Charles Dickens and MusicLightwood, James T. (James Thomas)
General
Charles Dickens and Music
Lightwood, James T. (James Thomas)
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 -- Knowledge -- Music; Music and literature
This verse is sung by Lord Grizzle in Fielding's _Tom Thumb_,
as arranged by Kane O'Hara.
_Paul and Virginia_ is mentioned by Mrs. Flora Finching
(_L.D._) as being one of the things that ought to have been
returned to Arthur Clennam when their engagement was broken
off. This was a ballad opera by Reeve and Mazzinghi, and the
opening number is the popular duet 'See from ocean rising,'
concerning which there is a humorous passage in 'The Steam
Excursion' (_S.B._), where it is sung by one of the Miss
Tauntons and Captain Helves. The last-named, 'after a great
deal of preparatory crowing and humming,' began
in that grunting tone in which a man gets down,
heaven knows where, without the remotest chance of
ever getting up again. This in private circles is
frequently designated a 'bass voice.'
[Figure 1]
See from ocean rising
Bright flame, the orb of day;
From yon grove the varied song
Shall slumber from Virginia chase, chase away,
Slumber from Virginia chase, chase away.
Dickens is not quite correct in this description, as the
part of Paul was created by Incledon, the celebrated tenor,
but there are still to be found basses who insist on singing
tenor when they think that part wants their assistance.
III.--_Contemporary Comic Songs_
When Dickens visited Vauxhall (_S.B.S._ 14) in 1836, he heard
a variety entertainment, to which some reference has already
been made. Amongst the performers was a comic singer who bore
the name of one of the English counties, and who
sang a very good song about the seven ages, the first
half hour of which afforded the assembly the purest
delight.
The name of this singer was Mr. Bedford, though there was also
a Mr. Buckingham in the Vauxhall programmes of those days. There
are at least four songs, all of them lengthy, though not to the
extent Dickens suggests, which bear on the subject. They are:
1.--'All the World's a Stage,' a popular medley written by
Mr. L. Rede, and sung by Mrs. Kelley in the _Frolic
of the Fairies_.
2.--'Paddy McShane's Seven Ages,' sung by Mr. Johnstone at
Drury Lane.
3.--'The Seven Ages,' as sung by Mr. Fuller (eight very
long verses).
4.--'The Seven Ages of Woman,' as sung by Mr. Harley.
You've heard the seven ages of great Mister Man,
And now Mistress Woman's I'll chaunt, if I can.
This was also a very long song, each verse being sung to a
different tune.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account