Print of the Day: The Spelling Bee, A Comic Vocal Medley, 19th C.

The Spelling Bee
England, Nineteenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum

A pretty piece of Nineteenth-Century lithography, this page is the cover for sheet music for "The Spelling Bee" which was written by Frank W. Green with  music by Alfred Lee, and published by C. Sheard, Musical Bouquet Office, London.

A fitting cover for this "comic vocal medley," the illustration by a now-unknown artist depicts a studious, bespectacled bee who is learning how to spell what it is.

Print of the Day: The Fun & Frolic Lancers,

Here we see the sheet music cover for “Fun and Frolic Lancers” which was written by Warwick Williams (1846-unknown), and published by Francis Bros & Day. The cover shows a gaggle of circus folk and characters engaged in circus-type hi-jinks. I suppose one could call it “fun and frolic.”

This chromolithograph cover dates to the 1880s and is the work of the expert lithographer Alfred Concanen (1835-1886). At some point, it was backed with card.

It reads at the top:

INTRODUCING

TING, TING, THAT'S HOW THE BELL GOES - CLARA WIL YOU COME OUT TO-NIGHT - I KISSED HER UNDER
THE PARLOR STAIRS - TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO - OH JOHNNY DON'T YOU GO TO SEA - DEAR ME - I'LL MEET HER
WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN - TAKING OUT THE BABY - IT'S ALL UP WITH POOR TOMMY NOW - &c. &c. 

Drawing of the Day: Sheet Music Cover for 'Le Petit Carnaval,' 19th C.

Sheet Music Cover
Mid Nineteenth Century
English
The George Speaight Archive
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Our Mr. Punch inspired many a composer, it seems, and, similarly, he has appeared on a host of sheet music covers.  Here’s one such cover for “Le Petit Carnaval” a “quadrille facile,” depicting Mr. Punch among a group of people at a carnival in a tent.

I imagine that Punch would rather enjoy a carnival, and, this is a rather posh carnival in a heavily draped tent, festooned with garlands of flowers and hung with a brilliant chandelier.  The attendees, aside from the clowns, and, of course, Mr. Punch, are attired in court dress.  Punch is greeting an elegant young lady.

This print was created in the mid Nineteenth Century with artwork by John Brandard (1812-1863).

Antique Image of the Day: The German Prince, 19th C.

The German Prince
Nineteenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum

“The German Prince” was written by Albert Hall (Ha!) and  composed by Walter de Frece to be sung by Miss Vesta Tilley in the late Nineteenth Century.  Tilley would have performed the song in her trademark male apparel.  

Here, we see an original color song-sheet of “The German Prince” from the era.  The art is by H.G. Banks.  

Drawing of the Day: Whoa! The Animals, c. 1898

Whoa!  The Animals
Francis, Day & Hunter, c. 1898
The Victoria and Albert Museum

Here we see a sheet music cover for “Whoa! The Animals.” The song was written and composed by A.J. Mills (1872-1919) with Frank W. Carter. This printing was published by Francis, Day & Hunter, circa 1898. The company, on the reverse, lists other comic songs in their catalog.


The front piece is printed with a background of pale blues and greens with the title a gold oval with a gold border. From behind this, a group of animals, including: a pig, a lion, a tiger, a hippo and a nasty snake, look out. The snake’s tongue reaches for the tall hat of a gent who is most likely meant to represent the singer of the song, one Frank Coyne.

Print of the Day: The Owl Quadrille, 1850

The British Museum

From the British Museum, we have the music-cover sheet from "The Owl Quadrille" by Charles Coote.  This handsome chromolithograph features a group of owls nestled into an ivy bush.  One wears a wig, others wear hats and glasses or a crown.  

The sheet music was published in London, circa 1850, by M. Davison and the printmaker was Britain's Thomas Wales Lee.

The music is inscribed:

"Tom Lee lith,"

and above,

"Composed expressly for & played at Mr Alfred Mellon's concerts."

