John Banister’s concerts—Thomas Britton, the musical coalman—Britton’s concerts—“Music Meetings”—Oxford Music School—_Pepys’s Diary_—_Evelyn’s Diary_—Frederick the Great—Bach and the Emperor—The Emperor Frederick’s compositions—Dando concerts—John Ella and The Musical Union—Analytical programmes and position of platform—Quartett Association—Dannreuther’s Musical Evenings—Sir Charles Hallé’s recitals—Monday Popular Concerts—Joachim—Various chamber music institutions—Japanese chamber music. With the general advancement which we thus see had taken place in instrumental music, there naturally arose a desire for its performance, and this led to the establishment of Concerts, both private and public. [Sidenote: =John Banister’s Concerts=] Burney in his _History of Music_ tells us that upon the decease of Baltzar the Lubecker, who was the first leader of King Charles the Second’s new Band of Twenty-four Violins, John Banister (1630-79), the first Englishman who seems to have distinguished himself on the violin, succeeded him. This musician was one of the first who established lucrative concerts in London. These were advertised in the _London Gazette_, and in No. 742, for December 30th, 1672, there is the following advertisement:—“These are to give notice that at Mr. John Banister’s house, now called the Music School, over against the George Taverne in White Fryers, this present Monday will be music performed by excellent masters, beginning precisely at four of the clock in the afternoon, and every afternoon for the future, precisely at the same hour.” There are a number of such advertisements, and in the _Gazette_ of December 11th, 1676, Banister’s performance is announced to be held at the Academy in Little Lincoln’s Inn Fields, where it was to begin “with a parley of instruments composed by Mr. Banister, and performed by eminent masters.” In Mr. North’s _Memoirs of Music_ we have a more minute account of these performances:—“Banister having procured a large room in White Fryers near the Temple Back Gate, and erected an elevated box or gallery for the musicians, whose modesty required curtains, the rest of the room was fitted with seats and small tables, alehouse fashion. One shilling, which was the price of admission, entitled the audience to call for what they pleased! There was very good music, for Banister found means to procure the best hands in London, and some voices, to assist him, and there wanted no variety, for Banister, besides playing on the violin, did wonders on the flageolet to a thro’ base, and several other masters likewise played solos.” Banister had his first lessons from his father, who was one of the waits in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields. He left behind him a son, John, who became an excellent performer on the violin, and was one of King William’s band, and also played first violin at Drury Lane when operas were first performed there.