Details

Subject(s)

• Music patronage—South Carolina—Charleston—History [Browse]
• Music—South Carolina—Charleston—History and criticism [Browse]
• St. Cecilia Society (Charleston, S.C.)—History [Browse]

Series

• Carolina lowcountry and the Atlantic world. [More in this series]
• The Carolina lowcountry and the Atlantic world

Summary note

"Blending archival research with musical expertise, Nicholas Michael Butler offers a definitive history of the dynamic and vibrant concert life in Charleston, South Carolina, during the era from 1766 to 1820, when the exclusive St. Cecilia Society functioned as North America's premier musical organization. In the process he provides an unprecedented look into the early membership and inner workings of this storied "secret" society." "Following an overview of the society's half century of concert patronage, Butler focuses on specifics of the musical activity: organizational structure and management of activities, administration of finances, performance venues, performers and their relationship to the society, concert repertoire, and withdrawal from patronage. Although previous scholarship focusing on New England, New York, and Philadelphia has characterized early American concert life as a feeble imitation of European practices, Butler provides evidence that a robust and prolonged commitment to Old World models existed in Charleston."--BOOK JACKET.

Bibliographic references

Includes bibliographical references (p. [347]-360) and index.

Contents

• 1. Economic and Cultural Background, 1670-1820
• 2. British Subscription Concerts and the Meaning of St. Cecilia
• 3. The Rise and Fall of the Concerts
• 4. The Management
• 5. The Finances
• 6. The Venues
• 7. The Performers, 1766-1792
• 8. The Performers, 1793-1820
• 9. The Form and Musical Content of the Concerts
• 10. The End of an Era
• Appendix 1. Calendar of St. Cecilia Concerts, 1766-1820
• Appendix 2. Rules of the St. Cecilia Society, 1773
• Appendix 3. Rules of the St. Cecilia Society, 1831
• Appendix 4. Known Members of the St. Cecilia Society, 1766-1820.

Show 11 more Contents items

ISBN

• 9781570037054 (cloth : alk. paper)
• 1570037051 (cloth : alk. paper)

LCCN

2007015524

OCLC

123818199

Other standard number

• 99818867438

RCP

C - S

Statement on responsible collection description

Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage. Read more...