What is "music hall"

Music \Mu"sic\, n. [F. musique, fr. L. musica, Gr. ? (sc. ?), any art over which the Muses presided, especially music, lyric poetry set and sung to music, fr. ? belonging to Muses or fine arts, fr. ? Muse.]

1. The science and the art of tones, or musical sounds, i. e., sounds of higher or lower pitch, begotten of uniform and synchronous vibrations, as of a string at various degrees of tension; the science of harmonical tones which treats of the principles of harmony, or the properties, dependences, and relations of tones to each other; the art of combining tones in a manner to please the ear.

   Note: Not all sounds are tones. Sounds may be unmusical and yet please the ear. Music deals with tones, and with no other sounds. See Tone.

2. 1. Melody; a rhythmical and otherwise agreeable succession of tones.

   2. Harmony; an accordant combination of simultaneous tones.

3. The written and printed notation of a musical composition; the score.

4. Love of music; capacity of enjoying music.

   The man that hath no music in himself Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils.
   --Shak.

5. (Zo["o]l.) A more or less musical sound made by many of the lower animals. See Stridulation.

   Magic music, a game in which a person is guided in finding a hidden article, or in doing a specific art required, by music which is made more loud or rapid as he approaches success, and slower as he recedes.
   --Tennyson.

   Music box. See Musical box, under Musical.

   Music hall, a place for public musical entertainments.

   Music loft, a gallery for musicians, as in a dancing room or a church.

   Music of the spheres, the harmony supposed to be produced by the accordant movement of the celestial spheres.

   Music paper, paper ruled with the musical staff, for the use of composers and copyists.

   Music pen, a pen for ruling at one time the five lines of the musical staff.

   Music shell (Zo["o]l.), a handsomely colored marine gastropod shell ( Voluta musica) found in the East Indies; -- so called because the color markings often resemble printed music. Sometimes applied to other shells similarly marked.

   To face the music, to meet any disagreeable necessity, such as a reprimand for an error or misdeed, without flinching.

Music hall \Music hall\ A place for public musical entertainments; specif. (Eng.), esp. a public hall for vaudeville performances, in which smoking and drinking are usually allowed in the auditorium.

n. 1 (context music English) An auditorium for concerts and musical entertainments. 2 A vaudeville or variety theater.

1. n. a theater in which vaudeville is staged [syn: vaudeville theater, vaudeville theatre]

2. a variety show with songs and comic acts etc. [syn: vaudeville]

Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era circa 1850 and lasting until 1960. It involved a mixture of popular songs, comedy, speciality acts, and variety entertainment. The term is derived from a type of theatre or venue in which such entertainment took place. British music hall was similar to American vaudeville, featuring rousing songs and comic acts, while in the United Kingdom the term "vaudeville"' referred to more working-class types of entertainment that would have been termed " burlesque" in America.

Originating in saloon bars within public houses during the 1830s, music hall entertainment became increasingly popular with audiences, so much so, that during the 1850s, the public houses were demolished and specialized music hall theatres developed in their place. These theatres were designed chiefly so people could consume food and alcohol and smoke tobacco in the auditorium while the entertainment took place. This differed somewhat from the conventional type of theatre, which until then seated the audience in stalls with a separate bar-room. Major music halls, were based around London and included Early music halls like the Canterbury Music Hall in Lambeth, Wilton's Music Hall in Tower Hamlets, and The Middlesex, in Drury Lane, otherwise known as the Old Mo.

By the mid-19th century, the halls created a demand for new and catchy popular songs. As a result, professional songwriters were enlisted to provide the music for a plethora of star performers, such as Marie Lloyd, Dan Leno, Little Tich, and George Leybourne. Music hall did not adopt its own unique style. Instead all forms of entertainment were performed: male and female impersonators, lions comiques, mime artists and impressionists, trampoline acts, and comic pianists such as John Orlando Parry and George Grossmith were just a few of the many types of entertainments the audiences could expect to find over the next forty years.

Music halls in London were the scene of important industrial conflict in 1907 with a dispute between artists and stage hands on the one hand and theatre managers on the other, which ended in a strike. The halls had recovered by the start of the First World War and were used to stage charity events in aid of the war effort. Music hall entertainment continued after the war, but became less popular due to upcoming Jazz, Swing, and Big Band dance music acts. Licensing restrictions had also changed, and drinking was banned from the auditorium. A new type of music hall entertainment had arrived, in the form of variety, and many music hall performers failed to make the transition. Deemed old fashioned and with the closure of many halls, music hall entertainment ceased and the modern day variety began.

Music hall is a form of British theatre

Music Hall may refer to: __NOTOC__

The Music Hall was a concert venue in Hanover, Germany. It was located in the "U-boat hall" on the former Hanomag complex. The structure was originally built in 1943 as a submarine production facility in the northern shipyard of Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven. Notable performers included Rush, Sting and David Bowie. The structure is now a furniture store.