A General History of Music, from the Earliest Times to the Present 2 Volume Set
Comprising the Lives of Eminent Composers and Musical Writers

Intended for the general reader, this two-volume work, first published in 1819, is a concise, popular interpretation of musical history.

Thomas Busby (Author)

9781108061766, Cambridge University Press

Multiple-component retail product, published 27 June 2013

1102 pages
21.8 x 13.9 x 6.7 cm, 1.39 kg

The writer, composer and organist Thomas Busby (1754–1838) is best remembered for his highly entertaining Concert Room and Orchestra Anecdotes (1825), which paints a vivid picture of musical life at the time. The son of a coach painter, Busby was originally articled to the composer Jonathan Battishill, but found the experience unrewarding. His compositions (many now lost) include songs, theatre music and oratorios. His literary output included journal articles and monographs, among them A Grammar of Music (also reissued in this series) and A General History of Music. First published in 1819, this two-volume work proved controversial as it was alleged that Busby had plagiarised the great histories of Burney and Hawkins (also available in the Cambridge Library Collection). However, acknowledging his indebtedness to them, Busby provided a popular interpretation of their work for the general reader.

Volume 1: Preface
1. Origin, and early progress of music
2. The ancient melopoeia
3. Disputed counterpoint of the ancients
4. Reputed effects of the ancient music
5. Egyptian and Hebrew music
6. Ancient music, as connected with the Grecian mythology
7. Musicians and poets, subsequent to Hesiod and Homer
8. The Grecian games
9. The ancient musical theorists, and their works
10. Practical view of the ancient music, vocal, and instrumental
11. Music of the ancient Romans
12. Music of the early Christians to the time of Guido
13. State of music from the time of Guido to the formation of the time table
14. Invention of the time table
15. Minstrels, troubadours, etc.
16. General state of music, from the beginning of the fourteenth century to the time of Hambois
17. State of music, from the time of Hambois to the invention of printing
18. State of music, from the invention of printing to the time of Josquin del Prato
19. Josquin del Prato
20. State of music from the early part of the sixteenth century, to the reign of Elizabeth. Volume 2: 1. State of music in England during the reign of Elizabeth
2. State of music in England, during the reign of Elizabeth (cont.)
3. Italian music theorists of the sixteenth century
4. State of the Roman, Venetian, Lombard, Neapolitan, Bologna, and Florentine schools of counterpoint, during the sixteenth century
5. German theorists of the sixteenth century
6. Eminent musicians in England, from the reign of Elizabeth to the Protectorate
7. Progress and specimens of secular music in England, from the reign of Elizabeth to the Protectorate
8. State of music in England, from the Protectorate to the time of Purcell
9. Purcell
10. General state of music, from the time of Purcell, to the middle of the last century
11. Establishment of the opera and oratorio in Italy
12. Progress of the lyric drama at Venice, Naples, Rome and in Germany and France, during the last century
13. General view of the principal Italian and German composers and performers of the last century
14. Handel
15. Haydn and Mozart
16. Establishment of the Italian opera in England, and its progress, previous to the middle of the last century
17. State of the Italian opera in England, subsequent to the middle of the last century
18. Arne and Arnold
19. Boyce and Batishill
20. General state of music, in England, from the beginning of the last century to the present time.

Subject Areas: Music [AV]