Royal Society of Musicians

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The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain is a charity in the United Kingdom that supports musicians. It is the oldest music-related charity in Great Britain, founded in 1738 as the Fund for Decay'd Musicians by a declaration of trust signed by 228 musicians, including Edward Purcell (eldest son of Henry Purcell), Thomas Arne, William Boyce, Richard Carter,[1] Johann Christoph Pepusch, Hilda Wilson,[2] Dr. John Worgan,[3] and George Frideric Handel. It still operates a bank account at Drummonds Bank (now part of Royal Bank of Scotland) which was opened by its first secretary, Michael Christian Festing, in November 1738.

The fund received patronage from

Liszt, and Clara Schumann all became members. A Society of Female Musicians
was formed in 1840, but merged with the royal society in 1866.

In the days before the welfare state, membership of the royal society guaranteed a degree of financial security to professional musicians. A second royal charter was granted in 1987, confirming its aims to support to all professional musicians (not just members) and their dependents who are in need through illness, disease or old age.

References

  1. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.05031
    .
  2. ^ International Who's who in Music and Musical Gazetteer. Current Literature Publishing Company. 1918.
  3. JSTOR 3360150
    . The names of Arne, Beard, Boyce, Henry Carey, Corfe, Bernard Gates, Dr. Greene, Galliard, Handel, Hayes, Jackson of Exeter, Leveridge, Pepusch, Stanley (the blind organist), Smith (Handel's amanuensis), Dr. Worgan, Weidemann, Vincent, and others, appear among the founders.

External links

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