Antique Image of the Day: Sheet music cover for "Quadrille,"

Sheet Music Cover
circa 1880
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Here, we see a sheet music cover for “Quadrille”  by H.S. Roberts.  The chromolithograph depicts Mr. Punch, Judy and Dog Toby.  It was printed in London in the 1880s. 

This page has been preserved by being glued to a card backing.

Unusual Artifacts: Sheet Music for The Punch & Judy Man

Sheet Music for "The Punch & Judy Man"
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Rooty Tooty, Rooty Tooty, blame me if you can. 
I'm a broken-hearted, Rooty Tooty, Punch and Judy Man.


Here, we see the illustrated sheet music cover for the song, “The Punch & Judy Man” as sung by George Leybourne and written and composed by R. Coote. This music was published in London by H. D'Alcorn & Co. in the late Nineteenth Century.  

Mr. Punch, by this time, had long been a part of the British art world and had already lent his name to several popular songs.  

The cover illustration by Alfred Concanen (1835 - 1886) depicts a fracas at a Punch & Judy show wherein the “Professor” seems to have bested another man who, I assume, started the imbroglio.  Judy lies on the ground next to the Dog Toby who barks at the fisticuffs.  Mr. Punch and Joey the Clown have been tossed into the air during the melee, but neither seems to mind. 

The caption on the image references the traditional sound made by Mr. Punch, "rooty tooty"--a noise developed in the Seventeenth Century by Punch and Judy Professors who used a device called a "swazzle" (still in use today, and, I can attest, a difficult instrument to learn).  The sound was meant to be instantly recognizable and serve to attract audiences.

Print of the Day: Sheet music cover for "Punchinello Lancers," 1896

Sheet Music for the Punchinello Lancers, 1896
from the George Speaight Punch & Judy Archive
The Victoria & Albert Museum 

Here, we see the sheet music cover for “Punchinello Lancers” by Warwick Williams, published by Francis, Day & Hunter, 1896.  The cover depicts our Mr. Punch holding a puppet labeled “A Wall Flower.” 

The following texts accompanies the music:  

INTRODUCING THE MELODIES OF THE FOLLOWING POPULAR SONGS, / SWEETHEART MAY - ALGY, OR, THE PICCADILLY JOHNNIE WITH THE LITTLE GLASS EYE - / I WANT YER, MA HONEY - SHE WAS ONE OF THE EARLY BIRDS - IT'S A GREAT BIG SHAME - / RHODA RODE A ROADSTER - THE GIRL ON THE RAN-DAN-DAN - LITTLE TEDDY BROWN DOWN AT MARGIT - WHY DON'T YOU MARRY THE GIRL? - GLORIANA WALTZ - THE GIDDY LITTLE POLKA - JOHNNY JONES, OR, WHAT'S THAT FOR, EH? - / DARLING MABEL - NOW SHAN'T BE LONG - THE NEW PHOTOGRAPHEE, AND THE SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN

Print of the Day: Sheet music cover for "The Punchinello Quadrille," c. 1850

Punchinello Quadrille
Britain, 1850
The Victoria & Albert Museum

“The Punchinello Quadrille" was written by Henri Bohlman Sauzeau. Dating to about 1850, this sheet music cover for the popular song was published by W. Strange & Co. and the Musical Bouquet Office. The front cover depicts a scene of a Punch and Judy show above the music for the quadrille. The verso contains the first page of music for "The Magistrate" and "The Dog."

Print of the Day: The Fun & Frolic Lancers,

Here we see the sheet music cover for “Fun and Frolic Lancers” which was written by Warwick Williams (1846-unknown), and published by Francis Bros & Day. The cover shows a gaggle of circus folk and characters engaged in circus-type hi-jinks. I suppose one could call it “fun and frolic.”

