Charles Dickens and Music Part 22

Trio by _Moore_.

See 'Strew then, O strew.'

OH LET US LOVE OUR OCCUPATIONS (_Ch._)

Original lines by d.i.c.kens. 'Set to music on the new system,'

probably refers to Hullah's method (c. 1841), or possibly the Tonic Sol-fa (c. 1843), see p. 17.

OH LANDSMEN ARE FOLLY (_H.R._)

Original.

OLD CLEM (_G.E._ 12, 15)

A custom prevailed at Chatham of holding a procession on St. Clement's day, and the saint, who was irreverently designated 'Old Clem,' was personated by a young smith disguised for the occasion.

d.i.c.kens frequently writes a verse in the form of prose, and this is an example. Written out properly, it reads thus:

Hammer boys round--Old Clem, With a thump and a sound--Old Clem, Beat it out, beat it out--Old Clem, With a cluck for the stout--Old Clem, Blow the fire, blow the fire--Old Clem, Roaring drier, soaring higher--Old Clem.

OLD KING COLE (_O.C.S._ 58, _P.P._ 36)

The personality of this gentleman has never been settled.

Chappell suggests he was 'Old Cole,' a cloth-maker of Reading _temp._ Henry I. Wardle's carol 'I care not for spring' (_P.P._ 36) was adapted to this air, and printed in How's _Ill.u.s.trated Book of British Song_.

OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY (_Dr. M._, _M.C._ 36)

An old saying, both in song and as a phrase. It occurs in two songs in D'Urfey's _Pills to Purge Melancholy_, 1709, one of which is,

Tom he was a piper's son, He learned to play when he was young; But all the tune that he could play Was over the hills and far away.

(Vol. iv.)

Doctor Marigold's version is probably original:

North and South and West and East, Winds liked best and winds liked least, Here and there and gone astray, Over the hills and far away.

OVER THE WATER TO CHARLIE (_O.C.S._ 27)

Tune in Johnson's _Musical Museum_, Vol. II, 1788.

Come boat me o'er, come row me o'er, Come boat me o'er to Charlie, I'll gie John Brown another half-crown, To boat me o'er to Charlie; We'll o'er the water, we'll o'er the sea, We'll o'er the water to Charlie, Come weal, come woe, we'll gather and go, And live or die wi' Charlie.

Another Jacobite song was the cause of an amusing incident at Edinburgh. On the occasion of one of his visits there d.i.c.kens went to the theatre, and he and his friends were much amazed and amused by the orchestra playing 'Charlie is my darling'

amid tumultuous shouts of delight.

PAUL AND VIRGINIA (_S.B.T._ 7, _L.D._ 13) _J. Mazzinghi._

The popular duet from this opera 'See from ocean rising'

was sung by Mr. Johnstone and Mr. Incledon. See p. 91.

POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON (_B.R._ 24)

An old country dance.

RED RUFFIAN, RETIRE! (_S.B.C._ 8)

Probably an imaginary t.i.tle, invented by d.i.c.kens.

RULE BRITANNIA (_D. & S._ 4, 39, _U.T._ 2, _M.C._ 11, 17, _A.N._, _D.C._ 8)

Words by _Thomson_ or _Mallet_. _Arne._

First appeared in print at the end of the masque _The Judgement of Paris_, but it was composed for the masque of _Alfred_, which was first performed on August 1, 1740. See _Musical Times_, April, 1900.

SALLY IN OUR ALLEY

See 'Of all the girls.'

SATAN FINDS SOME MISCHIEF STILL (_D.C._ 16)

See p. 80.

_Dr. Watts._

SEE FROM OCEAN RISING (_S.B.T._ 7)

See _Paul and Virginia_.

SHE'S ALL MY FANCY PAINTED HER (_O.C.S._ 7)

('Alice Gray.')

See 'Yet lov'd I.'