The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 393, October 10, 1829Various
History
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 14, No. 393, October 10, 1829
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
"Of Incledon? poor Charles Incledon!" said I, turning to his portrait in
the "Storm," hanging in goodly fellowship with a few of the idols of my
theatrical days, Siddons, Kemble, Bannister, Mrs. Jordan, and G. Cook,
in my little book-room--"Poor Charles Incledon! The mighty in genius,
the high in birth, the conceited in talent, have not forgotten thee,
then--and will even condescend to imitate thee, to imitate _thee_ who
wast _inimitable_!" I arose and walked about my little sanctum in
meditative mood. The days of old came o'er me--the benefit nights--the
play-bills, with the "Storm," "Black-eyed Susan," &c. in the largest
type, as forming the most attractive morceaux in the bill of fare. Then
followed the squeeze in June! through that horrid passage in the old
Covent Garden Theatre!--then the well-earned climax--Incledon in blue
jacket, white trousers, red waistcoat, smart hat and cane--the
representative of Britain's best defenders, in holiday
garb--unaccompanied by orchestra or instruments, depending upon naught
but "the human voice divine," after his usual walk before the lights,
and repeatedly licking his lips, (as if he thought that the sweet sounds
which were accustomed to flow from them must leave honey
behind),--rolling forth with that vast volume of voice, at once
astonishing and delightful--"All in the downs the fleet lay moored;" and
then followed the strain of love, manly love and constancy, in the
beautiful language of Gay, and in tones so rich, so clear, so sweet!
every faculty was absorbed in the sense of hearing! the hair seemed to
rise, the flesh to stir! the silence of the audience was holy--they
durst not, they could not, even applaud that which so enchanted them,
for fear of losing a note--I really think I could have struck any one
who could have shouted a "bravo!"--Never were Milton's lines,
"Soft Lydian airs
Married to immortal verse,
Such as the meeting soul may pierce
In notes, with many a winding bout
Of linked sweetness long drawn out,
With wanton heed and giddy cunning;
The melting voice through mazes running,
Untwisting all the chains that tie
The hidden soul of harmony."
so illustrated as in the last line of Gay's "Black-eyed Susan,"--
"Adieu, she cried, and waved her lily hand,"
as sung by Incledon in his prime.
'Tis strange! here was "a voice that hath failed," and little or nothing
said of it--"Died at Worcester, on ----, the celebrated vocalist,
Charles Incledon," without further comment, was all that most of the
periodicals said at his decease. I recollect nothing worthy of him being
put forth, no essay upon his voice and style--and why? because poor
Charles Incledon had ceased to be the fashion!
The time is somewhat advanced, but the quotation at the head of this
article has brought to my mind what ought to have been done by abler
hands; and I will endeavour to point out what we possessed in this
singer, and what we have lost by his death.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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