A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Revue et Gazette Musicale
REVUE ET GAZETTE MUSICALE, the oldest and most complete of French musical periodicals. This branch of literature has taken root in France with great difficulty. So far back as Jan. 1770, M. de Breuilly and other amateurs founded the 'Journal de Musique' (monthly, 8vo), which after a troubled existence of three years was dropped till 1777, and then resumed for one year more. In 1810 Fayolle started 'Les Tablettes de Polymnie' (8vo), but it did not survive beyond 1811. Undeterred by these failures, Fétis brought out the first number of the 'Revue musicale' in January 1827. It appeared four times a month, each number containing 24 pages 8vo., till Feb. 5, 1831, when it was published weekly, in small 4to, double columns. 'La Gazette musicale de Paris,' started Jan. 5, 1834, was similar in size to Fétis's Revue,' and also weekly, but issued on Sunday instead of Saturday. The two were united on Nov. 1, 1835, since which date the 'Revue et Gazette musicale,' has twice enlarged its form, in 1841 and in 1845, at which date it became what it was till its last number, Dec. 31, 1880.
The property of the publishers Schlesinger and Brandus, this periodical has always been noted for the reputation and ability of its editors. Amongst its regular contributors have been: Anders, C. Bannelier, C. Beauquier, Berlioz, P. Bernard, H. Blanchard, A. Botte, M. Bourges, Chouquet, Comettant, Cristal, Danjou, Ernest David, F. J. Fétis, O. Fouque, Heller, Héquet, A. Jullien, Kastner, Lacome, A. de La Fage, Liavoix fils, Liszt, de Monter, d'Ortigues, Pougin, Monnais ('Paul Smith'), Richard Wagner, and Johannes Weber. A careful reader of the 47 volumes will easily recognise the sentiments of the various editors through whose hands it passed; among those deserving special mention are Fétis, Edouard Monnais, and M. Charles Bannelier, who conducted it from 1872 with equal learning and taste. The indexes given with each volume are a great boon, and constitute one of its advantages over other French periodicals of the same kind.
The cessation of this excellent periodical is an event which all lovers and students of music will deeply regret. We trust that the hope of a possible revival, held out by the publishers in their farewell address, may be speedily fulfilled.