This chromolithograph cover dates to the 1880s and is the work of the expert lithographer Alfred Concanen (1835-1886). At some point, it was backed with card.

It reads at the top:

INTRODUCING

TING, TING, THAT'S HOW THE BELL GOES - CLARA WIL YOU COME OUT TO-NIGHT - I KISSED HER UNDER
THE PARLOR STAIRS - TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO - OH JOHNNY DON'T YOU GO TO SEA - DEAR ME - I'LL MEET HER
WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN - TAKING OUT THE BABY - IT'S ALL UP WITH POOR TOMMY NOW - &c. &c. 

Print of the Day: Whoa! The Animals, c. 1898

Whoa!  The Animals
Francis, Day & Hunter, c. 1898
The Victoria and Albert Museum

Here we see a sheet music cover for “Whoa! The Animals.” The song was written and composed by A.J. Mills (1872-1919) with Frank W. Carter. This printing was published by Francis, Day & Hunter, circa 1898. The company, on the reverse, lists other comic songs in their catalog.


The front piece is printed with a background of pale blues and greens with the title a gold oval with a gold border. From behind this, a group of animals, including: a pig, a lion, a tiger, a hippo and a nasty snake, look out. The snake’s tongue reaches for the tall hat of a gent who is most likely meant to represent the singer of the song, one Frank Coyne.

Print of the Day: Sheet music cover for "The Punchinello Quadrille," c. 1850

Punchinello Quadrille
Britain, 1850
The Victoria & Albert Museum

“The Punchinello Quadrille" was written by Henri Bohlman Sauzeau. Dating to about 1850, this sheet music cover for the popular song was published by W. Strange & Co. and the Musical Bouquet Office. The front cover depicts a scene of a Punch and Judy show above the music for the quadrille. The verso contains the first page of music for "The Magistrate" and "The Dog."

Print of the Day: Song Sheet Cover for 'Oh! The Jubilee,' c. 1887

Oh!  The Jubilee
Sheet Music Cover
H.G. Banks, Artist
for Francis Bros., and Day
The Harry Beard Collection
The Victoria & Albert Museum

You must be patient with me today. My Internet connection is being ornery. I don't know if it's from the warm weather, the rain that's bearing down on this area or just the fact that the world is trying to make me batty. Nevertheless, as updates are able to roll out today, they will. But rest assured, I've got the usual fun in store for you and then some.

So, let's push on. Shall we?

Written and composed by James Tighe in the late 1880s for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, “Oh! The Jubilee,” was published by Francis Bros. and Day. We see the cover for the song, depicting performer Charles Coborn surrounded by comic items suggesting “Jubilee” such as the “Jubilee Frying Pan,” “Jubilee Pills,” etc. Published by Francis Bros & Day.

At the Music Hall: The Punch & Judy Polka by Oscar Barrett, 1889

Sheet Music Cover for Punch and Judy Polka by Oscar Barrett
J. Marriot for Packer and Griffin
Published by Francis Bros. and Day
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Mr. Punch, as we know, has inspired a good many musical works, but no more so than during the Nineteenth Century. Here, we see a sheet music cover for “Punch & Judy Polka” by Oscar Barrett.

The polka was famously danced by Signor Francesco's Juvenile Dancers. It was imilarly performed by music hall troupes. This sheet music cover was published by Francis Bros & Day in 1889.

The image depicts a typical domestic scene in the Punch household. Mr. Punch stands with Judy who holds “the baby.” Ever the proud father, Punch has decided it’s best to poke the child in the head with his cudgel. The drawing was created by J. Marriot and Packer and Griffin acted as lithographers.

Antique Image of the Day: The German Prince, 19th C.

The German Prince
Nineteenth Century
The Victoria & Albert Museum

“The German Prince” was written by Albert Hall and  composed by Walter de Frece to be sung by Miss Vesta Tilley in the late Nineteenth Century.  Tilley would have performed the song in her trademark male apparel.  

