Charles Dickens and Music eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 152 pages of information about Charles Dickens and Music.

Charles Dickens and Music eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 152 pages of information about Charles Dickens and Music.

See ‘The Light Guitar.’

THE GREAT SEA SNAKE

Set to the air ‘Rampant Moll.’

    Perhaps you have all of you heard of a yarn
      Of a famous large sea snake,
    That once was seen off the Isle Pitcairn
      And caught by Admiral Blake.

See p. 16.

THE IVY GREEN (P.P. 6.)

Words by Dickens.  The most popular musical setting is that by Henry Russell.

THE LIGHT GUITAR (S.B.T. 1, O.C.S.)
          
                                          Barnett.

Oh leave the gay and festive scene,
The halls of dazzling light,
And rove with me through forests green
Beneath the silent night.

THE MILLER OF THE DEE (O.M.F. ii. 1)

Words, c. 1762.  Tune, 1728.

Referring to a disused boiler and a great iron wheel, Dickens says they are

    Like the Miller of questionable jollity in the song. 
    They cared for Nobody, no not they, and Nobody cared
    for them.

The air is found in The Quaker’s Opera, 1728.

THE RATCATCHER’S DAUGHTER (Out of Season)

See p. 98.

THE SEVEN AGES (S.B.S. 14)

See pp. 91, 92.

THE SOLDIER, TIRED (S.B.C. 4)
          
                                             Arne.

Dr. Arne translated the words from the Artaserse of Metastasio.  This song was the great ‘show song’ for sopranos for many years.  It was originally sung by Miss Brent.

    The soldier, tired of war’s alarms,
    Forswears the clang of hostile arms,
      And scorns the spear and shield;
    But if the brazen trumpet sound,
    He burns with conquest to be crowned,
      And dares again the field.

THE WOODPECKER TAPPING (D.C. 36, L.D. 35, S.B.T. 1, M.C. 25)

Words by Moore. M.  Kelly.

    Every leaf was at rest, and I heard not a sound
    But the woodpecker tapping the hollow beech-tree.

THE YOUNG MAY MOON

See p. 131.

THEN FAREWELL, MY TRIM-BUILT WHERRY (O.M.F.)

See p. 133.

THERE LET ’EM BE, MERRY AND FREE, TOOR-RUL-LAL-LA (O.C.S. 56)

Probably original.

THOUGH LOST TO SIGHT, TO MEMORY DEAR (D. & S. 48)

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Charles Dickens and Music from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.