Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1832-1878 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
9 volumes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
The Sacred Harmonic Society was founded in London as an amateur choral society in 1832 for the weekly practice of music of an exclusively sacred character. The first home of the Society was the Gate Chapel in Lincoln's Inn Fields. In 1836 it was granted the use of the larger Exeter Hall, focus of London's dissenting community and designed for religious and charitable meetings. The works of Handel were part of its core repertoire and the society also performed the major new works of Spohr and Mendelssohn, including the London première of Elijah in 1847. At the Handel Festival of 1859 the Sacred Harmonic choir numbered 2765. The Sacred Harmonic Society provided the nucleus for the nationally represented choir of the Trial Festival of 1857 (numbering 2000, with an orchestra of about 400), prior to the Centenary Festival of 1859, which inaugurated the triennial Handel Festival. In 1882, the Society disbanded after losing the use of its Exeter Hall base.
Repository
Archival history
Formed part of the Sowerbutts Collection at the Royal College of Organists.
GB 1249 Sacred Harmonic Society 1832-1878 Collection (fonds) 9 volumes Sacred Harmonic Society
The Sacred Harmonic Society was founded in London as an amateur choral society in 1832 for the weekly practice of music of an exclusively sacred character. The first home of the Society was the Gate Chapel in Lincoln's Inn Fields. In 1836 it was granted the use of the larger Exeter Hall, focus of London's dissenting community and designed for religious and charitable meetings. The works of Handel were part of its core repertoire and the society also performed the major new works of Spohr and Mendelssohn, including the London première of Elijah in 1847. At the Handel Festival of 1859 the Sacred Harmonic choir numbered 2765. The Sacred Harmonic Society provided the nucleus for the nationally represented choir of the Trial Festival of 1857 (numbering 2000, with an orchestra of about 400), prior to the Centenary Festival of 1859, which inaugurated the triennial Handel Festival. In 1882, the Society disbanded after losing the use of its Exeter Hall base.
Formed part of the Sowerbutts Collection at the Royal College of Organists.
Not known
Annual reports of the Sacred Harmonic Society, 1832-1878.
Arranged in volumes as follows: 1832-1836; 1837-1842; 1843-1848; 1849-1852; 1853-1859; 1860-1866; 1867-1871; 1872-1878.
Usual conditions of the Library of the Royal College of Music apply. See the RCM website or contact the RCM Library for details.
Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Archivist for research purposes only.
English.
There are two volumes of reports for 1832-1836, both in manuscript. The remaining volumes contain printed reports.
Not known
RCM library holds Sacred Harmonic Society: letter from W H Husk, Society Librarian, to August Manns, regarding loan of books, 19 Jan 1865 (ref: Mss 7019).
Compiled by Robert Baxter as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Source: Grove Dictionary of Music. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. May 2001 Music Musical styles Religious music Sacred Harmonic Society Vocal music Performing arts
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Not known
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Annual reports of the Sacred Harmonic Society, 1832-1878.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged in volumes as follows: 1832-1836; 1837-1842; 1843-1848; 1849-1852; 1853-1859; 1860-1866; 1867-1871; 1872-1878.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Usual conditions of the Library of the Royal College of Music apply. See the RCM website or contact the RCM Library for details.
Conditions governing reproduction
Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Archivist for research purposes only.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
RCM library holds Sacred Harmonic Society: letter from W H Husk, Society Librarian, to August Manns, regarding loan of books, 19 Jan 1865 (ref: Mss 7019).
Finding aids
Not known
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English