Carlisle MS

Vaughan Willams Memorial Library
Part of QM 9732
Original (meaning AGG’s copy) filed with Anne Geddes Gilchrist Manuscript collection AGG/2/137
Introduction by Chris Partington, 2005.
This MS was purchased in Carlisle by Charles Lolley and placed in the Frank Kidson Collection.
Anne Geddes Gilchrist at some point had access to it, transcribing twenty two of the seventy three tunes she says there was, and made the annotation. The original MS has since disappeared.
Although it has been referred to in some places as the 1861Carlisle Manuscript or the J.Nicholson MS, due to its inscription as such inside the cover, there is nothing about the contents to suggest anything later than the 1812 mentioned after two of the tune titles. For example, there are no quadrilles, polkas, schottisches etc., and the waltzes are of the early style, being rhythmical rather than lyrical, and are notated in 3/8, at a period when 3/4 was still likely to be a minuet. All the personalities too are from this period. It seems likely that AGG thought so too, judging by her cautious introduction.
AGG was interested in the Morgiana tunes, the possibility that waltz tunes could be used in a country dance formation (see Madame Catalani’s Waltz and The Three Knights Waltz), and that so could hornpipe tunes (see Calver Lodge).
It is nice to see C. Lolley referred to specifically as a friend of F.Kidson and not just an informant.
.
AGG’s notes, and the tunes not transcribed, are in normal script, the tunes she transcribed are in Bold, and my editorial comments are in italics.
“Carlisle MS
(in F.Kidson’s collection)
MS “purchased at Carlisle 1920 – C. Lolley”
Contains a date “1861” in pencil on p.1, and inside the end cover:
“J.Nicholson, Jan. the 15th, 1861”
Also in pencil “Charlie”
(C. Lolley was a friend of F.K.’s and supplied him with tunes)
The book occasionally contains directions for the dances, from which we learn that a “waltz” might serve as a country dance tune e.g. “Madame Catalani’s Waltz” (in 6/8 time) [Ed. In fact it is noted in 3/8 time, as was normal for the early period waltzes, but it does include directions for a country dance].
?46 [or ?96..AGG’s writing not clear] leaves, a few missing as the MS begins at p13 with “Lowther Castle”. Seventy three named tunes, with a few later insertions in blank spaces, such as “The Blue Bonnets Over The Border” “The Troubadour” etc., and in a different hand.
The long oblong book is ruled in four staves. The music script and manuscript are in the same hand throughout *(except for the few later insertions above mentioned), both very clear, neat, and slender and generally slightly sloped.
Many local titles:-
Lowther Castle,
Carlisle Races,
The Cumberland Reel,
The Richardly Quickstep,
The Edenside Ranger’s Quick March,
A Trip To Netherby.
The following may also be of local allusion
Miss Sara Graham’s Favourite Waltz 6/8 time Eb
Miss Bunch of Brown Park’s Waltz 6/8 time Bb
The Birthday of The Little Doctor
Miss Tilney Long’s Waltz
Major Cawood’s compliments to Miss Warwick
Miss Ord’s Reel
Miss Ponsonby’s Reel
Farewell to Low Houae
Calver Lodge
Calver Quickstep
General graham’s Waltz
Flim’s Castle
The tunes begin with:-
Lowther Castle
Carlisle Races
Crop The Croppies
The New Grand O.P. Dance
The Recovery
Crop The Croppies. Directions are given for this: Hands across, back again, down the mid, up again, poussette. On the opposite page is a jig tune:-
Port and Sherry and a Dram of Brandy
The Runaway
Don Quixote’s Waltz
The Dutch Skipper (see Kershaw)
[Directions(For the New Grand O.P. Dance)] The first lady to promenade round the first gentleman into her place. First gentleman do the same (which forms the O). Down the middle and cast up (to form the P) then the whole of the company foot it in the O.P style.
The Gloucester Waltz p42
An Original Swiss Waltz
[Directions to unspecified dance]Change sides, back again, down the middle, up again, turn your partner and swing corners
The Amazon Frigate or Mrs Courteney [How dare you speak of my wife in that manner!]
[Directions to unspecified dance] Cast off three couples and back again. Allemande at the top with your partner. Down the middle. Allemande and Pousette.
Julia’s Cottage 1812
Richards or Persian Dance
The Spanish Patriots-1810
Morgiana In Spain in Ld. Wellington’s Camp
The Birthday of the Little Doctor
The Richardly Quickstep
(This comes next to Julia’s Cottage with the date 1812)
Wellington was created Earl, and next Marquis, in 1812.
M. Morgiana etc.
B.G.? Begin again? The Fine must be at the end of the stave.
[Directions] Set and hands four around and back again. Poussette right and left at top.
M.. Morgiana in Nova Scotia 6/8
Tarry a while with me, my cher pettite. Country Dance
Leith Races 2/4
Thje Ridicule, a reel
p60 Major Cawood’s Compliments to Miss Warwick (a reel)
No directions for dancing this
Mony Musk
Epsom Races 6/8
The Soldiers Joy M W (?)
Miss Tilney Long’s Waltz 1812
The Cumberland Reel
The Savage Dance
The Edenside Rangers Quick March
The Miller Of Drone
The Fairy Dance (Neil Gow’s)
Lead out sides and back again, hands four round wind quite back again right and left (The dotted form)
[Red Red Roses]
Another hand has inserted “near Carlisle” after Netherby
Farewell to Low House
A Trip To Netherby by Mr Hill
The Marchioness of Douglass’ Favourite
Morgiana in France
Miss Gayton’s Hornpipe This is “Hornpipe as played in Carlisle Theatre” W.Irwin
My Wife a Winsome Wee Thing
The Three Knights Waltz but directions for a country dance
Fairy Revels (like Fairy dance?)
Calver Lodge like hornpipe [country dance from description]
Marchioness of Queensbury by Mr Don 9/8
M. .Morgiana in France see also Irwin 2[ie.Folio] the London Morgiana
Antinon 2/4 by Lady Caroline Bertie
Tank see Kershaw
The directions are:- “four hands round back again, down the middle up again lead out sides, poussette.”
And at the bottom of the page :- “Hands across, back again, down the middle, up again.
These may have been written earlier. They are not in the same pen.
The Woodbine 6/8
The Brighton Rondo 6/8
Calver Lodge
Flim’s Castle a country dance
The Light Company’s Quick March, this has a bass part
Madame Catalani’s Waltz
Pam Loo or Who’s Lucky 2/4
Whittington’s Cat (Waltz?)
Don Whiskerand’s? Waltz Steibelt
Silver ?Miners Waltz
General Graham’s Waltz
The Light Company’s Quick March
La Belle ?Laitrere
The Rising of the Lark
Madame Catalani’s Waltz
Directions to Madame Catalani’s Waltz:- Hands across, back again, down the middle up again, allemande. Catalani 1779-1849 debut at Venice 1797. Thirty years triumph all over Europe. £10,000 during 4 months engagement in London 1806. Retired from stage 1827.
The Honey Moon