Hickford's Long Room was a public concert room in London, which ran from April 1713 until 1787; it became known as Rice's Rooms from 1788.[1][2] Harrison's date of 1779 is not correct.[3] It was paid for on a subscription basis to those who could afford to patronize the arts, such as the nobility.[4][5] The 1922 Groves noted that "most of the great performers, both vocal and instrumental, who visited England, gave their concerts there."[3] The room became a place to see successful musicians play, including Francesco Scarlatti (1719 & 1724),[6]Francesco Geminiani (c. 1732),[4]Gluck in 1746,[7]Mozart (1765),[8]Francesco Maria Veracini,[3]Pietro Castrucci[9] and Matthew Dubourg.[9] For a time in the 1740s and 50s, it was the only concert room of note in the West End of London.[10]
As well as a concert venue, Hickford's was also at times the host of dances.Hickford's Long Room at Brewer Street, 1878, showing the coved ceiling and window for the gallery above the door.
A 1922 source reports that "little is known" of the venue's founder, John Hickford.[3] He was a "dancing-master in the latter part Queen Anne's reign", and his room was one of two in the west end of London with sufficient room for concerts.[11] As artists approached him to use his room, he developed a reputation as a concert-organizing agent.[11] His establishment was known by a variety of names at different times, including Mr. Hickford's Dancing School and Mr. Hickford's Great Dancing Room.[3] Later as it became a concert venue, it was called Mr. Hickford's Great Room and Mr. Hickford's Room.[3]
Programmeedit
Advertisement from Dec. 1760 announcing start of concert season at Hickford's in London.
There were 20 concerts a season, running from December to April. A season ticket (or "subscription") cost 4 guineas, about 44 days wages for a skilled tradesman.[4][12] Non-ticket holders paid half a guinea (6-days' wages) to attend a show if space was available.[4][12] A ticket-holder could arrange to bring a friend, with a charge of 5 shillings (2-days' wages) for each of them.[4][12]
In addition to the house's seasonal shows, benefits concerts were held for musicians, with other musicians supporting them with their music. An example of this was the benefit for mandolin virtuoso Gabriele Leone, March 17, 1766. The beneficiary, Leone, performed one of his own pieces, as well as one from Emanuele Barbella.[13] He had help from composer Mattia Vento, who directed the concert.[13] Also part of the concert was violinist composer François-Hippolyte Barthélémon and his soon-to-be wife, soprano Polly Young,[14] Joseph Tacet (who was a master of the German flute),[15] the Brothers Colla (playing colascione)s, Spanish violinist Oliver (whose patron was the Earl of Abingdon)[16] and cellist Giovanni Battista Cirri.[13]
Locationedit
The Long Room was located first on James Street in Haymarket, across from the Royal Tennis Courts); it was expanded and grew to have a second entrance on Panton Street.[3] As Mr. Hickford became successful, he moved his establishment, in 1739, to Brewer Street near Golden Square, "a fashionable part of town."[6] The latter location featured a room 50 feet by 30 feet, lit by a large window on the southern side, with a high coved ceiling and decorative cornices and mouldings.[6] It had a small stage and a gallery above the door.[6] It is unclear whether Hickford had the new room built, or whether he took over an existing space.[10]
The room stood behind No. 41 Brewer Street until its demolition in 1934 as part of the expansion of the Regent Palace Hotel. The Encyclopaedia Britannica described the demolition as having a "deplorable disregard of its unique interest and historical associations".[10]
Galleryedit
1719, Feb. Advertisement announcing Vocal and instrumental music for the benefit of Mr. Dahuron. Entrances on both James Street and Panton Street.
1737. Announcement of March 1737 concert for violinist, Mr. Zuccarini.
1737, March 25. Advertisements for Hickford's Great Room on Panton Street, about two years before the move to the Brewer Street location.
1766, March 17. Benefit concert Advertisement for Gabriele Leone at Hickford's Long Room.
1772, April 2. Newscutting relating to Hickford's, announcing A grand concert for the benefit of Mr. Vento; Grand concert; Hickford's near Golden Square
1772. Concert for the benefit of Mr. Bromley; Vocal part by Miss Thomas; First violin and solo by Mr. Ximenes; Concerto on the hautboy; Several select pieces on the harp; Duet upon two harps by Messrs. Bromley and Evans.
1773. Concert for the benefit of Mess. Borghi and Savoy.
1773, May 14. Concert for the benefit of Signora Frasi.
1784, February 21. Advertisement for a Course of Reading.
