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The Lass of Richmond Hill

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The Lass of Richmond Hill, also known as The Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill, is a song written by Leonard McNally to music composed by James Hook.[1] It was first publicly performed in 1789 and is now considered to be a traditional or folk song associated with the Richmond, Yorkshire, although the music is also used as a military march by the British army.

Lyricist and composer

See also: Leonard McNally and James Hook (composer)

The words were written by Leonard McNally[2] (1752-1820[3]), who was a Dublin barrister, playwright, a leader of the radical Irish revolutionary society, the United Irishmen, but also a double agent for the British Government. [4][5] McNally would betray his United Irishmen colleagues to the authorities and then, as defence counsel at their trial, would secretly collaborate with the prosecution to secure a conviction. [6].[7].[8] He also wrote a number of songs and operettas, including for Covent Garden.[2] The music was composed by James Hook (1746 – 1827), a composer and organist at Vauxhall Gardens from 1774 to 1820. [9] Hook composed over 2,000 songs, the best known of which was The Lass of Richmond Hill. [9]

Background

The "lass" referred to is Frances I’Anson, who Leonard McNally married in 1787.[2][10] Frances’ family owned a property in Richmond, Yorkshire called "Hill House", hence "lass of Richmond Hill". [2] Frances’ father disapproved of McNally and the couple had to elope in order to marry.[10] Frances died in childbirth five years after getting married; she was 29.[10][11]

Performance history and reception

The song was first performed publicly by Charles Incledon at Vauxhall Gardens in 1789, although McNally appears to have written the words long before that,[2] and became one of the most popular ballads at the time. [12] The song remains popular.[13] According to the musicologist and conductor Peter Holman, “A way of celebrating national identity was to place a love-story in a picturesque British rural setting. The most famous song of this type is James Hook’s The Lass of Richmond Hill”[14]

As the music epitomises Hook’s charming but sanitised folk-song style, it is often wrongly believed to be a genuine traditional folk song.[15] Indeed, it has become a Scottish country dance ”[16] It has also been used as a military march by the British army and is the Regimental march of the Women’s Royal Army Corps [17]and the Middlesex Yeomanry [18] and was the march of the 107th Regiment of Foot (Bengal Light Infantry) (a predecessor of the Royal Sussex Regiment). [19]

References

  1. ^ Latham, Alison (ed.) (2004). Oxford Dictionary of Musical Works. p. 91. ISBN 978-0198610205. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e Fitz-Gerald, S. J. Adair (2005 - reprint of 1901 edition). Stories of Famous Songs. p. 169. ISBN 978-1417960163. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ Keogh, Daire (1998). Patriot Priest: A Life of Reverend James Coigly. p. 81. ISBN 978-1859181423. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Ranelagh, John O'Beirne (1995). A Short History of Ireland. p. 83. ISBN 978-0521469449.
  5. ^ McMahon, Sean (1996). A Short History of Ireland. p. 112. ISBN 978-0802313195.
  6. ^ "Leonard McNally". The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Encyclopedia.com. 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  7. ^ Alfrd John Webb (1878). "Leonard McNally". A Compendium of Irish Biography. Library Ireland. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  8. ^ Adrian Hardiman (July/August 2005). "The (Show?) Trial of Robert Emmet". History Ireland. 13 (4). Retrieved 30 December 2012. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  9. ^ a b Kennedy, Michael (2004). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. p. 347. ISBN 978-0198608844.
  10. ^ a b c Peach, Howard (2003). Curious Tales of Old North Yorkshire. p. 142. ISBN 978-1850587934. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "The Lass of Richmond Hill". Willis's Current Notes. 6 (64): 35. April 1856. Retrieved 30 December 2012.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  12. ^ Oberndorfer, Anne Faulkner (1921). What we hear in music: a course of study in music history and appreciation. p. 290. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ Keogh, Daire (2000). Acts of Union: The Causes, Contexts and Consequences of the Act of Union. p. 257. ISBN 978-1851825301. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Peter Holman. "The Lass of Richmond Hill". Hyperion Records. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  15. ^ McVeigh, Simon (2006). Concert Life in London from Mozart to Haydn. p. 134. ISBN 978-0521028905.
  16. ^ "The Lass of Richmond Hill". Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  17. ^ British Army List, part 1, 1990. H.M. Stationery Office. 1990. p. 301. ISBN 978-0802313195.
  18. ^ Lord, Cliff (2004). The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and Its Antecedents. p. 159. ISBN 978-1874622925.
  19. ^ Chant, Christopher (1988). Handbook of British Regiments. p. 101. ISBN 978-0415002417.
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