Charles Avison in Context

Despite recent interest in music-making in the so-called 'provinces', the idea still lingers that music-making outside London was small in scale, second-rate and behind the times. However, in Newcastle upon Tyne, the presence of a nationally known musician, Charles Avison (1709-1770), prompts a reassessment of how far this idea is still tenable. Avison's life and work illuminates many wider trends. His relationships with his patrons, the commercial imperatives which shaped his activities, the historical and social milieu in which he lived and worked, were influenced by and reflected many contemporary movements: Latitudinarianism, Methodism, the improvement of church music, the aesthetics of the day including new ideas circulating in Europe, discussions of issues such as gentility, and the new commercialism of leisure. He can be considered as the notional centre of a web of connections, both musical and non-musical, extending through every part of Britain and into both Europe and America. This book looks at these connections, exploring the ways in which the musical culture in the north-east region interacted with, and influenced, musical culture elsewhere, and the non-musical influences with which it was involved, including contemporary religious, philosophical and commercial developments, establishing that regional centres such as Newcastle could be as well-informed, influential and vibrant as London.

Roz Southey, a lecturer at Newcastle University's International Centre for Music Studies, researches the historical and social contexts of eighteenth century music, particularly in 18th century north-east England; her publications include Music-Making in North-East England during the Eighteenth Century (Ashgate, 2006), and co-authorship of The Ingenious Mr Avison: Making Money and Music in Eighteenth-Century Newcastle (Tyne Bridge Publishing, 2009). She is also a crime novelist and contributor to local history journals. Eric Cross has lectured for many years at Newcastle University, where he is now Dean of Cultural Affairs. He has published on late baroque Italian opera and has prepared performing editions for concerts, recordings and stage performances of Vivaldi operas throughout the world. He has conducted UK premieres of two Vivaldi operas as part of the Newcastle Early Music Festival, of which he is co-founder, and is musical director of the Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir.

1. Pierre Dubois, "'Music ... is like a conversation among friends, where the few are of one mind": Charles Avison's Moral Philosophy.' 2. Margaret Maddison, 'Charles Avison, Gentleman, And The Vicar Of Bedlington's Will'. 3. Matthew Gardiner, 'Charles Avison, John Brown and English Oratorio'. 4. Susan Wollenberg, 'Avison and Oxford, 1750-1810' 5. Terry Hurst, 'Charles Avison and the Methodists - Evangelism and Civilisation'. 6. Steve Marini, 'Charles Avison and the Psalmody Reform Movement in Britain'. 7. Roz Southey, 'Managing a Musical Career in the Eighteenth Century: The interweaving of patronage and commercialisation in the careers of Charles Avison and Edward Meredith'.