1848—1857

“What fine change is in the music.” Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act iv., Sc. 2. THE course of the progress of a house of business can be best traced by reference to the surrounding circumstances which contributed directly or indirectly to its advancement. From the date of the first publications of Vincent Novello, one spirit animated all concerned, one object was kept firmly in view. This was to try and discover what was needed for the advancement of musical art, and to make the best endeavours to supply it in a manner conformable to the need. The cultivation of the habit of looking out for what was to come enabled the watcher to direct men's minds into the proper channel, so far as he possessed the power. Long before any serious effort was made to nationalise the practice and study of music, by the classes instituted by John Hullah, with the countenance, if not with the more substantial support of the Privy Council, attempts had been made to establish classes for teaching the elements of music. Hickson's classes are spoken of as early as the year 1839, the year Joseph Mainzer came to England. At the same time that John Hullah was working with the Wilhem system, Mainzer, who had successfully instituted classes for music and singing among the workmen in Paris, started his “Singing for the Million” in London, and enjoyed a considerable share of success.