Charleston’s St. Coecilia’s society is the “earliest known example of a polite musical society in British America- an organization formed and managed by amateur musicians specifically for the purpose of sponsoring an ongoing series of cosmopolitan concerts open only to a select, mixed-sex audience” (Butler xiii). For the most part, the St. Coecilia Society’s image corresponded to social entertainment in Britain, however, it was unique to other American colonies at the time for a variety or reasons. The society produced concerts that were set in either multipurpose rooms or private venues, and though the leaders were strict about who they allowed to purchase tickets, ladies were welcome to all live shows. One of the intentions of the St. Coecilia’s Society was to promote Charleston’s wealth and high social standing. This idea seems accurate since the society served to emphasize certain “social rituals” that were going on in the area at the time; balls, formal dinners, and polite conversation were all examples of the sort of rituals that “facilitated the exhibition of cultural accomplishments” (Butler 20). Although the rulebook suggests that the organization was only interested in fining people and maintaining their status quota, business was conducted alongside dinner and communion. Sometimes the members would rehearse before performances, other times they would merely create pamphlets to hand out to the townspeople the day of or before an announced concert. The music that was performed during these concerts varied, but all of the instruments and music represented a classic genre at the time. The music involved a myriad of orchestral music, chamber music, and vocal music–all of which was performed by both amateur and professional musicians.
The society did not actually own an
y of the venues that they presented concerts in, but rather they would share performance spaces with other organizations whose members overlapped with their own (Butler 113). Similar to Britain, the concerts would accompany various festivities such as dancing, exhibitions, plays, auctions, lectures, and feasts. Often times, the society would promote themselves by moving on to perform at a newer venue, usually one of higher rank; the motivation behind this was to elevate the group’s prestigious reputation. The concert rooms were built in rectangular spaces, and most of them did not exceed seventy-nine by thirty-two feet. From 1766 to 1771, the society’s concerts were held in taverns located on the corner of Broad and Church Street. This section was at one point referred to as “the Corner Club” (Butler 115). The concert halls contained a private room on the second floor and a conjoining apartment. Dance parties would usually follow every concert and were held on the second floor. After 1771, the St. Coecilia Society relocated their venues multiple times. They transferred to a place called “Pike’s Assembly Room,” then took over the South Carolina State House for live shows, and performed at many different taverns in the city. Popular city taverns included McCrady’s Long Room, Charleston’s City Hall, the Carolina Coffee House, and the Sollee’s Concert Hall (Butler 113).
Famous composers and traveling musicians were all intrigued by Charleston’s exquisite musical appreciation, and The St. Coecilia Society sparked an enormous wave of participation from worldly artists. Alexander Fraser, one of the founding members of the society regarded the musical organization as an “association of gentlemen amateurs who met together to indulge a common taste and to pass an agreeable hour” (Butler 152). Alexander played the piano and the violin, but these were not the only instruments played by musicians of the Coecilia Society. Instruments such as the cello, the German flute, trumpets, and French horns were played as well. Important figures like Arthur Middleton, William Loughton Smith, John Cogdell, and even the Pinckney brothers shared a passion for musical education. Surprisingly female musicians existed to, but they were constrained to the role of concerto soloists or duets (Butler 155). Women never played in the full orchestra. There are also barely any records indicating that musicians performed outside of the St. Coecilia Society during the eighteenth century. Most of the musicians that performed for or in the society either came from Britain or were influenced by London’s musical culture. Even the privacy and form of the musical content kept its similarities.
Apparently, no one outside of the St. Coecilia Society knew what kind of music was going to be performed. The society was alive during what is known in music history as the classical period. Therefore, the majority of the music resembled the works of the Italian galant styles, German harmonies, and other colorful orchestration that was popular in Europe at the time. Sometimes the society would play original music and other times famous symphonies such as Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Sinfonia eroica, and pieces from Johann Christian Bach would be reflected in the shows. Unfortunately the St. Coecilia Society began to disintegrate after 1800. After a series of catastrophic events including the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Post-war depression, the society fought to stay in production, but ultimately failed. Old music scores were destroyed during these years in history, and though there were revivals for the group around 1810-1820, there simply weren’t as many members to manage to the group nor were there enough musicians to perform. The final concert took place at St. Andrew’s Hall on June 26, 1827.
