The Practitioner’s Library

The Library of the Practitioners of Musick consists of some three hundred items of printed music published in London, Dublin, and Edinburgh during the course of the 18th century. Many of these documents are rare and several are unique. They provide a remarkable resource, not only for the concerts presented by the Practitioners of Musick and their Esteemed Friends, but also as a resource for scholars studying the music and musical life of the period.

Ensembles and institutions that have drawn already from the collection include:

  • The Museum of The American Revolution – Philadelphia, PA
  • The Department of Musical Instruments of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City for a program devoted to music in 18th century Dublin.
  • Chatham Baroque – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Brandywine Baroque – Wilmington, Delaware
  • New York Revels – New York, New York
  • Philomel – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Tres – Salem/Boston, Massachusetts
  • Le Triomphe de l’amour  – Princeton, New Jersey
  • Tempesta di Mare – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • The Colonial Assembly of the Germantown Country Dancers – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • The Royal College of Music, Museum of Instruments – London, England
  • The Benton Fletcher Collection of Early Keyboard Instruments at Fenton House – London, England
  • La Fiocco – Bucks County, PA
  • Early Music Princeton (University) – Princeton, NJ