Music and the Benefit Performance in Eighteenth-Century Britain

In the early eighteenth century, benefit performances became an essential component of commercial music-making in Britain, providing a new model for financial and professional rewards. These special performances became a prototype for similar events in other European and American cities, leading to the lasting success of Handel's Messiah.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In the early eighteenth century, the benefit performance emerged as a crucial aspect of commercial music-making in Britain. These performances, derived from spoken theatre, offered a novel model that allowed instrumentalists, singers, and composers to attain financial and professional success. Benefits could be presented in various forms, such as theatre pieces, concerts, or opera performances, either for the benefit of individual performers or to support specific organizations. The impact of these benefits was profound, transforming Britain's musico-theatrical landscape and serving as a blueprint for similar events in other European and American cities. Indeed, the charity benefit became a musical phenomenon in its own right, contributing to the enduring popularity of Handel's Messiah.

By exploring benefits from a musical perspective, encompassing performers, audiences, and institutions, the twelve chapters in this collection present the first comprehensive study of the diverse ways in which music became intertwined with the benefit system in eighteenth-century Britain. Through a meticulous examination of these performances, their social significance, and their impact on the broader cultural landscape, this collection sheds light on the intricate relationship between music, charity, and society during this pivotal period.

ISBN-13: 9781108730150