Back to Bits & Bobs
Back to Homepage
circa 1770 from contextual evidence
Transcription into ABC format by John Bagnall for the Village
Music Project
This neatly handwritten manuscript book forms part of the Frank
Kidson Collection in the Mitchell Library, Glasgow.
The origin of the manuscript is unknown but may be northern
English, due to its having been in the possession of Frank Kidson.
There are 62 separate musical items, some of them in parts for two
voices.
These comprise tunes for:-
21 marches
14 minuets
10 airs
6 jig country dances
5 miscellaneous country dances
3 gavots
3 common-time country dances
Thus 31 out of 62 tunes may have been used for dancing purposes.
All of these dance tunes were readily available in print in the
third quarter of the 18th Century, and do not suggest that
Benjamin Cooke necessarily had any agriculural or other working
class connection.
The majority of the rest of the tunes have a distinct martial
flavour, suggesting connection with the military.
The 21 marches form as good a selection as you will find in any of
our collections, displaying extra-ordinary variety and taste. If
you’re looking for a march you should find one here.
Half the dance tunes are minuets, and again display variety and
taste.
Some of the tunes are connected with stage personalities.
The social life implied sounds like that of an 18th Century Army
officer.
Why this musician wrote down these particular tunes is open to
speculation. Was he a professional musician? There was indeed an
organist and composer Benjamin Cooke (1734-93) of great fame but
it is unlikely to have been him.
Our B. Cooke nevertheless seems to have written a book of tunes
that indicates at least pretensions to social elevation, and to
have reflected in the country dance tunes the popularity of
country dancing amongst polite society in the late 18th Century.
Was he an amateur flautist when off duty? Or was he in, or even in
charge of, the regimental music?
There was a Samuel Foote, 1720-1777, wit, playwright, and actor,
just like in Blackadder!
Is this a bad translation of “Tempesta Di Mare”(Storm at Sea)
Opus 8 & Opus 10. By Vivaldi ? Anybody know the tune?
Maria(1733-1760), Countess of Coventry, was noted in her time for
her great beauty. Once she was mobbed in Hyde Park and the King
hearing of it said she must be protected. The next evening out she
paraded up and down for two hours proudly escorted by two
Sergeants in front and a dozen Privates in file behind, all in
full dress uniform. Unfortunately she was also known for her
remarkable silliness. She died of consumption at the age of 27,
having borne 5 children.
Humphrey Bland(1686-1756), of Bland’s Fort, Queen’s County,
Ireland, was a Military Gentleman. He fought at Fontenoy,
Culloden, etc,. He was outlived by many years by his (very young)
wife Elizabeth, who died in 1816, having had a full sixty years as
a widow. CGP.
Charles John Stanley (1713-86) a prominent organist, composer of
oratorios, operas, concertos, etc. Blind from age of two, he
succeeded William Boyce as Master of the King’s Band in 1779. Was
painted by Gainsborough..CGP..
Several works between 1735-1756 by Thomas Arne involving
Harlequins could be the source of this tune. CGP.
The closest I have been able to get has been Persee By
Jean-Baptiste Lully, 1682, but this doesn’t rule out there being
other contenders.CGP,.
Charles,1721-1776, served with the Duke Of Cumberland in
Flanders,Scotland,and Holland, and was wounded at Fontenoy, along
with everybody else, seemingly.CGP.
I don’t suppose this was a particularly popular tune north of the
border, where the Duke’s army waged a campaign against the rebels
noted, even by the standards of the time, for it’s savagery. CGP.
There are at least 4 distinguished Capt. Hoods of around the
right period, all of whom were related and all of whom went on to
achieve high office in the Admiralty, admirals etc.CGP.
Ann Pitt(1720-1799) was one of the most celebrated actresses of
her day, amongst other roles creating Polly Peachum in the
Beggar’s Opera.
She last appeared on the stage in 1792. She had a daughter Harriet
Pitt who was a dancer at Covent Garden from Jan 1762-1768, and who
changed her stage name on marriage from “Miss Pitt” to
“Mrs.Davenet” to distinguish herself from her still working
mother,.CGP
G.F.Handel(1685-1759) wrote the Occasional Oratorio in 1746, not
long after the Messiah.
Or his son Michael Arne,1740-1786, who was also a composer to
theatres and pleasure gardens.
The tune for the Morris Dance “Lads A’Bunchum”,Adderbury…CGP…
Sir John Ligonier escaped from France as a 17yr old Huguenot in
1697, joined the Dragoons in 1702 under Marlborough, was Colonel
of a “splendid Regiment of Irish Dragoons” by 1720, fought with
distinction in the continental wars of the mid-century, became
progressively Viscount, Commander-in-Chief, Earl and Field Marshal
by 1766. Last, and by all means least, also had a tune named after
him.
These notes by Chris Partington.
Back to Bits & Bobs
Back to Homepage