Complete Encyclopaedia of Music/B/Bachelor of music

Bachelor of music. A degree conferred at the universities of Europe, as a title of honor. It is given, as the first degree in music, to such musicians as have at some time composed a piece of music, consisting of as many as six parts, for voices and instruments. One of the qualifications formerly required of a candidate for this academic honor, was, the being able to read and expound certain books in Boethius, a Greek musical author of the sixth century. But this test has long since been dispensed with, and the composition in six parts has taken its place. The exercise must be publicly performed in the music school, or some other place in the university, however, to give claim to the degree.