Nelson & His World

Discussion on the life and times of Admiral Lord Nelson
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 Post subject: Song-Victory and Death of Nelson
PostPosted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:47 am 
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I thought forum members might like to see this piece of music I acquired recently. It is ‘The Death of Nelson’ sung by John Braham, a popular composer and famous tenor of the period. The piece was part of a ‘melodrama’ – which in Georgian times, meant a stage presentation interspersed with songs such as this one. The song is different from Braham’s other, more famous, song also called ‘The Death of Nelson’.

This piece was registered at Stationers’ Hall in 1805, and was printed on paper watermarked ‘1805’ so the composer and playwright must have been quick off the mark in getting the work written and staged, and the music engraved, published and protected by copyright before the end of the year, and within weeks of Nelson’s death.

The melody is pleasing and is scored for trumpets and drums as well as piano. The opening chords are like a fanfare and the drum rolls at the end of the verses must have been quite thrilling.

These musical scores from Georgian times make attractive and not terribly expensive additions to collections of Nelson memorabilia. Cheap, mass produced pottery souvenirs of Nelson and Trafalgar now sell for hundreds of pounds whereas a score of the period can be bought for £50-80. They are actually engraved – the imprint of the engraving plates on the paper is clear - and are adorned with elegant script, so they are really authentic works of art and a great pleasure to handle (with care, of course) – though it is wise to make a photocopy if you want to play the tune.


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