1788, March 17. Early advertisement for newly-named Rice's Rooms (formerly Hickford's)
Referencesedit
^"Calendar of London Concerts 1750-1800". InConcert. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
^"Mr. Leone begs pardon of the nobility". The Public Advertiser. London. 5 March 1766. p. 1. Retrieved 8 March 2019. [article reveals something of the patrons of Hickford's Long Room; calls them "the Nobility & etc"
^ abc"Currency converter: 1270–2017". nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2019. In 1720, you could buy one of the following with £1: ...Wages: 11 days (skilled tradesman) [1 guinea = 11 days labor, 4 guineas = 44 day's labor]
^ abc"Mr. Leone's Concert". The Public Advertiser. London. 17 March 1766. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
^Olive Baldwin, Thelma Wilson: "Charles Young", Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 12 January 2009), (subscription access) 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
^"The compleat tutor for the German-flute : containing the easiest and most modern methods for learners to play, to which is added a favorite collection of song tunes, minuets, marches, duets, &c. Also the method of double tongueing and a concise scale and description of a new invented German-flute with additional keys such as play'd on by that celebrated master Mr. Joseph Tacet". archive.org. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
^Van Boer, Bertil H. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Music of the Classical Period. Scarecrow Press. p. 412. ISBN9780810871830. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
Bibliographyedit
Harrison, Bertha (1 September 1906a). "A Forgotten Concert Room". The Musical Times. Vol. 47. London. pp. 602–605. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
Harrison, Bertha (1 October 1906b). "A Forgotten Concert Room (continued)". The Musical Times. Vol. 47. London. pp. 669–672. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
Harrison, Bertha (1922). Maitland, J. A. Fuller (ed.). Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Theodore Presser Company. p. 393-396. hickford's long room.
hickford, long, room, public, concert, room, london, which, from, april, 1713, until, 1787, became, known, rice, rooms, from, 1788, harrison, date, 1779, correct, paid, subscription, basis, those, could, afford, patronize, arts, such, nobility, 1922, groves, n. Hickford s Long Room was a public concert room in London which ran from April 1713 until 1787 it became known as Rice s Rooms from 1788 1 2 Harrison s date of 1779 is not correct 3 It was paid for on a subscription basis to those who could afford to patronize the arts such as the nobility 4 5 The 1922 Groves noted that most of the great performers both vocal and instrumental who visited England gave their concerts there 3 The room became a place to see successful musicians play including Francesco Scarlatti 1719 amp 1724 6 Francesco Geminiani c 1732 4 Gluck in 1746 7 Mozart 1765 8 Francesco Maria Veracini 3 Pietro Castrucci 9 and Matthew Dubourg 9 For a time in the 1740s and 50s it was the only concert room of note in the West End of London 10 As well as a concert venue Hickford s was also at times the host of dances Hickford s Long Room at Brewer Street 1878 showing the coved ceiling and window for the gallery above the door Contents 1 John Hickford 2 Programme 3 Location 4 Gallery 5 References 6 BibliographyJohn Hickford editA 1922 source reports that little is known of the venue s founder John Hickford 3 He was a dancing master in the latter part Queen Anne s reign and his room was one of two in the west end of London with sufficient room for concerts 11 As artists approached him to use his room he developed a reputation as a concert organizing agent 11 His establishment was known by a variety of names at different times including Mr Hickford s Dancing School and Mr Hickford s Great Dancing Room 3 Later as it became a concert venue it was called Mr Hickford s Great Room and Mr Hickford s Room 3 Programme edit nbsp Advertisement from Dec 1760 announcing start of concert season at Hickford s in London There were 20 concerts a season running from December to April A season ticket or subscription cost 4 guineas about 44 days wages for a skilled tradesman 4 12 Non ticket holders paid half a guinea 6 days wages to attend a show if space was available 4 12 A ticket holder could arrange to bring a friend with a charge of 5 shillings 2 days wages for each of them 4 12 The regular band was led by Michael Christian Festing with singer Cecilia Young known publicly as Mrs Arne and cello played by Andrea Caporale who played for Handel in 1740 4 In addition to the house s seasonal shows benefits concerts were held for musicians with other musicians supporting them with their music An example of this was the