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Mus. 1219(F)

Manuscript. A song by Henry Hall Sr and catches by Tobias Langdon, copied by Tobias Langdon. English, c.1703. Formerly Mus. 1219, item 7.

Table of titles and composers in modern form. Display form found in manuscript.

1 Henry Hall (i) To our arms on earth ('A health') ff. 1v-2r
2 Tobias Langdon When a church on a hill ('The prophesy. A catch for 4 voices') f. 2r
3 Tobias Langdon Churchill and Rooke ('A catch for 4 voices') f. 2v
4 Tobias Langdon Go on, go on, great England's Duke ('A catch for 4 voices') ff. 2v-1r

Upright format, 367 x 257 mm.; bifolio, the pages of which are intended to be read in the order ff. 1v, 2r, 2v, 1r. Foliation is modern. No early bookplate. Now loose within an early 20th century portfolio folder containing all 10 sections of Mus. 1219, the contents of which were foliated and allocated new call-numbers (including the alphabetic letters A-U) in September 1990, with further minor adjustments made in August 1998. In microfilms made before that date, this item is numbered '7'. The following annotation by Langdon occurs on f.1r, and is presumably addressed to Henry Aldrich:

Reverend Sir:
This is not a present to you, but to my friend Mr Goodson: the Anthem (which I take to be very good) is my very humble acknowledgement, for your many and most extraordinary favors to me[;] the Catches except the Inept song sir are foolish thoughts of my own on our good success, and what is amiss in either notes or words, I most humbly intreat you to Correct; and when I have the honouor [sic] of the sight of it: t'will be the most acceptable present, that can Reach the sight or hand of Most worthy Sir.
Your most obliged, and most Devoted humble servant
whils't:
Tobias Langdon
The following information has been supplied by Dr Harry D. Johnstone (January 2003): 'Admiral Rooke was the hero of the Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702 (the war of the Spanish succession). The reference in catch 3 ['Goe on Goe on'] to Scotland being subdued (and 'Occationall Knaves be made all slaves wth all John Calvins brood' must also pre-date the Act of Union in 1707.'

Provenance unknown, but in view of Langdon's annotation on f. 1r, most probably from the Goodson bequest. Not recorded in any early catalogue until Havergal Summary, where it is listed among the Portfolios at position I.2.β, item 5: 'A health, by H. Hall & 3 catches by Tobias Langdon. MS. XVIII. cent:'; in Mus. 1219(F) itself, the portfolio reference 'I.2.β' is written in red crayon at the head of f. 1v.

Microfilm: manuscript music, reel 39.