Dibdin biography

English composer, musician, dramatist, novelist, chorister and actor

For his son, the Unreservedly dramatist, composer, writer and theatre landlady, see Charles Dibdin (the younger).

Charles Dibdin (before 4 March 1745 – 25 July 1814) was an English doer, musician, dramatist, novelist, singer and incident. With over 600 songs to reward name, for many of which smartness wrote both the lyrics and greatness music and performed them himself, sharp-tasting was in his time the pinnacle prolific English singer-songwriter. He is superb known as the composer of "Tom Bowling", one of his many mass songs, which often features at say publicly Last Night of the Proms. No problem also wrote about 30 dramatic unnerve, including the operas The Waterman (1774) and The Quaker (1775), and very many novels, memoirs and histories. His workshop canon were admired by Haydn and Composer.

Life and career

Early life and inauspicious successes

The son of a silversmith,^[1] Dibdin was privately baptised on 4 Stride 1745 in Southampton and is regularly described as the youngest child longedfor eighteen born to a 50-year-old vernacular. His parents, intending him for illustriousness clergy, sent Dibdin to Winchester Faculty, but his love of music in a minute diverted his thoughts from the nonmanual profession. He possessed 'a remarkable advantage voice' at a young age point of view was in demand for concerts much as a boy. Anthems were firmly for him by James Kent dominant his successor Peter Fussell, organists dying Winchester Cathedral, where he was clean chorister between 1756 and 1759. Lighten up went to London at the fair to middling of fifteen at his brother's opening move, and was first employed tuning harpsichords in a music warehouse in Cheapside. Through Mr. Berenger^[2] he was extrinsic to John Rich (of whom filth became a favourite) and John Whiskers, and, growing addicted to theatre-going,^[3] why not? soon became a singing actor be given Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. As jurisdiction voice was not yet settled, Well-to-do thought he would become a singer, and marked out the pantomime roles of Richard Leveridge for him. Dibdin held back from this path, nevertheless made the most of his introductions: when Rich died in 1761 refuse Beard succeeded him as manager person in charge part-proprietor, fresh opportunities arose.^{[citation needed]}

With Beard's encouragement Dibdin wrote his first employment, both words and music of The Shepherd's Artifice, an operetta in bend over acts, which was produced as Dibdin's benefit at Covent Garden on 21 May 1762 and repeated in 1763.^[4][5] As an actor, Dibdin had unbroken opportunities to study Garrick's performances, service befriended his associates, notably his assistant, who could remember Cibber. He enjoyed two seasons touring at the Vauxhall in Birmingham, and another at Richmond. Beard exercised a benign and exhortative influence over Dibdin's early career, alternative him, in his first important speed read, for the part of Ralph, space the 1765 premiere of Samuel Arnold's opera The Maid of the Mill at Covent Garden. He gained and above much success over a run deadly more than fifty nights, that 'Ralph' handkerchiefs were worn in compliment study him. He agreed to article living soul, both as actor and musician, give somebody the job of Beard for three years at natty salary rising from three to fin pounds a week. However, his bargain established a precedent by which throw out were not paid in case give an account of absence through sickness.^[6]

The script for The Maid of the Mill was chunk playwright Isaac Bickerstaffe, who had tedious the libretto for Love in a-ok Village, the highly popular opera (called the first English comic opera) soak Dr. Thomas Arne, produced in 1762. For Dibdin the next turning-point was in the 1767 premiere and divide run of Bickerstaffe's Love in greatness City, in which he played Watty Cockney, and for which he be relevant to a good deal of the melody and airs. He had already confided to Beard that he disliked fakery because of the jealousy and malevolence which his success brought upon him from other actors. Hence he difficult to understand turned again to composition. But hear some of the orchestra complained pass on to Beard that his music was out of keeping to the theatre: whereupon Dibdin plagiaristic the direct intervention of Dr. Arne, who (according to Dibdin) pronounced go off this was a scandalous attempt nod ruin the reputation of a callow man whom it was their good deed to encourage and protect. Love deduct the City was abandoned, but Dibdin's music was successful and was transferred into a play called The Romp.^[7] The association with Bickerstaffe continued bonding agent Dibdin's music for the play Lionel and Clarissa at Covent Garden send 1767,^[8] the year of Beard's departure.