benefit for mandolin virtuoso Gabriele Leone March 17 1766 The beneficiary Leone performed one of his own pieces as well as one from Emanuele Barbella 13 He had help from composer Mattia Vento who directed the concert 13 Also part of the concert was violinist composer Francois Hippolyte Barthelemon and his soon to be wife soprano Polly Young 14 Joseph Tacet who was a master of the German flute 15 the Brothers Colla playing colascione s Spanish violinist Oliver whose patron was the Earl of Abingdon 16 and cellist Giovanni Battista Cirri 13 Location editThe Long Room was located first on James Street in Haymarket across from the Royal Tennis Courts it was expanded and grew to have a second entrance on Panton Street 3 As Mr Hickford became successful he moved his establishment in 1739 to Brewer Street near Golden Square a fashionable part of town 6 The latter location featured a room 50 feet by 30 feet lit by a large window on the southern side with a high coved ceiling and decorative cornices and mouldings 6 It had a small stage and a gallery above the door 6 It is unclear whether Hickford had the new room built or whether he took over an existing space 10 The room stood behind No 41 Brewer Street until its demolition in 1934 as part of the expansion of the Regent Palace Hotel The Encyclopaedia Britannica described the demolition as having a deplorable disregard of its unique interest and historical associations 10 Gallery edit nbsp 1719 Feb Advertisement announcing Vocal and instrumental music for the benefit of Mr Dahuron Entrances on both James Street and Panton Street nbsp 1737 Announcement of March 1737 concert for violinist Mr Zuccarini nbsp 1737 March 25 Advertisements for Hickford s Great Room on Panton Street about two years before the move to the Brewer Street location nbsp 1766 March 17 Benefit concert Advertisement for Gabriele Leone at Hickford s Long Room nbsp 1772 April 2 Newscutting relating to Hickford s announcing A grand concert for the benefit of Mr Vento Grand concert Hickford s near Golden Square nbsp 1772 Concert for the benefit of Mr Bromley Vocal part by Miss Thomas First violin and solo by Mr Ximenes Concerto on the hautboy Several select pieces on the harp Duet upon two harps by Messrs Bromley and Evans nbsp 1773 Concert for the benefit of Mess Borghi and Savoy nbsp 1773 May 14 Concert for the benefit of Signora Frasi nbsp 1784 February 21 Advertisement for a Course of Reading nbsp 1788 March 17 Early advertisement for newly named Rice s Rooms formerly Hickford s References edit Calendar of London Concerts 1750 1800 InConcert Retrieved 15 May 2023 See Gallery image for 1788 March 17 a b c d e f g Harrison 1922 pp 393 a b c d e f Harrison 1906a pp 603 Mr Leone begs pardon of the nobility The Public Advertiser London 5 March 1766 p 1 Retrieved 8 March 2019 article reveals something of the patrons of Hickford s Long Room calls them the Nobility amp etc a b c d Harrison 1922 pp 395 Zeitler William The Glass Armonica Benjamin Franklin s Magical Musical Invention glassarmonica com Retrieved 8 June 2019 Harrison 1906b pp 669 a b Harrison 1922 pp 394 a b c Brewer Street and Great Pulteney Street Area www british history ac uk a b Harrison 1906a pp 602 a b c Currency converter 1270 2017 nationalarchives gov uk Retrieved 8 June 2019 In 1720 you could buy one of the following with 1 Wages 11 days skilled tradesman 1 guinea 11 days labor 4 guineas 44 day s labor a b c Mr Leone s Concert The Public Advertiser London 17 March 1766 Retrieved 8 June 2019 Olive Baldwin Thelma Wilson Charles Young Grove Music Online ed L Macy Accessed 12 January 2009 subscription access Archived 2008 05 16 at the Wayback Machine The compleat tutor for the German flute containing the easiest and most modern methods for learners to play to which is added a favorite collection of song tunes minuets marches duets amp c Also the method of double tongueing and a concise scale and description of a new invented German flute with additional keys such as play d on by that celebrated master Mr Joseph Tacet archive org Retrieved 8 June 2019 Van Boer Bertil H 2012 Historical Dictionary of Music of the Classical Period Scarecrow Press p 412 ISBN 9780810871830 Retrieved 8 June 2019 Bibliography editHarrison Bertha 1 September 1906a A Forgotten Concert Room The Musical Times Vol 47 London pp 602 605 Retrieved 7 June 2019 Harrison Bertha 1 October 1906b A Forgotten Concert Room continued The Musical Times Vol 47 London pp 669 672 Retrieved 7 June 2019 Harrison Bertha 1922 Maitland J A Fuller ed Grove s Dictionary of Music and Musicians Philadelphia Pennsylvania Theodore Presser Company p 393 396 hickford s long room 51 30 40 N 0 08 10 W 51 511 N 0 136 W 51 511 0 136 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hickford 27s Long Room amp oldid 1155089301, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
