Dr. Charles Burney and the Organ

Dr. Burney's writings on the organ provide an insightful introduction to the aesthetic ethos of eighteenth-century English music, emphasizing moderation, simplicity, and fancy as the constituents of good taste and good manners. This ethos reflects the broader moral philosophy of Georgian England and is ripe with patriotic undertones.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 11 March 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

While Dr. Burney's writings are frequently cited in studies on eighteenth-century music, there has been relatively little attention paid to his relationship with the organ, which played a significant role in his professional career as a practicing musician. Burney's remarks, scattered throughout his various writings, provide an excellent introduction to the aesthetic ethos of the eighteenth-century English organ. Taken together, these remarks form a coherent discourse on taste and constitute an aesthetic. Burney's view of the organ is indicative of a broader ethos of moderation that permeates his entire work and aligns with the dominant moral philosophy of Georgian England. This conception is rich with patriotic undertones and also articulates a constant plea for politeness as a prerequisite for harmonious social interaction. He believed that moderation, simplicity, and fancy were the constituents of good taste and good manners.

While Dr. Burney's writings are frequently cited in studies on eighteenth-century music, there has been relatively little attention paid to his relationship with the organ, which played a significant role in his professional career as a practicing musician. Burney's remarks, scattered throughout his various writings, provide an excellent introduction to the aesthetic ethos of the eighteenth-century English organ. Taken together, these remarks form a coherent discourse on taste and constitute an aesthetic. Burney's view of the organ is indicative of a broader ethos of moderation that permeates his entire work and aligns with the dominant moral philosophy of Georgian England. This conception is rich with patriotic undertones and also articulates a constant plea for politeness as a prerequisite for harmonious social interaction. He believed that moderation, simplicity, and fancy were the constituents of good taste and good manners.

Weight: 136g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108972864