1740 was a very busy and prosperous year for Arne. His composition of the “Masque of Alfred” for the Prince of Wales will be found fully discussed in connection with “Rule, Britannia”; the other Masque, which was performed at the same celebration, was “The Judgment of Paris,” written by William Congreve. This author died in 1728, and it is not known who arranged the book as set by Arne; it contained much more music than “Alfred,” and, with the exception of “Rule, Britannia,” of greater importance. The Overture, composed on the conventional pattern of the day, beginning with a Largo, followed by a spirited fugue, concludes with a Minuet Andante and a Giga con spirito; the only instruments employed are strings and oboes. The Recitative, “O ravishing delight,” sung by Mr. Beard in the character of Paris, it would be difficult to surpass. Accompanied by the string quartett, it is full of variety and charm, and leads into an Allegro, with bravura passages well written for the voice. If revived to-day by a good tenor singer it would prove a great success. There is a remarkable Air for Venus, “Gentle Swain,” which was sung by Mrs. Arne. In the printed score the composer appends the note, “This Air is composed for a Violoncello solo, and a double Bass to play with the Harpsichord.”[7] The violoncello had quite recently been introduced into England by Cervetto (Giacobbe Bassevi), who joined the Drury Lane Theatre orchestra in 1738; by his skill he soon made the instrument popular. Both Arne and Handel wrote special obbligato parts for him. His personality and manners were very marked, and he became a pet of the gods in the gallery of the theatre, who, when he appeared in the orchestra, would call out “play up, Nosey.” He became manager of Drury Lane Theatre, and died on the 14th of January, 1783, over one hundred years of age, leaving his son a fortune of £20,000. He signed the admission book of the “Society of Musicians” on the 14th of April, 1742. An amusing story is told of an encounter Cervetto had with Garrick; the latter had been absent from Drury Lane Theatre for two years, and on his return he prepared an address to speak previous to the play. When the applause which greeted him had subsided, the house became silent in expectation of the speech. At this crucial moment, Cervetto anticipated the first word by a tremendous yawn, which caused the audience to burst into convulsive laughter, and several minutes elapsed before quiet was restored. When the curtain dropped, Garrick rushed to the music-room and seized Cervetto by the shoulders, calling him a scoundrel, and a base-viol, and demanded what he meant by his conduct. The poor man could only reply that “when he had a great rapture” he always did “yawn that way.”
Cervetto, by Zoffany.
The Air “Gentle swain,” sung by Mrs. Arne, in which Cervetto accompanied, is very melodious vocally and instrumentally: it was followed by a Trio for three soprano voices, sung by Mrs. Arne, Mrs. Clive, and Miss Edwards, representing Venus, Pallas, and Juno. The music is admirable, in spite of the words, which cannot be described as poetry. After an invitation from each of the three divinities:
Hither turn thee gentle swain,
Hither turn to me again:
She will deceive thee,
I’ll never leave thee—
Paris, represented by Mr. Beard, replied:
Apart let me view then each heav’nly fair,
For three at a time no mortal can bear;
And since a gay robe an ill shape may disguise,
When each is undrest
I’ll judge of the best,
For ’tis not a face that must carry the prize.
We have no record how they managed the stage business at Clieveden, but it must have presented some difficulty. A Recitative for Pallas is remarkable for the vigour of the instrumental accompaniment, and the Air “The glorious voice it was” is very spiritedly supported by strings, oboes, trumpets and drums. A fine Recitative, “Stay, lovely youth,” sung by Mrs. Arne is also worthy of mention. At the close of the year 1740, on the 20th of December, Shakespeare’s “As you like it” was played at Drury Lane Theatre, the first time for forty years. Great interest was excited by the revival, more especially on account of the fact that Arne had prepared new music for the songs. These included “When daisies pied,” sung by Kitty Clive, “Under the greenwood tree” and “Blow, thou winter wind,” sung by Mr. Thomas Lowe. They all captivated the public taste, who found Shakespeare’s poetry admirably framed in Arne’s melodies. The immediate popularity of the music attracted the attention of several unscrupulous publishers of the day. To protect himself against their nefarious depredations, Arne obtained a Royal license, dated 29th of January, 1741. “George, the Second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. Whereas Thomas Augustine Arne, of Craven Buildings, near Drury Lane, in our County of Middlesex, Gent. Hath humbly represented unto US, That he hath with great Study, Labour and Expence, composed several works, consisting of Vocal and Instrumental Musick, in order to be printed and published; and hath Therefore humbly besought US to grant him Our Royal Privilege and License, for the sole printing and publishing thereof, for the term of Fourteen Years. We being willing to give all due Encouragement to works of this Nature, are graciously pleased to condescend to his Request: and We do therefore, by these Presents, so far as may be agreeable to the Statute in that behalf made and provided, grant unto the said Thomas Augustine Arne, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, Our License for the sole Printing and Publishing the said Works, for the Term of Fourteen Years, to be computed from the Date hereof; strictly forbidding all our Subjects within our Kingdom and Dominions, to Reprint or Abridge the same, either in the like, or any other Volume or Volumes whatsoever; or import, buy, vend, utter, or distribute any Copies thereof reprinted beyond the Seas, during the aforesaid Term of Fourteen years, without the Consent or Approbation of the said Thomas Augustine Arne, his Heirs, Executors, and Assigns, as they will answer the contrary at their Peril. Whereof the Commissioners and other Officers of our Customs, the Master, Wardens and Company of Stationers, are to take Notice, that due Obedience may be rendered to our Pleasure herein declared. Given at our Court St. James’s, the Twenty-Ninth Day of January, 1740-1, in the Fourteenth Year of Our Reign. By His Majesty’s Command.
“Hollis Newcastle.”