The 19th century saw (and heard!) the 'democratisation' of music, with the rise of amateur performance by those who could, at least, afford instruments, tuition and copies of the material to play. But there were also virtuoso professional solo 'recitalists' such as the very man who coined this usage of the word. Who was he?

While many of us love the pageantry of a great musical occasion ~ such as an oratorio, concerto or symphony concert ~ the intimacy of chamber music, played perhaps by a string quartet, has charms and powers of its own.