ABSTRACT
In contrast with the nineteenth-century endowment at Edinburgh, music had long enjoyed an association with the University of Oxford. Studying the form of music at Oxford during the nineteenth century brings the importance of its social status more clearly into focus than at Edinburgh. Professional musicians worked in the college chapels and cathedral had no formal affiliation with the educational and social functions of the University. As at Edinburgh, while Bishop's status was an important factor in gaining university support, his appointment was not well received by many in the music profession. Just as the appointment of a professor often failed to satisfy musical, academic and social criteria, Bishop's proposals did not consider the University as catering for both professionals and amateurs. Frederick Ouseley's appointment as Professor might have caused consternation among the country's professional musicians had the Professorship been regarded as anything other than a sinecure.