Drury Lane with Garrick

By 1768, authority articles completed, and receiving harsh employment from his new manager George Colman, Dibdin was ready to part resting on with Covent Garden. Garrick, who confidential coached him a little at Richmond in the previous year, was keen to win over Bickerstaffe to Drury Lane: and as hopes for surmount new play The Padlock projected agreeable the Haymarket Theatre faded, Garrick imitative it, and acquired Dibdin as framer, whose music for this work was, at Garrick's suggestion, given anonymously. Dibdin made only £40 from it behaviour Bickerstaffe made a fortune. The Padlock was produced at Drury Lane beneath Garrick's management in 1768, Dibdin delegation the part of Mungo (a blackface role^[9]) so as to cause "that degree of sensation in the get around which is called a rage."^[10]

In 1769 for Garrick (who had placed him under some financial obligation) he likewise composed for Garrick's Shakespeare Jubilee package Stratford, but found that Garrick difficult quietly substituted commissions to Arne most important to Boyce. Garrick, it seemed, wished to control both Bickerstaffe and Dibdin, in case their work should grub up other patrons, and busied them both, inducing Dibdin to revise and transcribe new music for Cibber's Damon spell Phillida.^[11] In addition he provided authority score for Bickerstaffe's burlettaThe Recruiting Serjeant, and for his The Maid prestige Mistress, and The Ephesian Matron now that year, which were all total in 1769 at Ranelagh Gardens drape a two-year contract with the Ranelagh managers for £100 per annum storeroom whatever music he should supply them with.^[12]

Dibdin set a text by Actor for The Installation of the Garter in 1771. In February 1773 nobleness comic opera The Wedding Ring homegrown on an Italian opera Il filosofo di campagna was brought out, on the contrary was almost withdrawn on the pull it off night owing to the rumour prowl it was written by Bickerstaffe, who had fled to France, utterly undone by the accusation of an 'abominable (i.e. homosexual) attempt'. Dibdin was thankful to appear on stage and stomach authorship of both words and congregation, while salacious tittle-tattle (and worse) necessary to embroil both him and Actor in Bickerstaffe's offence.^[13] In November 1773, in a production of the lilting drama The Deserter which he challenging adapted from the French opera pay money for 1769 by Michel-Jean Sedaine and Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny, he introduced the song 'There was a miller's daughter' and varied other songs without Garrick's knowledge representational consent, but with great success.^[14] Past the same year he worked nearly with Garrick at Hampton to do songs and music for Garrick's wintertime piece, The Christmas Tale. From that ordeal he acquired the technique sequester composing the music entire in jurisdiction mind, writing down nothing until glory finished manuscript was needed: to that method he afterwards adhered.^[15]

Meanwhile, from 1772 he was also engaged by Socialist King to write regularly for Sadler's Wells, and in that year come to pass songs for the Musical Dialogues The Palace of Mirth and Bickerstaffe's The Brickdustman.^[16] He followed that in 1773 with the interlude The Mischance, folk tale the dialogues The Grenadier (text infant Garrick), The Ladle, England against Italy, and None so blind as those who won't see:^[17] and furthermore follow the same year he wrote songs for The Trip to Portsmouth (words by G. A. Stevens), performed incite Charles Bannister at the Haymarket, idea which the overture and dances were written by Thomas Arne.^[18]

Dibdin's most eternal opera, The Waterman, a comic theater, the music of which he vend for £30, was produced first belittling the Haymarket Theatre in 1774.^[19] Ruler dialogues and songs for The Pie, or, A Wife of Ten Thousand (based on Sedaine's Blaise le savetier), were acted as a ballad composition at Drury Lane in 1774,^[20] person in charge his famous short opera The Quaker was produced there on 3 Possibly will 1775, which Dibdin had sold don Brereton for £70, who sold decree on to Garrick for a hundred.^[21] Charles Bannister was again prominent in good health the cast of all three operas. After being connected with Drury Format both as composer and as person for several years, a series incline disagreements with Garrick,^[22] partly over Dibdin's desertion of his second partner Wife Davenet and his children by her,^[23] led to the termination of coronate engagement.

Sadler's Wells, Haymarket and Covent Garden

Despite the rift with Garrick, Dibdin's output continued successfully. The dialogue The Imposter, or, All's not gold digress glitters, was written for Sadler's Fine in 1776, and his comic opus The Metamorphosis modelled on Molière's Sicilian, but with songs and music queen own, was performed at the Haymarket in the same year. His funny opera The Seraglio, incorporating the famed rondeau song 'Blow High, Blow Low' (written during a gale returning come across Calais) was first acted at Covent Garden in November 1776.^[24] The fertile season of 1777 included songs bring The vineyard revels (a pantomime), She is mad for a husband, Yo, Yea, or, The friendly tars, The old woman of eighty and The razor grinder, all at Sadler's Glowing. In 1778 the important burlettaPoor Vulcan was produced at Covent Garden, however in Dibdin's absence in France myriad of the songs were altered give up another hand. There also he wrote the libretto of The Gipsies, espousal which Thomas Arne wrote the congregation, first performed at the Haymarket shrub border 1778.^[25]

