Although the 18th Century witnessed a remarkable demand for the new pianoforte and a proliferation of printed music, music history records little of the female musicians for whom these goods were intended and whose study and performance filled 18th Century middle- and upper-class homes. – Mimi Hart, Assistant Professor, Ohio University, 2002
Much of the music during the 18th century was written for women to perform at home. Jane Austen practiced on the pianoforte every day, preferring popular music by composers we barely know, like Shield, Pleyel, Dibdin, Sterkel, Kotzwara, and comic songs. From 1750 to 1810, Jane meticulously copied works or musical items into manuscripts that were 85 to 95 pages long. A total of 8 musical manuscripts survive from Chawton Cottage. Of those, three volumes are handwritten, and two are in Jane’s handwriting. (Read my more extensive post on the topic, Jane Austen and Music.)
Watch Silent Worship from Handel’s Tolomeo from the movie Emma, 1996. Jane might well have heard the melody, for Handel wrote Tolomeo in 1728. However, Mike Parker informs me that the words were written by Arthur Somervell, who was born in 1863, over 40 years after Jane’s death. Be that as it may, the scene in the movie is reminiscent of the amateur musical concerts friends and family played for a family gathering.
- Corda Music – Jane Austen’s Music – The Project
- Learn more at this site, Jane Austen: Music and the Truly Accomplished Woman
- The Piano Forte, Gentleman’s Magazine, January, 1812: Prints George
A square piano similar to Jane’s at Chawton Cottage.
Lyrics to Silent Worship by Arthur Somervell (1863-1937)
Did you not hear My Lady
Go down the garden singing
Blackbird and thrush were silent
To hear the alleys ringing
Oh saw you not My Lady
Out in the garden there
Shaming the rose and lily
For she is twice as fair.
Though I am nothing to her
Though she must rarely look at me
And though I could never woo her
I love her till I die
Surely you heard My Lady
Go down the garden singing
Silencing all the songbirds
And setting the alleys ringing
But surely you see My Lady
Out in the garden there
Rivaling the glittering sunshine
With a glory of golden hair
Adaptation einer Arie aus G. F. Handel’s Tolomeo “Non lo diro col labbro, 1728
Illustrations by James Gillray: 1800, Ars Musica and 1810, A Little Music
Post updated: Feb 26, 2008
Hi there,
just a couple of points…
the piano at Chawton was not the one Miss Jane bought.. hers was believed to be a Stodart, and the one at Chawton (which is lovely and a delight to play!) is marked as being “like the one…”
also, the Setting of silent Worship as used in the Emma film… the lyreics are by Arthur Somervell, and he wasn’t born until 1863, so sorry, but Miss Jane did not know the song…
Be well and happy,
Mike Parker
Thank you, Mike. One is only as good as one’s sources. The changes have been made.
have you heard of the music of Serge Conus? He was the son of Julius Conus. It’s a shame that music sometimes dies when the artist passes. this is my effort to keep this tragedy from happening. Please check out the website and listen to some of the pieces being offered freely. Perhaps you can help us uncover this lost music?
[…] Jane Austen’s Music, my earlier post which contains a few common mistakes […]
mermermermermermermermermermer
If you really think about it, Mac Miller would be a good addition to the music on this page. His style is so much similar to music back in the day. Especially his song Donald Trump…a classic! Stay most dope everybody! :p
I have to sing “Silent Worship @a competion and is not a proffesional singer but do have a good voice.I hope I will do well.I love this song.