A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921.
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ORDER XXVI.—PERSONS EMPLOYED IN ENTERTAINMENTS AND SPORT

Sub-order 1.—Persons Employed in Entertainments and Sport

886.—Musicians



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accompanist
plays, usually on a pianoforte, accompaniment of a song, or of a solo on a violin or other instrument at public entertainments; may also accompany soloist at practice.
bandmaster
conducts a band of instrumentalists (q.v.); selects music to be played; rehearses and conducts performance; cf. musical director.
bandsman
general term for any member of a band of instrumentalists (q.v.); sometimes specifically designated, e.g. military bandsman.
bell ringer
rings bells, usually in churches, either by pulling on a rope or ropes which cause the bells to swing in the belfry, or by playing on a keyboard connected to an electrically-driven mechanism for striking the bells; cf. handbell ringer.
chorister
a professional singer (q.v.) in a choir.
conductor, musical conductor (theatre, etc.)
see musical director (theatre).
drummer
plays drums and percussion instruments, i.e., triangle, cymbals, glockenspiel, etc., in a band.
handbell ringer
plays airs by ringing, one after another, a number of handbells giving notes of different pitch; usually member of troupe or company.
instrumentalist
see musician.
musical director (theatre) ; conductor, musical conductor (theatre, etc.)
leads or directs orchestra, band or chorus, controlling time, etc.; is responsible for interpretation; may transpose, re-score or orchestrate music; in small orchestras, is sometimes a violinist or other instrumentalist (q.v.), who also conducts.
musician ; instrumentalist
general terms for a professional player of one or more musical instruments; usually a member of an orchestra or band; term not generally used of vocalists (q.v.); includes bassoonist, 'cellist, clarionettist, cornettist, flautist, flutist, French horn player, harpist, oboist, pianist, trombonist, tympanist, violinist, violoncellist, etc.
operatic artist, artiste ; operatic singer
a singer (q.v.) with dramatic training who specialises in singing in opera; cf. actor vocalist (885).
organist
plays organ at churches, or cathedrals, or in concerts or other entertainment; sometimes specifically designated, e.g. church organist.
singer, vocalist
general terms for any person who sings at; concerts, music halls, recitals, etc., or in opera, oratorio, etc., in return for a fee or salary; sometimes specifically designated, e.g. chorus singer, operatic singer (q.v.), professional singer.

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From: A Dictionary of Occupational Terms Based on the Classification of Occupations used in the Census of Population, 1921,
Ministry of Labour, 1927. Digitised by Peter Christian, August, 2016.   This text is in the Public Domain.