  Tune—"Vicar and Moses." As a satirical attack on some members of the choir of All Saints Church, Derby, in the last century, the following verses are clever. All Saints is the principal church in Derby, and its choir has generally had the reputation of being at least tolerably good. I prefer leaving the blanks in the names of the parties, still unfilled. The broad-sheet from which I here reprint it is in my own collection. I. When Apollo thinks fit to handle his Lyre, The sweet Vocal Muses take place; The Treble and Counter repair to their Choir, Attended with Tenor and Bass. II. As Mortals below—the high Gods will be aping In all their sublime Occupations; They love to be Singing and Piping and Scraping To assist your devout Congregation. III. Thus to raise our Devotion and stop all Complaints, (As ev'ry Man knows it's his duty) We've compleated our Choir at the Church of All Saints; IV. Whoever comes in it can't help but admire A Worship so Solomn and goodly; Such Voices were sure never heard from a Choir, As those that are led by Will. D—d—y. V. Sam. D—d—y's sweet Counter Will's Treble excells, Well strengthen'd with Roger's strong Bass Each softning each like a good Peal of Bells, Were C—b—y's fine Tenor takes place. VI. Neither Paul's nor King's Chapel can boast of such Voices, Nor can our grand Op'ras come near 'em; When on 'em I think, how my Spirit rejoices! Then what must it do when I hear 'em! VII. Tho' their Parts are all charming how much his Excels, Adorning the Vocal Profession! Their Treble I mean, that so quavers and swells, Enchanting beyond all Expression! VIII. By the Doctor's fine Treble how well they are led, Whose Expression all hearers admire; O'er topping his Fellows at least by the Head, IX. Altho' in the Choir he so Eminent stands, Yet still ith' Orchestra he's greater: With his Fiddle excelling the greatest of Hands, So bountiful to him is Nature! X. With this he can irritate all that is quick, (Such Pow'r have his Taste and his Tone!) For he ev'ry thing moves but his long Fiddle-Stick, None like him before was yet known. XI. So useful a Hand (without Doubt) was ne'er born, For Concerts, Assembly and Ball; He can turn to the Fiddle, Bass Trumpet, or Horne, Yet equally great upon all. XII. For here his Expressions so full I must own, We ne'er were so fiddled before; But then his fine Taste, Execution and Tone, Delight us a Thousand Times more. XIII. Where lives that grave mortal so strangely supine, So Senseless and stupidly lazy; In hearing such Hands himself to confine, XIV. To hear such sweet Hands who wou'd not but give, Or spend the best part of his Rental; At so charming a Place as Derby to live, With such Vocal and such Instrumental? XV. And this is the Reason your strolling Italians, (As it happen'd, we know, to'ther Day) At Derby are treated like Tatter—de Mallions, When unheard they went weeping away. Finis. N.B. Speedily will be published, a Particular Account of the great Abilities of each of these Famous Singers, wherein will be shewn their Ignorance and Impudence in attempting such Things as Solo and Verse Anthems by Dr. Greene, Boyce, Nares, &c. Oratorio Songs and Chorusses by Mr. Handel, &c., &c., It being well known to every Person who has the least Ear to Music, that they are not capable of decently singing a Bar in any such Compositions. Mr. W—— some time since absolutely discharged them from making Use of any thing but the Old Psalm Tunes. The scandalous Behaviour of D——, and C——, on this occasion shall be particularly pointed out. |
|