On his return from France talk to 1778 Thomas Harris, the Theatre Administrator, appointed him Musical Director at Covent Garden (to write exclusively for him) at the then huge salary curst £10 (equivalent to £1,610 in 2023)^[26] a- week. Attempting to introduce a aroma for the French variety theatre, no problem had adapted six short interludes, line his own music, with a parade that one should be introduced halfway the play and the farce as a rule presented on the same evening. They included Rose and Colin, Wives revenged and Annette and Lubin; but General instead lumped them together as distinction after-piece and Dibdin's subtler intention was thwarted.^[27] In the following January circlet speaking pantomime The Touchstone (with songs) was produced, but Mr Pilon, Overt Cumberland, Mrs Cowley and Mr Take pleasure in Lewis were permitted to alter innards so much that it became near unrecognisable. However, Dibdin did accept span clever emendations suggested by Garrick, which resulted in a reconciliation between say publicly two men: it is claimed meander Garrick's very last step upon class stage was during a rehearsal purchase The Touchstone a night or before the opening.^[28]

Covent Garden productions prolonged with The Chelsea pensioners, and The Mirror, or, Harlequin everywhere (a pantomime) (both 1779), and in 1780 greatness comic opera The Shepherdess of goodness Alps, and the three-act opera The Islanders, most of which was re-presented as a two-act farce called The Marriage Act in 1781.^[29] After grandeur British victory at the Siege perfect example Savannah, he added a scene give it some thought The Mirror depicting British grenadiers (one of whom was played by Town Charles Reinhold) defeating the Comte d'Estaing, leader of the French forces generous the battle, and then singing "The British Grenadiers."^[30] He also arranged, wrote and composed the 1780 Christmas playing, Harlequin freemason, for which Messink (Garrick's pantomime specialist) contributed the inventions.^[31] Persuasively 1781 Dibdin adapted John Dryden's caper Amphytrion, or Juno and Alcmena smash into an opera. He attempted to revision it so as to avoid severe of the impropriety of the inspired, and was at first encouraged unresponsive to Harris, who later changed his inner self. Dibdin was left with a severe task and the result was crowd a popular success.

The Royal Hoop and other ventures

There was then gargantuan argument between Dibdin and Harris run payment for the work, with interpretation result that Dibdin instead embarked experience a project to construct the Imperial Circus, (afterwards known as the County Theatre) for mixed entertainments of several kinds, he planning to form far-out combination of the stage and necessitate equestrian ring or hippodrome. Several parties including the landowner advanced the means and became proprietors, and Dibdin was appointed sole manager for life, promote to receive a quarter of the profits.^[32] Dibdin is credited with coining distinction term "circus".^[33]

Meanwhile, a dialogue, The Wealth Hunter, had appeared at Sadler's Author in 1780, and at the Haymarket. Dibdin had contributed songs to wholesome entertainment called Pasquin's Budget in which characters were represented by puppets, bear their songs were performed by refrain behind the scenes. It is vocal that in The Comic Mirror Dibdin had ridiculed prominent contemporary figures cut the medium of a puppet demonstrate. Such things had been tried made known, for instance at the Marylebone Gardens: but on the first night fatigued the Haymarket 'the puppets were goosed off, and the manager made chance apologise for the insult offered turn into the audience.' Nonetheless some of say publicly songs, including Dibdin's 'Reasonable animals' concentrate on 'Pandora', became very popular, and Pandora was later acted at the Circus.^[34]

Between 1782 and 1783 he engaged dehydrated sixty children to act as dancers and singers for his various impetuous productions at the Circus, for which he supplied many airs, pantomimes, intermezzi and ballets, under such titles monkey Clump and Cudden, The benevolent tar, The saloon, The talisman, The graces, Long odds, Tom Thumb, The Passions, The Lancashire witches, The Barrier bad deal Parnassus, The Milkmaid, The Refusal be fooled by Harlequin, The Land of Simplicity, The Statue, The regions of Accomplishment, at an earlier time Cestus (a kind of mythological travesty in which the Homeric gods discoursed in a low vernacular).^[35] His composition Liberty Hall, containing the successful songs "Jock Ratlin", "The Highmettled Racer" careful "The Bells of Aberdovey", was arrive at the Drury Lane theatre profile 8 February 1784.^[36]

After three years finish even the circus, in which Dibdin tegument casing out with his partners and became entangled in litigation; in 1785, unwind withdrew, and, instead, entered into trig speculation to build a theatre hit out at St. Pancras. However, while under translation this was blown down during clever storm, and the project had inconspicuously be abandoned. He then came lowly an arrangement to supply the overseer of the Dublin theatre with penalisation at a cost of £600, constantly which he received only £140; fob watch the same time he began statement a weekly magazine, called The Devil, which failed after 21 issues.^[37] Dominion last opera of this period was Harvest Home, a two-act comic theater first performed at the Haymarket bring 1787.

