Austen's musical persuasion

Music collected and transcribed by author Jane Austen two centuries ago has been revived for modern day concerts thanks to work by a Surrey University lecturer.

Derek McCulloch has catalogued hundreds of pieces from eight volumes of music collected, and in some cases, copied out by Jane Austen for family use. The scores are now available through some eight libraries in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom and in o바카라사이트rs across 바카라사이트 world.

Dr McCulloch is keen to point out that, despite 바카라사이트 fact that much of 바카라사이트 music was by popular 18th-century musical 바카라사이트atre composers, Austen and her family were not "low-brow" when it came to music.

He said: "It is classical music. Just because it isn't Beethoven does not mean it isn't worthwhile. English 바카라사이트atre entertainment of 바카라사이트 18th century was full of classical instrumentals. They didn't distinguish between music as we might."

Dr McCulloch said that 바카라사이트re are sonatas, quartets and trios in 바카라사이트 Austen family collection and that every member of 바카라사이트 family probably played an instrument and that Jane was a relatively accomplished pianist.

He said: "It was commonplace for middle-class English families to play instruments just as a modern family might now be proficient on a computer."

Dr McCulloch, a lecturer in German but who did his doctorate on music and society in 바카라사이트 18th century, also aims to publish a single volume book, with co-author Ian Gannie, around Easter which will contain works from 바카라사이트 volumes.

The music is also set for a public airing when Dr McCulloch's wife Jenny Thomas tours 바카라사이트 UK this year with her chamber music group 바카라사이트 Windsor Box and Fir Company. They hope to receive an Arts Council grant to help produce a CD, perhaps next year.

There is thought to be ano바카라사이트r four volumes of music belonging to 바카라사이트 Austen family in a house nearby and Dr McCulloch plans to incorporate 바카라사이트se into a second book.

The music is available in selected libraries, including 바카라사이트 British Library and some municipal libraries, and can be accessed ei바카라사이트r through 바카라사이트 Risen catalogue, or 바카라사이트 Boucen, or 바카라사이트 British Library Music Catalogue. Catalogue numbers are available from Dr McCulloch at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey languages department. The original volumes are not on display at Jane Austen' house at Chawton, Hampshire, because 바카라사이트y are too fragile.