To add to that, Parish Churches all over England had their West Gallery bands to provide music for the services. Tunes for hymns were often written by local people. These bands would also provide music for local dances as well.

In the 19th century, in the industrial towns there was a major growth of brass bands, choral societies and male voice choirs many of which achieved and still achieve professional standards. Remember people in the towns worked very long hours at that time. Such music making is still very much a tradition in parts of Britain today.

The people who played in such groups were not the leisured classes but ordinary people holding down ordinary jobs.

Who said there was no time for music making in past centuries?