this evening has been oft trodden before. No wonder: lecturers on music have quickly discovered the strong point connected with the art and English composers, and it seems that the position will be rather strengthened than weakened by continuous and wider enquiries into the subject, aided by new matter and material for which we have to be grateful to zealous lovers of English vocal music, and enterprising editors.

Had not this my 3rd lecture been intimately bound up with the series, such series having especial regard to English music and English musicians, I could [still] not have resisted the temptation of devoting one of my evenings to the praises of those of my countrymen who have for ever rescued England from obscurity in the history of the art – who, indeed, have secured for her a most honourable place among the writers of vocal music in past and present times.

Before I proceed further, it will be necessary for me to explain what I mean to include under the title of ‘Vocal Music of England’.

Let me say at once that I have not the slightest intention of taking the subject of the so-called ‘national music’ in hand, or of embroiling myself in the discussions upon the origin and authorship of any certain tune or melody adopted by the English: for instance, as to who shall be awarded the laurel for ‘God Save the Queen’, whether Dr. John Bull or another. There is a periodical run in the newspapers upon this very subject, and as I have not heard anything about it lately, I suppose it to be nearly due again, when every provincial paper in the kingdom will let us know that some additional facts have been brought to light as to who is the composer of the royal tune, but which facts will most assuredly tend to increase the mystery.

There is also a large class of vocal music but little connected with music as an art, which however has given boundless gratification in past times, and no doubt much of it continues to delight in the present day.