Dr. Arne and Rule, BritanniaCummings, William Hayman
History
Dr. Arne and Rule, Britannia
Cummings, William Hayman
Arne, Thomas Augustine, 1710-1778
Although the libretto of "Alfred" was published a few days after the
performance at Cliefden, the music remained in manuscript; possibly
Arne did not consider the number of pieces, only five, sufficient to
warrant the expense of publication; it is certain however that the
"Rule, Britannia" Ode caught the public ear, and became celebrated.
When therefore the "Judgement of Paris" Masque was published, about
1741, the opportunity was taken of printing the score of "Rule,
Britannia." The volume consists of sixty-one pages, and the title-page
reads: "The music in the Judgement of Paris, consisting of All the
Songs, Duettos and Trio, with the Overture in Score, as perform'd by
Mr. Beard, Mr. Lowe, Mrs. Arne, Mrs. Clive, Miss Edwards and others
at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. To which (by particular Desire of
Several Encouragers of the Work) are added the _Celebrated Ode, in
Honour of Great-Britain call'd Rule, Britannia_, and Sawney and Jenney,
a favourite Dialogue, in the Scotch Stile. The whole compos'd by Thomas
Augustine Arne. Opera Sesta. London. Printed for Henry Waylett, at the
Black Lyon in Exeter Change in the Strand, and sold by him, and at all
the music shops in London and Westminster, where may be had five other
volumes of the Author's Works."
It was not before 1751 that the other music of "Alfred" was published.
The title-page reads: "The Masque of Alfred compos'd by Mr. Arne.
London. Printed for I. Walsh in Catherine Street in the Strand." The
volume consists of eighty-three pages; but the "celebrated Ode" is
conspicuous by its absence. No doubt Waylett, the publisher of the
"Judgement of Paris," was unwilling to permit its insertion without
some adequate recompense. In what way the matter was adjusted we do not
know; but an arrangement was made, and a second edition of "Alfred"
issued which included the "Celebrated Ode." The plates used were those
from which the music was printed in the "Judgement of Paris"; this is
evident from the double-paging visible on the pages of "Alfred": 62-84,
63-85, 64-86. The first set of numbers belong to the "Judgement of
Paris," and the second set to "Alfred."
[Music: The Score of The celebrated ODE in Honour of Great BRITAIN
call'd Rule Britannia.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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