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