Charles Dickens and Music Part 16

ALL HAIL TO THE VESSEL OF PECKSNIFF THE SIRE (_M.C._ 11)

Perhaps a parody on 'All Hail to the Chief.'

ALL IN THE DOWNS (_P.P._ 3)

See 'Black-Eyed Susan.'

ALL'S WELL (_O.C.S._ 56).

See p. 125.

Duet in _The English Fleet_.

(_T. Dibdin_) _J. Braham._

Deserted by the waning moon, When skies proclaim night's cheerless gloom, On tower, fort, or tented ground, The sentry walks his lonely round; And should a footstep haply stray Where caution marks the guarded way, Who goes there? Stranger, quickly tell, A friend. The word? Good-night. All's well.

AND SHE SHALL WALK (_O.C.S._ 66)

Words by _Susan Blamire_.

And ye shall walk in silk attire, And siller ha'e to spare, Gin ye'll consent to be my bride, Nor think on Donald mair.

Susan Blamire was born at Carden Hall, near Carlisle. Very few of her poems were published under her own name, as well-born ladies of those days disliked seeing their names published as authors. 'The Siller Crown,' from which this verse is taken, is in the c.u.mberland dialect. It first appeared anonymously in the _Scots Musical Museum_, 1790, and the authorship was subsequently settled by members of the family.

AND YOU NEEDN'T, MR. VENUS, BE YOUR BLACK BOTTLE (_O.M.F._).

See p. 134.

A STIFF NOR'-WESTER'S BLOWING, BILL (_D. & S._ 49)

From 'The Sailor's Consolation.'

One night came on a hurricane, The seas were mountains rolling, When Barney Buntline turned his quid, And said to Billy Bowling, A stiff Nor'-Wester's blowing, Bill, Hark, don't you hear it roar now?

Lord help 'em! how I pity's all Unhappy folk ash.o.r.e now.

Mr. Kidson says in reference to this: 'I do not know that it was ever written to music, though I fancy more than one popular tune has been set to the words, which are by a person named Pitt.'

AULD LANG SYNE ('Holly Tree,' _D.C._ 17, 28)

Words by _Burns_.

A version of the melody occurs at the end of the overture to Shield's _Rosina_, 1783, and is either his own composition or an imitation of some Scotch melody. As, however, such melody has not hitherto been discovered, no great importance can be attached to this theory. _Rosina_ was performed in Edinburgh.

Some maintain that the tune is taken from a Scotch reel known as the 'Miller's Wedding,' found in Bremner's _Reels_ (1757-1761).

AWAY WITH MELANCHOLY (_O.C.S._ 58, _O.M.F._ ii. 6, _P.P._ 44, _D.C._ 8)

The melody is from Mozart's _Magic Flute_, 'Das klinget so herrlich'--a chorus with glockenspiel accompaniment.

The writer of the words is unknown.

The air was introduced into an arrangement of Shakespeare's _Tempest_, and set to the words 'To moments so delighting!'

sung by Miss Stephens. Also found as a duet 'composed by Sigr. Mozart, arranged by F.A. Hyde.'

BAY OF BISCAY (_U.T._ 31, _D. & S._ 39, _P.P._ 32)

Words by _Andrew Cherry_. _J. Davy._

Also see under 'A Frog He Would.'

BEETHOVEN'S SONATA IN B.

See p. 28.

BEGONE, DULL CARE (_O.C.S._ 7, _E.D._ 2)

Author unknown. The words occur in various song-books of the eighteenth century. The tune is seventeenth century, possibly derived from the 'Queen's Jigg' in the _Dancing Master_.

Begone, dull care, I prithee begone from me; Begone, dull care, you and I can never agree.

The words were set as a glee by John Sale, and this may be the music that d.i.c.kens knew.

BELIEVE ME, IF ALL JARLEY'S WAXWORKS SO RARE (_O.C.S._ 27)

A parody on the following.

BELIEVE ME, IF ALL THOSE ENDEARING YOUNG CHARMS (_B.H._ 55)

Words by _T. Moore_.

Set to the old melody 'My Lodging is on the Cold Ground.' This appears to have come into existence about the middle of the eighteenth century. It is found in _Vocal Music, or the Songster's Companion_, 1775, and it was claimed by Moore to be an Irish melody, but some authorities deny this. It has also been claimed as Scotch, but the balance of opinion is in favour of its English origin (F. Kidson).

BESIDE THAT COTTAGE DOOR, MR. BOFFIN (_O.M.F._)

See p. 133.