The Madrigal Society is a British association of amateur musicians. As with other madrigal societies in England and elsewhere, its whole purpose is to sing madrigals. It may be the oldest club of its kind in existence in England.[1]: 96  It was founded by the copyist John Immyns. Sir John Hawkins was an early member of the club and, in his General History of the Science and Practice of Music of 1776, gives the date of its foundation as 1741;[1]: 99 [2] the earliest documentary evidence dates from 1744.[3]: 192 

The Madrigal Society
Formationcirca 1741
Typeassociation of amateur musicians
Purposesinging of madrigals
Location
  • London, England

In April 1940, due to The Blitz on London, the Society suspended its regular meetings, but resumed them in 1946, after the end of the Second World War.[4]: 33 

References edit

  1. ^ a b Reginald Nettel (January 1948). The Oldest Surviving English Musical Club: Some Historical Notes on the Madrigal Society of London. The Musical Quarterly 34 (1): 97–108. (subscription required).
  2. ^ Hawkins, John (1875) [1776]. A General History of the Science and Practice of Music: A New Edition with the Author's Posthumous Notes (3 Volumes). London: Novello, Ewer & Co. OCLC 1243094. Retrieved 4 October 2022 – via HathiTrust. (Original work published in 5 volumes by T. Payne, London).
  3. ^ Charles Mackeson (1900). Madrigal Society. In: George Grove (editor) (1900). A Dictionary of Music and Musicians, volume II. London: Macmillan.
  4. ^ Craufurd, J. G. (1956). "The Madrigal Society". Proceedings of the Royal Musical Association (82nd session). 82. Taylor & Francis: 33–46. doi:10.1093/jrma/82.1.33. ISSN 0080-4452. JSTOR 765866 – via JSTOR.

Further reading edit