The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #100844   Message #2040186
Posted By: MBSLynne
01-May-07 - 06:52 AM
Thread Name: Street cries still exist
Subject: RE: Street cries still exist
Just received it this morning. It's in very good condition and has beautiful late 18th century colour plates illustrating each cry. It says the arrangements are copyright so presumably the words are ok to post. Each piece has a little bit about it. The New Love Song one says "In a London without music-halls, with few concerts and operas (which in any case were available only to those who could pay higher prices), the purveyor of love songs was a popular character. Entertainment was, for the most part, provided by the amateur performer, and a constant supply of cheap material was of great importance." The original folkies, obviously. I find this very interesting as my great great grandfather was described as a street musician in the 1861 census of Westminster. However, he was blind so wouldn't have been able to read it if written down. In fact, how many people could?

I'll post some words later.

Love Lynne