Harry Beard Collection
Sheet Music
ca. early nineteenth century (published)
ca. early nineteenth century (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This sheet music for the ballad Villikins and his Dinah is illustrated with an engraving of the diminutive ballad singer, actor and comedian Frederick Robson as the character Jem Bags, the bedraggled Cockney street singer that he played in the one act farce The Wandering Minstrel at the Olympic Theatre in May 1853. Jem Bags sang Villikins and his Dinah at the end of the farce. It became the hit of the season and the song became known in English speaking countries around the world. The Musical Bouquet used the same illustration on the dance music it published based on the ballad including the Villikins and Dinah Quadrille, and Villikins and Dinah Polka (sometimes spelt Vilikins)
Robson (1821-1864) who was born in Margate Thomas Brownhill, became a star of the Olympic Theatre and eventually one of its managers. He had a great talent for burlesque, or performances that parodied the originals, and one of his starring roles was his imitation of Adelaide Ristori as Medea. He became a great favourite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who invited him to Windsor Castle for several command performances.
Robson (1821-1864) who was born in Margate Thomas Brownhill, became a star of the Olympic Theatre and eventually one of its managers. He had a great talent for burlesque, or performances that parodied the originals, and one of his starring roles was his imitation of Adelaide Ristori as Medea. He became a great favourite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who invited him to Windsor Castle for several command performances.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Harry Beard Collection (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Printed ink on paper |
| Brief description | Section of the sheet music for Villikins and his Dinah published by The Musical Bouquet Office, Harry Beard Collection. |
| Physical description | Section of sheet music for Villikins and his Dinah. The front of the sheet is illustrated with a black and white illustration of a garden or woodland with a large house visible in the distance. In the foreground is tree surrounded by shrubs, in front of which a ragged man is standing. He is dressed in a battered hat and patched trousers and is carrying a long pipe in his right hand. Richly dressed men and women are moving through the plants behind him, one woman has fainted or collapsed, much to the distress of the gentleman who accompanies her. The back sheet is printed with the music and lyrics for the first section of the song. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Villikins and his Dinah |
| Summary | This sheet music for the ballad Villikins and his Dinah is illustrated with an engraving of the diminutive ballad singer, actor and comedian Frederick Robson as the character Jem Bags, the bedraggled Cockney street singer that he played in the one act farce The Wandering Minstrel at the Olympic Theatre in May 1853. Jem Bags sang Villikins and his Dinah at the end of the farce. It became the hit of the season and the song became known in English speaking countries around the world. The Musical Bouquet used the same illustration on the dance music it published based on the ballad including the Villikins and Dinah Quadrille, and Villikins and Dinah Polka (sometimes spelt Vilikins) Robson (1821-1864) who was born in Margate Thomas Brownhill, became a star of the Olympic Theatre and eventually one of its managers. He had a great talent for burlesque, or performances that parodied the originals, and one of his starring roles was his imitation of Adelaide Ristori as Medea. He became a great favourite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who invited him to Windsor Castle for several command performances. |
| Associated objects |
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| Other number | F153-65 - H Beard collection numbering |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.228-1989 |
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| Record created | April 1, 2010 |
| Record URL |
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