Chapter I: Preface

For many years I have been interested in the various musical references in Dickens' works, and have had the impression that a careful examination of his writings would reveal an aspect of his character hitherto unknown, and, I may add, unsuspected. The centenary of his birth hastened a work long contemplated, and a first reading (after many years) brought to light an amount of material far in excess of what I anticipated, while a second examination convinced me that there is, perhaps, no great writer who has made a more extensive use of music to illustrate character and create incident than Charles Dickens. From an historical point of view these references are of the utmost importance, for they reflect to a nicety the general condition of ordinary musical life in England during the middle of the last century. We do not, of course, look to Dickens for a history of classical music during the period--those who want this will find it in the newspapers and magazines; but for the story of music in the ordinary English home, for the popular songs of the period, for the average musical attainments of the middle and lower classes (music was not the correct thing amongst the 'upper ten'), we must turn to the pages of Dickens' novels. It is certainly strange that no one has hitherto thought of tapping this source of information. In and about 1887 the papers teemed with articles that outlined the history of music during the first fifty years of Victoria's reign; but I have not seen one that attempted to derive first-hand information from the sources referred to, nor indeed does the subject of 'Dickens and Music' ever appear to have received the attention which, in my opinion, it deserves.

I do not profess to have chronicled _all_ the musical references, nor has it been possible to identify every one of the numerous quotations from songs, although I have consulted such excellent authorities as Dr. Cummings, Mr. Worden (Preston), and Mr. J. Allanson Benson (Bromley). I have to thank Mr. Frank Kidson, who, I understand, had already planned a work of this description, for his kind advice and assistance. There is no living writer who has such a wonderful knowledge of old songs as Mr. Kidson, a knowledge which he is ever ready to put at the disposal of others. Even now there are some half-dozen songs which every attempt to run to earth has failed, though I have tried to 'mole 'em out' (as Mr. Pancks would say) by searching through some hundreds of song-books and some thousands of separate songs.

Should any of my readers be able to throw light on dark places I shall be very glad to hear from them, with a view to making the information here presented as complete and correct as possible if another edition should be called for. May I suggest to the Secretaries of our Literary Societies, Guilds, and similar organizations that a pleasant evening might be spent in rendering some of the music referred to by Dickens. The proceedings might be varied by readings from his works or by historical notes on the music. Many of the pieces are still in print, and I shall be glad to render assistance in tracing them. Perhaps this idea will also commend itself to the members of the Dickens Fellowship, an organization with which all lovers of the great novelist ought to associate themselves.

JAMES T. LIGHTWOOD.
LYTHAM,
_October, 1912._

I truly love Dickens; and discern in the inner man of
him a tone of real Music which struggles to express
itself, as it may in these bewildered, stupefied
and, indeed, very crusty and distracted days--better
or worse!

THOMAS CARLYLE.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I. DICKENS AS A MUSICIAN 1

II. INSTRUMENTAL COMBINATIONS 23

III. VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS: FLUTE, ORGAN, GUITAR
(AND SOME HUMMERS) 36

IV. VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS (_continued_) 56

V. CHURCH MUSIC 69

VI. SONGS AND SOME SINGERS 83

VII. SOME NOTED SINGERS 112

LIST OF SONGS, &c., MENTIONED BY DICKENS 135

INDEX OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 164

INDEX OF CHARACTERS 165

GENERAL INDEX 169

LIST OF MUSIC TITLES, &c., FOUNDED ON
DICKENS' CHARACTERS 172

LIST OF WORKS REFERRED TO

_With Abbreviations Used_

_American Notes_ 1842 _A.N._
_Barnaby Rudge_ 1841 _B.R._
_Battle of Life_ 1848 _B.L._
_Bleak House_ 1852-3 _B.H._
_Chimes_ 1844 _Ch._
_Christmas Carol_ 1843 _C.C._
_Christmas Stories_ -- _C.S._
_Christmas Stories_--
Dr. Marigold's Prescription 1865 _Dr. M._
Going into Society 1855 _G.S._
Holly Tree 1855 _H.T._
Mugby Junction 1866 _M.J._
Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgings 1863 --
No Thoroughfare 1867 _N.T._
Somebody's Luggage 1862 _S.L._
Wreck of the Golden Mary 1856 _G.M._
_Collected Papers_ -- _C.P._
_Cricket on the Hearth_ 1845 _C.H._
_Dombey & Son_ 1847-8 _D. & S._
_David Copperfield_ 1849-50 _D.C._
_Edwin Drood_ 1870 _E.D._
_Great Expectations_ 1860-1 _G.E._
_Hard Times_ 1854 _H.T._
_Haunted House_ 1859 --
_Haunted Man_ 1848 _H.M._
_Holiday Romance_ -- _H.R._
_Little Dorrit_ 1855-6 _L.D._
_Martin Chuzzlewit_ 1843-4 _M.C._
_Master Humphrey's Clock_ 1840-1 _M.H.C._
_Mystery of Edwin Drood_ 1870 _E.D._
_Nicholas Nickleby_ 1838-9 _N.N._
_Old Curiosity Shop_ 1840 _O.C.S._
_Oliver Twist_ 1837-8 _O.T._
_Our Mutual Friend_ 1864 _O.M.F._
_Pickwick Papers_ 1836-7 _P.P._
_Pictures from Italy_ 1846 _It._
_Reprinted Pieces_--
Our Bore 1852 --
Our English Watering-Place 1851 --
Our French Watering-Place 1854 --
Our School 1851 --
Out of the Season 1856 --
_Sketches by Boz_ 1835-6 _S.B._
Characters -- _S.B.C._
Our Parish -- --
Scenes -- _S.B.S._
Tales -- _S.B.T._
_Sunday under Three Heads_ 1836 --
_Sketches of Young People_ 1840 --
_Sketches of Young Gentlemen_ 1838 --
_Tale of Two Cities, A_ 1859 --
_Uncommercial Traveller_ 1860-9 _U.T._

CHARLES DICKENS AND MUSIC