Smoking concert
Encyclopedia
Smoking concerts were live performance
s, usually of music
, before an audience
of men only; popular during the Victorian era
. These social occasions were instrumental in introducing new musical forms to the public. At these functions men would smoke and speak of politics while listening to live music. These popular gatherings were sometimes held at hotels.
The term continued to be used for student, variety performances, especially those associated with Oxford or Cambridge. Annual Smoking Concerts were held at Imperial College London
into the 1980s.
The saying "Booking for smoking concerts now" came into use at this time meaning that a person had recovered and was in the prime of health. This saying is used in the works of writer P.G. Wodehouse.
The Medical Students' Society at the University of Liverpool still holds an annual smoking concert.http://www.lmssonline.co.uk/
Performance
A performance, in performing arts, generally comprises an event in which a performer or group of performers behave in a particular way for another group of people, the audience. Choral music and ballet are examples. Usually the performers participate in rehearsals beforehand. Afterwards audience...
s, usually of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, before an audience
Audience
An audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature , theatre, music or academics in any medium...
of men only; popular during the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
. These social occasions were instrumental in introducing new musical forms to the public. At these functions men would smoke and speak of politics while listening to live music. These popular gatherings were sometimes held at hotels.
The term continued to be used for student, variety performances, especially those associated with Oxford or Cambridge. Annual Smoking Concerts were held at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
into the 1980s.
The saying "Booking for smoking concerts now" came into use at this time meaning that a person had recovered and was in the prime of health. This saying is used in the works of writer P.G. Wodehouse.
The Medical Students' Society at the University of Liverpool still holds an annual smoking concert.http://www.lmssonline.co.uk/
External links
- http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=20021017_23273867 Picture of a Victorian hotel with a smoking concerts advertisement.