Description
Book SynopsisThis book takes advantage of new and often surprising biographical research on the Loder family as a whole and its four main figures, using them to illustrate aspects of music history in the 19th century. Musicians of Bath and Beyond: Edward Loder (1809-1865) and his Family illuminates three areas that have recently attracted much interest: the musical profession, music in the British provinces and colonies, and English Romantic opera. The Loder family was pre-eminent in Bath's musical world in the early nineteenth century. John David Loder (1788-1846) led the theatre orchestra there from 1807, and later the Philharmonic orchestra and Ancient Concerts in London; he also wrote the leading instruction manual on violin playing and taught violin at the Royal Academy of Music. His son Edward James (1809-65) was a brilliant but underrated composer of opera, songs, and piano music. George Loder (1816-68) was a well-known flautist and conductor who made a name in New York and eventually settled in Adelaide, where he conducted the Australian premieres of Les Huguenots, Faust, and other important operas. Kate Fanny Loder (1825-1904) became a successful pianist and teacher in early Victorian London, and she is only now getting her due as a composer. This book takes advantage of new and often surprising biographical research on the Loder family as a whole and its four main figures. It uses them to illustrate several aspects of music history: the position of professional musicians in Victorian society; music in the provinces, especiallyBath and Manchester; the Victorian opera libretto; orchestra direction; violin teaching; travelling musicians in the US and Australasia; opera singers and companies; and media responses to English opera. The concluding section isan intense analysis and reassessment of Edward Loder's music, with special emphasis on his greatest work, the opera Raymond and Agnes. NICHOLAS TEMPERLEY is Professor Emeritus of Musicology at the University ofIllinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a leading authority on Victorian music. CONTRIBUTORS: Stephen Banfield, David Chandler, Andrew Clarke, Liz Cooper, Therese Ellsworth, David J. Golby, Andrew Lamb, Valerie Langfield, Alison Mero, Paul Rodmell, Matthew Spring, Julja Szuster, Nicholas Temperley
Trade ReviewThe importance of this book is in drawing together and developing the stories of [the Loder family]...using their achievements as an analogue to explore Britain's musical culture during the 'long nineteenth century', especially that generated by British-born musicians and of 'English opera' in particular. * BRIO *
Explore[s] nineteenth-century musical life in Britain and the challenges faced by musicians living and working at this time...expands the ongoing movement exploring Victorian audiences, experiences, and music...a welcome resource. * CONTEXT: JOURNAL OF MUSIC RESEARCH *
[N]ot only informs us of the musical talents and efforts of the Loder family, but also of Temperley's life-long interest . . . and longstanding believe that Edward 'deserves a permanent place in British Musical life' . . . . Overall, the authors are successful in justifying this this point, and their assessment of his musical output is a sound balance of impartiality and commendation. . . . It seems at long last that Edward Loder and his family are finally starting to achieve the recognition they have long deserved. * NABMSA REVIEWS *
This book is a major contribution to the history of British music. It is notoriously difficult to bring neglected composers to life but this study, produced to the highest standard, contains everything anyone would want to know about the Loder dynasty and deserves to succeed in raising its profile. -- Peter Dickinson * MUSICAL OPINIION *
Musicians of Bath and Beyond is a well-conceived and executed edited collection of clearly focused chapters, arranged in a logical frame, extremely well written, and beautifully produced by The Boydell Press. The book contains sixty illustrations and musical examples, and the index is exemplary. -- MUSICOLOGY AUSTRALIA
Table of ContentsIntroduction - Nicholas Temperley Earning a Musical Living: The Loders' Career Choices - The Musical Life of Bath, 1800-1850 - Matthew Spring The Theatre Royal, Manchester, in Edward Loder's Time - Liz Cooper The Climate for Opera in London, 1834-1865 - Alison Mero Loder & Sons, Bath: A Band of Musicians - Andrew Clarke A Master Violinist and Teacher: John David Loder - David J. Golby Edward James Loder (1809-1865): A Life in Music - Andrew Lamb George Loder's Contribution to Musical Life in Colonial Australia - Julja Szuster 'A Magnificent Musician': The Career of Kate Fanny Loder (1825-1904) - Therese Ellsworth 'Three Fifths of him Genius and Two Fifths Sheer Fudge': Heights and Depths in Edward Loder's Work' - Nicholas Temperley 'Ah, trait'ress, me betraying': Edward Loder and his Librettos - David Chandler Edward Loder's Serious Operas - Paul Rodmell Raymond and Agnes: Orchestration and Dramatic Characterisation - Valerie Langfield Epilogue: The 1966 Revival of Raymond and Agnes - Nicholas Temperley Select Bibliography
