> Date: Fri, 19 May 1995 21:57:25 -0400
> From: SandyW6076@aol.com
>
> Felix Mendelssohn premiered his monumental oratorio Elijah in Birmingham
> England in 1846. He was a favorite of the Queen, perhaps because there were
> no native son composers. Perhaps the appreciation of music is more important.
>
Even if you are right, and there are no 'native son' composers, the
question I would find myself asking is WHY NOT? The English were not
always considered to be unmusical, quite the contrary. And given that
London was virtually the musical capital of Europe for much of the 19c,
why did not this fact alone produce a few big fish in the European pond.
Ann Beedell
Humanities
Griffith University, Q. Australia 4111
A.Beedell@hum.gu.edu.au