Here, we see an original color song-sheet of “The German Prince” from the era.  The art is by H.G. Banks. 

Print of the Day: Sheet Music Cover for 'Le Petit Carnaval,' 19th C.

Sheet Music Cover
Mid Nineteenth Century
English
The George Speaight Archive
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Our Mr. Punch inspired many a composer, it seems, and, similarly, he has appeared on a host of sheet music covers.  Here’s one such cover for “Le Petit Carnaval” a “quadrille facile,” depicting Mr. Punch among a group of people at a carnival in a tent.

I imagine that Punch would rather enjoy a carnival, and, this is a rather posh carnival in a heavily draped tent, festooned with garlands of flowers and hung with a brilliant chandelier.  The attendees, aside from the clowns, and, of course, Mr. Punch, are attired in court dress.  Punch is greeting an elegant young lady.

This print was created in the mid Nineteenth Century with artwork by John Brandard (1812-1863).

Antique Image of the Day: Sheet music cover for "Quadrille,"

Sheet Music Cover
circa 1880
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Here, we see another sheet music cover for “Quadrille”  by H.S. Roberts.  The chromolithograph depicts Mr. Punch, Judy and Dog Toby.  It was printed in London in the 1880s. 

This page has been preserved by being glued to a card backing.

Print of the Day: Sheet music cover for "Punchinello Lancers," 1896

Sheet Music for the Punchinello Lancers, 1896
from the George Speaight Punch & Judy Archive
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Here, we see the sheet music cover for “Punchinello Lancers” by Warwick Williams, published by Francis, Day & Hunter, 1896.  The cover depicts our Mr. Punch holding a puppet labeled “A Wall Flower.” 

The following texts accompanies the music: 

INTRODUCING THE MELODIES OF THE FOLLOWING POPULAR SONGS, / SWEETHEART MAY - ALGY, OR, THE PICCADILLY JOHNNIE WITH THE LITTLE GLASS EYE - / I WANT YER, MA HONEY - SHE WAS ONE OF THE EARLY BIRDS - IT'S A GREAT BIG SHAME - / RHODA RODE A ROADSTER - THE GIRL ON THE RAN-DAN-DAN - LITTLE TEDDY BROWN DOWN AT MARGIT - WHY DON'T YOU MARRY THE GIRL? - GLORIANA WALTZ - THE GIDDY LITTLE POLKA - JOHNNY JONES, OR, WHAT'S THAT FOR, EH? - / DARLING MABEL - NOW SHAN'T BE LONG - THE NEW PHOTOGRAPHEE, AND THE SOLDIERS OF THE QUEEN

Unusual Artifacts: Sheet Music for The Punch & Judy Man

Sheet Music for "The Punch & Judy Man"
The Victoria & Albert Museum

Rooty Tooty, Rooty Tooty, blame me if you can.
I'm a broken-hearted, Rooty Tooty, Punch and Judy Man.


Here, we see the illustrated sheet music cover for the song, “The Punch & Judy Man” as sung by George Leybourne and written and composed by R. Coote.  This music was published in London by H. D'Alcorn & Co. in the late Nineteenth Century. 

Mr. Punch, by this time, had long been a part of the British art world and had already lent his name to several popular songs. 

The cover illustration by Alfred Concanen (1835 - 1886) depicts a fracas at a Punch & Judy show wherein the “Professor” seems to have bested another man who, I assume, started the imbroglio.  Judy lies on the ground next to the Dog Toby who barks at the fisticuffs.  Mr. Punch and Joey the Clown have been tossed into the air during the melee, but neither seems to mind. 


The caption on the image references the traditional sound made by Mr. Punch, "rooty tooty"--a noise developed in the Seventeenth Century by Punch and Judy Professors who used a device called a "swazzle" (still in use today, and, I can attest, a difficult instrument to learn).  The sound was meant to be instantly recognizable and serve to attract audiences.