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62 A CENTURY OF BALLADS |
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"He had a bold and manly manner of singing," says a contemporary writer, "mixed, however, with considerable feeling which went to the hearts of his countrymen. He sang like a true Englishman. . . . His forte was ballad, and ballad not of the modern cast of whining or wanton sentiment, but the original manly, energetic strain of an earlier and better age of English poesy and English song-writing, such as 'Black-Ey'd Susan' and 'The Storm'; the bold and cheering hunting song, or the love song of Shield, breathing the chaste and simple grace of genuine English melody."
Incledon was an unrivalled singer of nautical songs, many of which, and "The Storm' in particular, he used to sing in character. "The Storm," it may be mentioned here, was composed by G. A. Stevens, and must not be confused with a song of the same name written by John Hullah, a composer who belongs to the early nineteenth century.
Incledon was a very vain man, and there are many stories of him current to illustrate this. He himself used to tell the following story of Mrs. Siddons apropos of his singing of " The Storm " : " Mrs. Siddons once paid me one of the finest compliments I ever received. I sang 'The Storm ' after dinner ; she cried and sobbed like a child. Taking both my hands she said, ' All |
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