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48 A CENTURY OF BALLADS |
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disappointed love, that her parents at length gave way, and all ended happily. The song used to be sung with great success by Tenducci at Ranelagh.
The words of " Auld Robin Gray" were written by Lady Anne Lindsay, afterwards Lady Anne Barnard, when a young girl. The authorÂship remained anonymous for many years, and was much disputed. Curiously enough, the same happened in the case of the music, which was composed by the Rev. William Leeves in 1770, but was not generally known to be his until about 1812.
"The Lass of Richmond Hill," composed by James Hook, and said to be a favourite of George III, is a song that has retained a good deal of popularity. Hook, who, by the way, was the father of the famous humorist Theodore Hook, also composed the music to " Within a mile of Edinboro' Town." His contemporary John Percy is now only remembered as being the composer of " Wapping Old Stairs."
We next come to a composer whom the writer in Gi'ove says "was perhaps the most original English composer since Purcell," namely, William Shield. Among his most popular songs are "The Thorn," "The Wolf," "The Heaving of the Lead," "Old Towler," "The Arethusa," "The Ploughboy," and "The Post Captain." |
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