A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Musicians' Company of the City of London, The

MUSICIANS' COMPANY OF THE CITY OF LONDON, THE, was established by letters patent under the great seal of England on April 24 in the ninth year of the reign of Edward IV (1472–3). The charter is printed in Rymer's Fœdera (xi. 642). The company was instituted as a perpetual Guild, or Fraternity and Sisterhood of Minstrels,—a minstrel being a musician qualified to sing or play in public. It had to control all 'pretenders to minstrelsy,' and to fine and silence the unqualified until they had studied so as to fit themselves to take part in public performances. Until then their music was to be kept at home. The first court of the company was formed of experienced musicians then in the service of the king, and previously in that of his predecessor Henry VI. Walter Haliday was Master, or Marshal of the Guild, and John Cliff, Robert Marshall, Thomas Grene, Thomas Calthorn, William Christian, and William Eynesham, formed the court. The appointment to the office of marshal was for life, whereas the two wardens (Custodes ad fraternitatem) were elected annually from the Court of Assistants. The guild was attached to the Chapel of the Virgin under St. Paul's Cathedral, and to the free Chapel Royal of St. Anthony, both in the City of London. The power of the guild extended over all parts of the kingdom except the County Palatine of Chester, and all minstrels were to join it, and to pay three shillings and fourpence upon being admitted as members of the guild. A further source of income was derived from fees and from fines. Out of the latter the guild was to keep wax tapers burning in each of the two chapels above-named, and to pray for the health and for the souls of the King, the Queen, the late Duke of York, the king's father, and for other progenitors of the royal family. At this time good minstrels were highly paid, and Edward IV was not only very liberal to his own musicians, but also anxious to sustain the musical reputation of the country. In 1466 the Bohemian baron, Leo von Rozmital, brother-in-law of the reigning king of Bohemia, visited England, among other countries, during a pilgrimage undertaken 'for the sake of piety and religion.' Edward IV received him with honour, and entertained him at a banquet and state ball, after which a state concert commenced. The baron's secretary, Schassek, wrote an account of his visit; and of this entertainment he says—'We heard in no country more agreeable and sweeter musicians than there; their chorus consists of about sixty voices'; while another of the suite, Gabriel Tetzel, a German, says 'After the ball came the king's singers and sang. I believe there are no better singers in the world.' Edward showed due consideration for the ears of his subjects, and this policy was followed by all the sovereigns of the Tudor line. Hence the universally favourable reports of foreigners upon public musical performances in England during this and the following century. Among the Remembrancia of the City of London recently brought to light, No. 16 is a letter from the Lord Keeper, Sir John Puckering, to the Lord Mayor, requesting him to see that William Warren, lately chosen Master of the Musicians' Company, but prevented from the peaceful exercise of his office by some of the members of the company, be not further interfered with. As this letter is dated Sept. 29, 1594, it may be assumed that the company acted under the old charter during Elizabeth's reign, and until the granting of a new one by James I on July 8, 1604. In this the powers of the company were restricted to the City of London and within three miles of its boundaries, but it gave their freemen virtually a monopoly in out-door performances, and at weddings, dances, playing under windows, etc., because all performers under one of the company's bye-laws required its licence. This obnoxious regulation induced Charles I to restrict the powers of the company to within the City of London itself. The charter of James dispenses with the sisterhood and makes the election of the master an annual one, instead of, as before, for life. It gives the power to sue as a body corporate, a common seal, and the right to hold land and houses. But its powers to examine musicians and to control them have become a dead letter, and its income is derived from the subscriptions of its members and of those of former days. The cost of taking up the livery is £15 17s. 6d. and the freedom confers a vote for the election of members of parliament, for bridge-master, and other offices. The livery dinner, with music, is annual, and the court dine after three of the quarterly meetings for the transaction of business. Of late years some eminent musicians, amateurs of music, and others interested in the progress of the art and science, have joined the company as a social centre and to increase its funds, with the ultimate object of advancing music educationally or otherwise. Among them are John Hullah LL.D, Dr. W. H. Stone, Dr. Stainer, Dr. Bridge, Sir Henry Cole, K.C.B., Mr. Deputy Sheriff Crawford, Mr. Wilbye Cooper, Mr. Frank Chappell, Mr. Henry Phillips, Mr. Molineux, Mr. Crews, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Porter, and other members of the Madrigal Society. Mr. George Wood, Mr. W. Stewartson Collard, and Mr. W. Chappell are members of the court. The Musicians' is the only city company for the exercise of a profession.

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