An Arcadian Pastoral: A Musical Entertainment by Elizabeth Craven and William Beckford
In 1782 Elizabeth Craven and the brilliant but wayward young writer William Beckford collaborated on a musical entertainment called An Arcadian Pastoral. It was performed in London by a choir of children, with professional musicians taking the solos and providing orchestral accompaniment.
The score was preserved among Beckford's papers, and catalogued by the Bodleian Library under his name, without reference to Elizabeth Craven. In a letter of 1782, Beckford wrote that she had written the words and he had composed the music. When we look closely at the score, it actually says that Elizabeth Craven wrote the music too, for the second of its five Acts. This is not the only example of her writing music, though little of it survives.
The items of the Pastoral are numbered, but number 8 is missing. However, it may not be lost entirely. In a letter she enclosed a words of a song about Cupid and Hymen for which she wrote both the words and music, and which had one formed part of the entertainment. Presumably this is the one that is missing from the Bodleian manuscript. It was in my opinion the best poem of the whole libretto, but its subject matter - the strife between Cupid (love) and Hymen (marriage) was probably considered too risqué to be performed by children. [1]
The work is a lightweight frolic that blends bucolic English scenes and Shakespearean fairy-lore with touches of classical mythology. You could call it a Midsummer Night's Dream Tribute Act. It includes one dance, which was performed by "Mr Arthur Paget and Miss Maria Craven". The Hon. Arthur Paget was the third son of the Earl of Uxbridge, and aged eleven at this time. He grew up to be a distinguished diplomat, Sir Arthur Paget (1771-1807) who travelled to Russia, Berlin, Munich, Vienna and Constantinople on state affairs. Miss Maria Craven was Elizabeth's second daughter, who was aged twelve at this time. Her performance in one of Elizabeth's own plays the following summer was praised in the newspapers. She grew up to be Lady Sefton, a patroness of Almack's.
No 2 Aria by Milady
Craven.
[1114]
[1115]
"Fair Aurora, Goddess Bright!"
[1116]
[1117]
[1118]
[1119]
[1120]
[1121]
[1122]
[1123]
[1124]
[Arcadian Pastoral], 1782. Bodleian Library, Beckford Papers section G
Shelfmarks: MSS. Beckford b.5, c. 61-2
The score of [Arcadian Pastoral], 1782
Shelfmark: MS. Beckford c. 61
Extent: 90 leaves, loosely sewn
Scope and Content:
Partly in Beckford's hand, partly in the hand of an amanuensis, words
by Elizabeth Lady Craven, music by Beckford and (fols. 39-45) by Lady
Craven - a trio, 'Fair Aurora goddess bright' (in Beckford's hand),
containing sixteen musical numbers in five acts, some dated, 6 Feb.-27
March 1782. No.8 is missing, possibly excluded before the score
reached its final form. There is another copy (fols. 87-90) of the end
of the overture, in the hand of an amanuensis, on four leaves not
forming part of the main manuscript. The pastoral was performed in
London on 13 April 1782. See Beckford's own account (written much
later) 'Ly Craven's pastoral', in MS. Beckford c. 18, fols. 28-38, and
Boyd Alexander, England's wealthiest son (1962), pp. 15 and 268, n.13.
Catalogue entry here:
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/
No 1 Ouverture
Title-page
The items of the Pastoral are numbered, but number 8 is missing. However, it may not be lost entirely. In a letter she enclosed a words of a song about Cupid and Hymen for which she wrote both the words and music, and which had one formed part of the entertainment. Presumably this is the one that is missing from the Bodleian manuscript. It was in my opinion the best poem of the whole libretto, but its subject matter - the strife between Cupid (love) and Hymen (marriage) was probably considered too risqué to be performed by children. [1]
The work is a lightweight frolic that blends bucolic English scenes and Shakespearean fairy-lore with touches of classical mythology. You could call it a Midsummer Night's Dream Tribute Act. It includes one dance, which was performed by "Mr Arthur Paget and Miss Maria Craven". The Hon. Arthur Paget was the third son of the Earl of Uxbridge, and aged eleven at this time. He grew up to be a distinguished diplomat, Sir Arthur Paget (1771-1807) who travelled to Russia, Berlin, Munich, Vienna and Constantinople on state affairs. Miss Maria Craven was Elizabeth's second daughter, who was aged twelve at this time. Her performance in one of Elizabeth's own plays the following summer was praised in the newspapers. She grew up to be Lady Sefton, a patroness of Almack's.
“How merrily
twirls my light wheel,
How blithely the
Birds sing this Morn,
The daisies enamel
the verdant ground
& dewdrops
Besprinkle the thorn.
Thou' we rise with
the Lark we set with the Sun,
Our heads are at
rest when our labour is done.”
[1110]
ACT TWO Composed by Lady Craven
ACT TWO Composed by Lady Craven
[1111]
[1113. There is no 1112]
"Fair Aurora, Goddess Bright!"
[1125]
Act Three The Seasons
[1126]
[1127[
[1128]
[1129]
[1130]
[1131]
[1132]
[1133]
[1134]
[1135]
Tell the Winds where ere they Blow [1136]
Tell the Waters as they flow [1137]
[1138]
[1138]
[1139]
[1140]
[1141]
Serenade. [1142]
[1143]
Ballo (Dance) performed by Mr Arthur Paget and Miss Maria Craven
[1144]
Descent of Belinda (Queen of the Fairies) sung by Miss Fawkener [1145]
Finale [1146]
[1147]
The photographs here show most but not all of the 90 folio pages.
The Epilogue to the Pastoral is not in the MS by was published in a magazine. [2] Here is a page image of the text.
[1] For the full text of the poem, see Elizabeth Craven, Writer, Feminist and European. Vernon Press 2017, p.78.
[2] The Hibernian Magazine, Or, Compendium of Entertaining Knowledge, 1782, p.271.
[Arcadian Pastoral], 1782. Bodleian Library, Beckford Papers section G
Shelfmarks: MSS. Beckford b.5, c. 61-2
The score of [Arcadian Pastoral], 1782
Shelfmark: MS. Beckford c. 61
Extent: 90 leaves, loosely sewn
Scope and Content:
Partly in Beckford's hand, partly in the hand of an amanuensis, words
by Elizabeth Lady Craven, music by Beckford and (fols. 39-45) by Lady
Craven - a trio, 'Fair Aurora goddess bright' (in Beckford's hand),
containing sixteen musical numbers in five acts, some dated, 6 Feb.-27
March 1782. No.8 is missing, possibly excluded before the score
reached its final form. There is another copy (fols. 87-90) of the end
of the overture, in the hand of an amanuensis, on four leaves not
forming part of the main manuscript. The pastoral was performed in
London on 13 April 1782. See Beckford's own account (written much
later) 'Ly Craven's pastoral', in MS. Beckford c. 18, fols. 28-38, and
Boyd Alexander, England's wealthiest son (1962), pp. 15 and 268, n.13.
Catalogue entry here:
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/
Comments
Post a Comment