From The Improved Bath Guide 1825
The Royal Harmonic Society
Is one of the most respectable Institutions of its kind in England : it enjoys the distinguished privilege of wearing garter blue ribbons, embroidered with a lyre, surmounted by the regal crown, which dignity was conferred upon the members by their royal patron, His present Majesty.
Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of York, Clarence, Sussex, and Gloucester, the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool, with upwards of two thousand noblemen and gentlemen, are members. Mr. R. Good is the Secretary.
| Piano Forte | Mr. Windsor. |
| Sopranos | Mrs. Pillenger and Miss Owen. |
| Altor | Mr. Garbett. |
| Tenor | Messrs. A. Loder and Manners. |
| Basses | Messrs. Rolle and Winter. |
This Society was founded by the Rev. J. Bowen, in the year 1795, and continued under his direction until the commencement of the year 1823, when the meetings were deferred for a season with a view of reopening it so soon as the loss of its books, consisting of sixty volumes of glees, which were destroyed by the conflagration at the Lower Rooms, can be supplied by the founder, who is now making a splendid collection for that purpose. As this Society reflects so much honour upon this seat of elegance, we subjoin the leading features of it and the necessary regulations.
The meetings are held from the beginning of December to the end of March, every alternate Friday, as gentlemen and ladies’ nights.
On gentlemen’s nights the glees continue to be sung from half-past seven to half-past nine, when a cold supper is prepared at six shillings each ; after supper such songs, duets, catches, glees, &c. are sung, as may he called for by the president, who quits the chair at twelve, and the meeting breaks up with “ God save the King.” No song or sentiment is allowed to be sung or spoken in the society, that can offend the most delicate ear. Visitors may be admitted on the introduction of members, by taking out tickets at five shillings each.
Ladies are admissible as subscribers, on the nomination of members, by paying one guinea for the season. Such ladies are admitted without any other expense than sixpence at the door for tea ; and may introduce any number of ladies as visitors, taking out tickets at four shillings each.
Noblemen, gentlemen, and professional men only are admissible as members. Any person desirous of becoming one, must be regularly proposed and ballotted for. On admission, three guineas is to be paid for the first season, after which two guineas only for such members as are in Bath ; but if a member is absent from Bath, he is not subject to any demand on his return for re-admittance.
The Concerts
Concerts at Bath never arrived to regularity and perfection until Rauzzini, attended by the famous violin performer, La Motte, came to this city, and by their abilities and great attention, rendered these amusements popular. Rauzzini made Bath the place of his constant residence, and the establishment of its concerts the business of his future life.
At his decease. Mr. Ashe, the celebrated flute player, undertook the management, which he relinquished in 1821, and in announcing his last benefit related that himself and Mrs. Ashe had refused permanent engagements in London in the hope of succeeding in this enterprise, which, after a trial of twelve years, he was obliged to abandon.
Notwithstanding these unpromising appearances, the Concerts were revived in the following year with great spirit by Sir G. Smart and Mr. J. Loder, who placed a splendid and very fine-toned organ, built by Flight and Robson, in the concert room, and erected a handsome orchestra ; and under their able management the concerts have attained a degree of celebrity and success unparalleled in this city.
There is scarcely a name of eminence either vocal or instrumental which has not been included in their lists of performers ; while, with a liberality which does them much credit, Sir George Smart and Mr. Loder yield both the leading and the conduct, in turn, to other eminent professors.
The plan of the concerts, if not novel, embraces a principle which ought to be better understood and more generally practised. This principle is to make good music cheap, and by such means accessible to the many. Thus the directors of the Bath concerts, apparently keeping this public end in view, have arranged a scale of prices, decreasing in proportion to the number of tickets subscribed for : the series for each season consist of nine concerts, and the subscriptions are as follows :
| A subscriber of £5. 10s. is entitled to three tickets for each concert, two of which are transferable to ladies only. | A subscriber of £4. 4s. is entitled to two tickets for each concert, one of which is transferable to a lady only. |
| A subscriber of £2. 10s. is entitled to one ticket for each concert, transferable to a lady only. |
And, for the accommodation of temporary visitors, subscriptions are received for a part of the concerts on the following terms, viz.
| A subscriber of £3 is entitled to three tickets to each of the four concerts following such subscription, two of which are tranferabie to ladies only. |
| A subscriber of £2. 5s. is entitled to two tickets to each of the four concerts following such subscription, one of which is transferable to a lady only. |
| A subscriber of £l. 4s. is entitled to an admission ticket to each of the four concerts following such subscription, transferable to a lady only. |
| Non-Subscribers’ Tickets, Eight Shillings each. |
The performances commence each evening at a quarter before eight o’clock.