Half a Century of Music in England 1837 1887

This collection of essays by the music critic Francis Hueffer (18431889) is a lively contemporary account of musical life in Victorian England. First published in 1889 it records the influence of leading foreign composers on English music. Ranging from the music of Handel Gluck and Haydn to Weber Rossiniand Mendelssohn composers who have had a lasting influence on the British musical world Hueffer who did not live to see the publication of his book offers a panoramic view of the rapid development of musical culture in England during the nineteenth century. Starting with a historical introduction to the roles played by the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music and moving on to the specific contributions of ''new'' composers including Berlioz Wagner and Liszt this book is a valuable guide to the history and criticism of music in Victorian England as it was understood at the time.