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BALLAD OPERAS AND BALLADS 45
has often been ascribed to Dr. Arne, but it is by his son Michael Arne. The words are given in The Masque, published in 1767, where it is stated that they were "set by Mr. Michael Arne, and sung by Miss Wright at Ranelagh." Miss Wright was the lady who afterwards became Mrs. Michael Arne. Two well-known songs of the day, both composed by Michael Arne, were "The Highland Laddie" and "Sweet Poll of Plymouth," the latter being written for O'Keefe's dramatic piece The Positive Man.
A contemporary of Arne's was Dr. Boyce, who was known chiefly as a composer of church music. His interest for us as a writer of ballads centres in the fact that he was the composer of " Hearts of Oak," which is noticed elsewhere among the other popular nautical ballads of the century.
William Jackson, of Exeter, deserves a passing mention here, though his songs are but little known to-day. But they enjoyed a certain amount of popularity at the time, notably his " Encompassed in an angel's frame " and "Time has not thinned my flowing hair." Mention, too, should be made of Dr. Arnold, composer of " Amo, amas, I love a lass," and "The Spanish Armada." Arnold also wrote a number of operas, which contained many songs that were popular in their day. |
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