English · Slang Attested

Dutch concert

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A performance in which all the musicians play different songs at the same time.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Woe to light sleepers, whose delicate susceptibilities no rough campaigning usages had blunted as yet, for throughout the dreary night there was an everlasting Dutch concert of snortings, neighings, winnowings, squealings, from time to time diversified by the more practice misdemeanours of some inte

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Where every one plays or signs a different tune.

Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Sense 3

Meaning · English

where each performer plays a different tune. Sometimes called a DUTCH MEDLEY when vocal efforts only are used.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “Dutch concert” mean?

A performance in which all the musicians play different songs at the same time.

Is “Dutch concert” formal or informal?

Dutch concert is generally humorous, slang.