The aim of this volume is to analyze the contribution of music journalists to the revival of English music in the second half of the 19th century - the phenomenon that came to be called the "English musical renaissance". The contemporary notion that music critics operated as "watchmen of music", including the questions how and why they did so, will be examined in relation to the reception history of new English works in several of the leading newspapers and journals of the time. Individual critics are highlighted and discussed. The book is divided into two parts. Part one places the emphasis on the critics in the context of the publication for which they worked. Part two is more concerned with the relationship between three specific composers: Arthur Sullivan, Hubert Parry and Edward Elgar and the watchmen. The author argues that the "English musical renaissance" was ultimately a success and that this was largely due to the efforts of the music critics. In this, it seeks to re-evaluate the impact of music journalism on British musical history.