"F. M. Scherer examines the political, intellectual, and economic roots of the shift from patronage to a freelance market. He describes the eighteenth-century cultural "arms race" among noble courts, the spread of private concert halls and opera houses, the increasing attendance of middle-class music lovers, and the founding of conservatories. He analyzes changing trends in how composers acquired their skills and earned their living, examining such factors as demographic developments and new modes of transportation. "The book offers insight into the diversity of composers' economic aspirations, the strategies through which they pursued such success, the burgeoning music publishing industry, and the emergence of copyright protection. This account is directed toward individuals intrigued by the world of classical composers as well as those interested in economic history of the role of money in art."--Jacket.