an alien to this country,' and as tending also 'to repress those energies and to extinguish that emulation in the breast of the youthful aspirant, which alone can lead to pre-eminence.' One of the rules adopted was to exclude all foreign music from the programmes of the Society's concerts and to admit none but natives of Great Britain among its members; but this was set aside in 1841, when the Committee reported in favour of 'introducing a limited proportion of music by composers not members of the Society either British or foreign,' and the suggestion was adopted, though not without strong opposition, in which the editor of the 'Musical World' joined ('Musical World' of Oct. 14, 1841). In its earlier days the Society achieved a complete success, numbering in 1836 as many as 350 members, while its finances were also in a prosperous state. It not only gave concerts of works of established merit, but adopted a system of trial performances at which many new compositions were heard. The programmes included the names of all the leading English writers of the day, who as a rule conducted their own works, among them Cipriani Potter, G. A. Macfarren, W. H. Holmes, W. L. Phillips, Sterndale Bennett, J. Hullah, J. H. Griesbach, T. German Reed, W. M. Rooke, H. Westrop, Joseph Barnett, H. C. Litolff, C. Lucas, T. M. Mudie, James Calkin, and John Goss. The music included orchestral and chamber compositions, varied by vocal solos and part-music, to which nearly all the above-named composers contributed original works, and the members in turn directed the performances. After 1837 the Society began to decline, and even when the introduction of music by foreign composers was resolved upon, in the hope of creating more general interest in the concerts, it failed to restore the Society to prosperity, and after another period of far from successful management a special appeal for support was put forth at the close of 1854. At that date the members included Messrs. H. C. Banister, W. S. Bennett, H. Blagrove, J. B. Calkin, C. Coote, J. T. Cooper, W. H. Holmes, C. E. Horsley, H. Lazarus, E. J. Loder, Kate Loder (now Lady Thompson), C. Neate, W. S. Rockstro, C. Severn, C. Steggall, C. E. Stephens, J. W. Thirlwall, H. J. Trust, J. Weslake, H. Westrop, J. Zerbini, and Sir George Smart. This effort was ridiculed in the 'Musical World' of Dec. 16, 1854, on the ground that the Society had no true claim to its title, as many composers and artists of note held aloof from it. The movement served however to draw some new friends to the ranks, and as a means of fulfilling its objects prizes were offered for chamber compositions, which were gained in 1861 by Ebenezer Prout and Edward Perry for string quintets; in 1863 by J. Lea Summers and W. Gibbons, also for string quintets; and in 1864 by Ebenezer Prout and J. Lea Summers, for quartets for piano and strings. The umpires on these occasions included Herr Joachim and Molique, Signor Piatti, and Messrs. Cipriani Potter, G. A. Macfarren, A. Mellon, T. M. Mudie and H. Leslie, and the prize works were publicly performed by Miss Zimmermann, Herr Joachim, Messrs. A. Mellon, H. Webb, J. T. Carrodus, W. Watson, J. T. Willy, W. T. Aylward, and Signor Piatti. In 1865 the Society was dissolved, its library was sold by Messrs. Puttick & Simpson, and Mr. C. E. Stephens was appointed custodian of the minute-books, etc. The secretaries of the Society were Messrs. J. R. Tutton (its founder) 1834–5; G. J. Baker, 1835 until his death in 1851; J. Rackham, 1851–54; W. W. Grice 1854–55. The Honorary Treasurers were the three brothers, Jacob Erat 1834 until his death in 1837; James Erat 1837 until his death in 1858; and William Erat (pro tem.) 1858; and Cipriani Potter, 1858–65. The Society and its library were housed gratuitously at 23 Berners Street, by Messrs. Erat, from 1834 until 1858, when they gave up the premises; 1858–59 in Wornum's Music Hall, Store Street; 1860 in St. Martin's Hall until its destruction by fire on Aug. 26, 1860 (when the Society's property was saved); 1860–62 at 44 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, by permission of Mr. H. Webb; and 1862–65 at Messrs. Collard's, Grosvenor Street, free of all expense. For the first five years the concerts were given at the Hanover Square Rooms, and the trials of orchestral and chamber works were subsequently held at those rooms or at the above-named buildings. The Society on July 20, 1843, gave a complimentary concert to Spohr at Erat's, and on June 15, 1844, at the same place, a complimentary concert to Mendelssohn.
SOCIETY OF BRITISH AND FOREIGN MUSICIANS. A benevolent society, established in 1822 to provide a fund for the relief of its members during sickness; to assist in the support of those who, by old age or unavoidable calamity may become unable to follow their profession; and to allow a certain sum at the death of a member or a member's wife. The office is at 18 Rathbone Place, Oxford Street, and the Secretary is Mr. A. C. Adams.
SOCIETY, THE MUSICAL ARTISTS', founded in 1874 'to encourage living musicians by giving performances of their compositions,' consists of a President (the Duke of Beaufort), Vice-Presidents (Sir Julius Benedict, Professor Macfarren, etc.), a Council of 9 members, and about 70 members (Professors) and associates (Non-Professors). The first public performance took place on July 22, 1874, at the Conduit-street Rooms, and was followed by three concerts every year, until 1881, when four were given. The objects of the Society will best be seen by the list of some of the principal chamber compositions it has brought forward. Its Hon. Sec. (1882) is Dr. Jacob Bradford.
Quintet (Strings), J. Lea Summers.
Quintets (PF. and Strings), E. Fiori, Alg. Ashton.
Quartets (Strings), H. C. Banister, H. Baumer, Dr. Bradford, A. Carnall, G. Gear, W. H. Holmes, Lehmeyer, Mori, O. Prescott, C. J. Read, C. E. Stephens, J. Lea Summers.
Quartets (PF. and Strings), Alg. Ashton, C. Prescott, H. Westrop.