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Rules of the St. Coecilia Society:
Agreed Upon and Finally Confirmed,
November 22nd, 1773*
Chapter I. The St. Coecilia Society Rulebook was finally edited and published by Robert Wells on November 22nd, 1773. The entire organization consists of one hundred and twenty members, each of whom are responsible for attending regular meetings that are held four times a year on the anniversary of the society’s production, and on the third Thursday in February, May, and August.
Chapter II. On the anniversary meetings, the group is expected to meet at five o’ clock, and on the Thursday meetings they meet at six. At every meeting, members are to bring twenty shillings with them so that they can discuss business together over dinner.
Chapter III. Within the council a president, vice-president, treasurer, and steward are elected by ballot on each anniversary. There are eleven other members, one of which is given a managerial position for one year. All of the people in the society are residents of Charleston, South Carolina. If anyone yearns to refuse their position, they must be fined. If an officer refuses his position, he is to pay ten pounds, and if a manager turns down his position, he needs to pay five pounds of currency. If this is ever the case, which is rarely was, the society’s members should immediately gather into a private room and have a re-election.
Chapter IV. The managers of the society meet on the first Thursday of every month; from October to April they meet at six o’ clock, and from April to October, they shall meet at seven o’ clock. Incidents such as death, resignation or removal (or movement) from the city of Charleston are considered important cases of events to the society. If any of these elements suddenly apply to a manager of the St. Coecilia Society, the remaining members are to have an “extraordinary meeting” where they formulate the type of notice that they want to present in the weekly gazettes.
Chapter V. Aside from being punctual and attending their scheduled meetings, managers are responsible for deciding when and how many concerts should be held. Concerts are of course performed during every anniversary of the society.
Chapter VI. In addition to the shillings that need to be paid at every meeting for dinner, members who met on anniversaries are held accountable for giving twenty-five pounds to the treasurer of the society. If any person can not pay this sum or refuses, he should be extracted from the group.
Chapter VII. People who are interested in joining the St. Coecilia Society can do so by writing out a letter to the President of the society. Whenever a vacant opening appears in the society, the present members shall elect by ballot who should be deemed a new member. In the process of inauguration, newly elected members are to subscribe to the rules of the society and pay thirty-five pounds to the treasurer.
Chapter VIII. Each member may invite as many ladies as he pleases. The said lady should be given a ticket signed by a member with her named engraved on the paper. No other person is admitted into the concerts unless given authority to do so by a manager of the Society. Absolutely no boys, on any account, are allowed.
Chapter IX. After each concert, the treasurer is responsible for immediately handling any money, bonds, or securities, and must deliver what he attributes to either the vice-president or the president of the Society. On no account shall the treasurer lend any of the Society’s money to anyone other than a manager.
Chapter X. Meetings never include less than twenty members or less than five managers. If the president and vice-president are not able to attend a meeting, a chairman should be elected to fill their role for the time being. Whenever any member rises up to speak during a meeting, he is to address the chairmen if this occurrence happens. (Otherwise, those talking must address the president or vice-president for any verbal conversation.) All matters are determined by electoral vote, and approximately two-thirds of the Society should be present in order to carry out a fair election.
Chapter XI. During every meeting, the Society is to begin business at eleven o’ clock in the forenoon. In case the treasurer, vice-president, or president are absent from the meeting, they are to pay a fine of thiry-two shillings and six pence currency for every hour they miss. Every other member that does not attend a scheduled meeting is required to pay a fine of ten shillings.
Chapter XII. None of the listed rules shall be altered, and no new rules shall be enacted unless the Society agrees to do so at two general meetings.
***Although the St. Coecilia Society was founded in 1762, history recalls that the first rulebook for the organization was not created until 1773. The pamphlet that the rulebook was printed on was presented to the South Carolina Historical Society on April 30th of the following year. It is about three inches wide by six inches long and contains eleven pages.