The British Musical Biography

[E] Chappell, William, writer and antiquary,
was born in London, November 20th, 1809.
Brought up in music publishing business
with his father. Engaged in musical anti-
quarian studies. Founded (with others) the
Percy Society in 1840, and the Musical Anti-
quarian Society in 1840. F.S.A., 1840.
Partner in the firm of Cramer & Co., 1848.

[+] Treasurer of the Camden Society, etc. Was
connected with a numher of learned and
antiquarian societies. He died at Loudon,
August 20, 1888.

[W] Works. — A collection of national English
airs, consisting of ancient song, ballad, and
dance tunes, interspersed with remarks and
anecdotes, and preceded by an essay on
English minstrelsy ; the airs harmonized for
the pianoforte by Dr. Crotch, G. A. Macfarren,
and J. A. Wade. London, 4to. part I., 1838 ;
II., 1839 ; III., 1840. Popular music of the
olden time : a collection of ancient songs,
ballads, and dance tunes, illustrative of the
national music of England, etc. London,
Cramer, 2 vols. [1845-59]. OldEnglish ditties,
London, 2 vols., n.d. History of music, art,
and science, from the earliest records to the
fall of the Roman Empire, with explanations
of ancient systems of music, musical instru-
ments, and of the true physiological basis for
the science of music, whether ancient or
modern, vol. I., London, 1874, all published.
Edited works (collections of ancient poetry)
for the Ballad, Percy, and Camden Societies.
A new edition of his " Popular Music " was
issued as "Old English popular music," in 1893,
edited by H. Ellis Woolridge. This corrects a
number of the statements concerning Scots
music, which, in his anxiety to prove that
England possessed an immense wealth of folk
music, Chappell advanced without sufficient
proof. Further proofs of Mr. Chappell's
want of care in the presentation of evidence
have been gathered by Mr. John Glen, and
will be published soon.

entry id: 84-R-56