The journey of musical concerts from homes to public spaces
Are you a budding musician? Imagine this: You are in the midst of hundreds of fans, with music blasting from the speakers and spotlights illuminating the stage! This sounds like heaven for aspiring musicians. Well, a concert held in an auditorium or an open public space, is one of the best places to cater to an eager audience. But did you know that the first known public concert took place within the confines of a home in 1672? Yes, John Banister, an English violinist, was the first to host a concert series at his home where he would play audience preference and even charge money. So, what happened? How did a live performance that began at home evolve into what we know today? Let’s find out!
Early concerts of the 17th century
The 17th century witnessed the popularity of operas. Massive music halls were built, creating a demand for orchestral ensembles. At the beginning of the century, concerts were only performed in the homes of the nobility and by the nobility. Operas gave people a reason to venture out and seek entertainment other than what composers provided. And it was the popularity of operas that inspired the first public concert. When the opera house was closed for a religious holiday, a French composer Anne Danican Philidor organised a series of concerts called Spirituels in France. These were the first public concerts held in France between 1725 to 1791. The idea of public concerts quickly caught on and spread like wildfire in other countries as well.
Concerts in the 19th century
With the invention of the microphone, musicians could now amplify the sound to reach a larger audience. Instruments changed as well, guitars and drums became electric and Rock 'n' Roll concerts became a huge success. As concert attendance increased, ticketing machines and security measures were implemented, very similar to how concerts are managed nowadays. Live performances began to draw larger crowds, necessitating the construction of larger concert halls at the turn of the 20th century.
The 20th-century boom!
During the 20th century, concerts were greatly fuelled by radio and phonograph (record player). Larger concert halls were constructed, and more music societies were established. Even in India and Japan, music societies sprang up as the popularity of music concerts spread globally. The quality of concerts also improved as more security was assigned to control the crowd and protect musicians. Artists also had more freedom to express themselves; they could freely travel from one country to another and perform at music festivals. What popularized concerts all the more was the introduction of television. And last but not the least, the internet also deserves praise for its part in changing the music industry. Today, in the 21st century, it’s simple to purchase concert tickets online, and you can even reserve seats for upcoming performances. With better musical instruments and speakers hitting the markets, the concert experience is only going to get better!