This is a copy of the first published edition (c.1817) of the twelve romances Hortense de Beauharnais (1783–1837) wrote for her brother, Eugène, originally privately printed (with French text only), in limited numbers for presentation while she was still Queen of Holland, after which the plates were destroyed.  What may be a proof copy, inscribed […]

Some of you may be familiar with The Triumphes of Oriana, the famous book of madrigals by various Elizabethan composers compiled by Thomas Morley in 1601 in honour of Elizabeth I. The late Queen Elizabeth II received a similar choral compilation in 1953: A Garland for the Queen, with pieces by the likes of Bliss, […]

On the evening of 27 April 1848, at St James’s Theatre in London, a special charity performance of Colman’s comedy The Heir-at-Law took place, to raise funds for the Artists’ General Benevolent Institution (founded 1814 and still in existence today). It was billed as an ‘Artists’ Amateur Performance’, and all the male roles were taken […]

Happy New Year! January is going to be busy: firstly, getting everything ready to exhibit at the California book fair next month and secondly, recording a CD of my music with the wonderful ensemble London Choral Sinfonia.  It’s hard to believe that’s it’s almost twenty years since I wrote Advent Calendar, one of my first […]

2024 marked one hundred years since the death of the composer Sir Charles Villiers Stanford. Above is Leslie Ward‘s caricature of him for Vanity Fair in 1905. I have been singing Stanford’s music since I was a treble in my local parish church choir, so he has been a feature of my life for over […]

Back in September, I blogged about my catalogue project The English Choral Tradition. Part II: The Victorians and beyond is now available and I thought I’d highlight one item in it. This little card (it measures only 62 × 99 mm; I’ve enlarged it here so you can see the performers) shows what looks like […]