''The Musical Times'' is an

academic journal An academic journal or scholarly journal is a periodical publication in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as permanent and transparent forums for the presentation, scrutiny, and d ...

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...

edited and produced in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

and currently the oldest such journal still being published in the country. It was originally created by Joseph Mainzer in 1842 as ''Mainzer's Musical Times and Singing Circular'', but in 1844 he sold it to Joseph Alfred Novello (who also founded ''

The Musical World ''The Musical World'' (formerly ''The Musical World; a Weekly Record of Musical Science, Literature, and Intelligence'') was an English music journal founded and published weekly by Alfred Novello during the Victorian era. The journal was predomi ...

'' in 1836), and it was published monthly by the Novello and Co. (also owned by Alfred Novello at the time).. It first appeared as ''The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular'', a name which was retained until 1903. From the very beginning, every issue - initially just eight pages - contained a simple piece of choral music (alternating secular and sacred), which choral society members subscribed to collectively for the sake of the music. Its title was shortened to its present name from January 1904. Even during World War II it continued to be published regularly, making it the world's oldest continuously published periodical devoted to western classical music. In 1947 a two volume compilation of material from the first 100 years of the magazine, edited by

Percy Scholes Percy Alfred Scholes PhD OBE (24 July 1877 – 31 July 1958) (pronounced ''skolz'') was an English musician, journalist and prolific writer, whose best-known achievement was his compilation of the first edition of ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' ...

, was published. The journal originally appeared monthly but is now a quarterly publication. It is available online at

JSTOR JSTOR (; short for ''Journal Storage'') is a digital library founded in 1995 in New York City. Originally containing digitized back issues of academic journals, it now encompasses books and other primary sources as well as current issues of j ...

and RILM Abstracts of Music Literature Full Text.

Past editors

* Joseph Alfred Novello (1844–1863). Founding editor from 1844 to 1853, then again from 1856 until 1863. Son of

Vincent Novello Vincent Novello (6 September 17819 August 1861), was an English musician and music publisher born in London. He was a chorister and organist, but he is best known for bringing to England many works now considered standards, and with his son he cr ...

. *

Mary Cowden Clarke Mary Victoria Cowden Clarke (née Novello; pen names, M. H. and Harry Wandsworth Shortfellow; 22 June 1809 – 12 January 1898) was an English author, and compiler of a concordance to Shakespeare. Early life and education Mary Victoria Novello ...

(1809–1898). The sister of Alfred Novello, she was editor from 1853 to 1856. Cowden Clarke wrote a long series of articles called 'Music among the Poets'. She induced her friend

Leigh Hunt James Henry Leigh Hunt (19 October 178428 August 1859), best known as Leigh Hunt, was an English critic, essayist and poet. Hunt co-founded '' The Examiner'', a leading intellectual journal expounding radical principles. He was the centr ...

to contribute. * Henry Charles Lunn (1817-1894). Over his 24 year editorship (1863-1887) Lunn developed ''The Musical Times'' into a periodical of considerable importance. He was particularly noted for his coverage of provincial festivals. * William Alexander Barrett (1834–1891). Editor, 1887–1891. Barrett was an organist and composer, and from 1869 until 1891 chief music critic of ''

The Morning Post ''The Morning Post'' was a conservative daily newspaper published in London from 1772 to 1937, when it was acquired by ''The Daily Telegraph''. History The paper was founded by John Bell. According to historian Robert Darnton, ''The Morning Po ...

''. * Edgar Frederick Jacques (1850–1906). Editor from 1892 until March 1897. A music critic, and from 1888 proprietor of ''The Musical World'' until its demise in 1891. * Frederick George Edwards (1853–1909). Editor, 1897-1909. An organist, Edwards used the pseudonym "Dotted Crotchet" to write "educationally suggestive interviews with musical celebrities", as well as a many articles about "cathedrals, churches, and educational institutions". *

William Gray McNaught William Gray McNaught (30 March 1849 – 13 October 1918) was an English music teacher, journalist and editor who became an adjudicator and inspector of music for schools.''Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Music'', 7th. ed. (1984), p. 1,500 Bor ...

(1849–1918). Editor, 1909-1918.Hughes, Meirion. ''The English Musical Renaissance and the Press 1850-1914: Watchmen of Music'' Respected adjudicator and inspector of music for schools. He wrote a series of articles on cathedrals and their musical associations. *

Harvey Grace Harvey Grace (1874–1944) was an English musician: composer, conductor, editor, teacher. In 1916 he married Dorothy Kirby, and together they had three children, Dorothy, Mary and Robert. Harvey Grace died in February 1944 in Bromley Hospital whil ...

(1874–1944). Long-serving editor from 1918 until his death in 1944. Brought an interest in contemporary developments in composition to ''The Musical Times''. Pen name 'Feste'. * William McNaught (1883–1953). Editor from March 1944 until his death in 1953. Son of William Gray McNaught. He continued to develop the contemporary music coverage. * Martin Cooper. Editor from 1953–1956. *

Harold Rutland Harold Rutland (August 21, 1900 – July 23, 1977) was a British pianist, music critic and composer. He began studying at the Guildhall School of Music, became organ scholar at Queen's College, Cambridge, and completed his studies at the Royal Co ...

(1900-1977). Editor, 1957–1960. Pianist, critic and composer. * Robin Hull (1907–1960). Editor, 1960. He started as Assistant Editor in October 1958, became Editor in April 1960, died on 6 August 1960, aged 53. * Andrew Porter (1928–2015). Editor, 1960–1967. *

Stanley Sadie Stanley John Sadie (; 30 October 1930 – 21 March 2005) was an influential and prolific British musicologist, music critic, and editor. He was editor of the sixth edition of the '' Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians'' (1980), which was publ ...

(1930–2005). Editor, 1967–1987. * Alison Latham. Co-editor, 1977–1988. * Andrew Clements. Editor, 1987–1988. * Eric Wen. Editor, 1988–1990. *

Basil Ramsey Basil Ramsey (26 April, 1929 – 12 June, 2018), was an English music publisher, journalist, editor and organist. Ramsey was born in Chelmsford and grew up in London. He joined the music publisher Novello and Co in 1949, becoming Director of Pub ...

(1929–2018). Editor, 1990-1992.Dickinson, Peter. Basil Ramsey obituary, ''The Guardian'', 24 July, 2018
/ref> * Antony Bye. Editor from 1992.

References

External links

''The Musical Times''
on Blogger;
''The Musical Times''
from 1845 to 1854 at the ''Emeroteca Digitale Italiana''.
The Musical Times
{{DEFAULTSORT:Musical Times, The Publications established in 1844 Quarterly journals Music journals Music magazines published in the United Kingdom