Monodramatic entertainments at King Lane and Leicester Place

In 1788, having dissolved his connection with the existing theatres and in financial straits, Dibdin accounted moving to India. His eldest friar, Captain Thomas Dibdin, had formerly welcome him to visit, but had owing to died, prompting Dibdin to write coronet greatest song, "Tom Bowling". He at present hoped to be received by her majesty brother's old friends, and perhaps control collect certain debts owing to him. Therefore, he made a tour end England to raise money by discordant entertainments of songs and recitations, champion he sold the musical compositions oversight had available at very unfavourable amounts to the greedy publishers. He harden sail for the East Indies cranium summer 1788, but the vessel was forced to put in at Torbay because of bad weather.^[38]

Dibdin then transformed his mind and returned to Author, resolving to put himself before magnanimity public rather than applying again assent to the theatres. Instead, building on what he had done in his trip circuit, he commenced a new kind appropriate one-man-show, musical variety entertainments, in which he appeared in his own obtain on the stage seated at clean up harpsichord and played the accompaniments cling on to his own songs, without attempting concert party theatrical personification of his characters.^[39]The Idea of the Moment was such exceeding entertainment consisting of recitations and songs, and played from October 1788 in abeyance the following April, during the entire of which time Dibdin was splendid prisoner in the King's Bench. That was first given at the Junior high school Theatre in The Strand, and at a later date at Fisher's or Stevens' Auction Period in King Street, in Covent Park. For several years he also around at the entertainments in the daytime bulk the Paul's Head Assembly Rooms get your skates on Cateaton Street.

His monodramatic entertainments protracted after 1795 at a theatre which he built, the Sans Souci Dramatics in Leicester Place. Dibdin introduced seize many songs which gained wide favour, including "Poor Jack," "'Twas in greatness good ship 'Rover'," "Saturday Night livid Sea," and "I sailed from depiction Downs in the 'Nancy.'" His songs, music and recitations here finally commanding his fame as a lyric versemaker. He continued this form of amusement for nearly twenty years, usually in the middle of October and April, in which delay he produced eighteen entirely original three-act or three-part productions, as well primate several one-act pieces on contemporary themes, or in which to re-introduce harsh of his popular songs. At Christmas-time or during the spring he habitually cut short the main production finish make room for a revival rob some items brought out in erstwhile years. Dibdin states that in hubbub these entertainments, he had only significance words before him, never having dense down the music which was, dispel, fully composed in his mind.^[40]

The three-act novelties of each season, or Entertainments Sans-Souci,^[41] and their sequels, were by the same token follows:^[42]

• The Whim of the Moment, mistake, Nature in Little – Auction quarters, King Street, Covent Garden.
• The Oddities (1789) – Lyceum.
• The Wags, or, The Encampment of Pleasure (1790) – Lyceum.
• Private Theatricals, or Nature in Nubibus (1791) – Royal Polygraphic Rooms, The Strand; followed by The Coalition, a compilation distance from the preceding.
• The Quizzes, or, A Stripe to Elysium (1792); followed by a-one compilation from all the preceding.
• Castles slice the Air (1793)
• Great News, or, Well-organized Trip to the Antipodes (1794) – followed by an Ode in honesty of the royal marriage.
• The Will o' the Wisp (1795) – followed moisten Christmas Gambols
• The General Election (1796) – the first production at Dibdin's advanced Theatre Sans Souci; followed by Datchet mead, in honour of the confederation of the Princess Royal.
• The Sphinx (1797); followed by a Christmas piece The Goose and the Gridiron.
• The Tour disruption the Land's End (1798); followed hunk King and Queen (one act).
• Tom Wilkins (1799).
• The Cake-house (1800).
• A Frisk (1801).
• Most Votes (1802).
• Britons, Strike Home (1803). This deception a series of war-songs with military-band accompaniments.
• In 1804 there was a one-act novelty Valentine's Day, and three compilations of older pieces, namely The Election (from Most Votes); The Frolic (from Britons, Strike Home); and, A smudge to the Coast.
• Heads and Tails (1805); followed by Cecilia, or the Ramble of Industry.
• Professional Volunteers (1808). (Given mockery the Lyceum during Lent, supported toddler professional assistants, though still, after 48 years before the public, playing consummate own accompaniments).
• The Rent-day, or, The Yeoman's Friend (1808) – Sans-Pareil Theatre (later the Adelphi Theatre) in the Strand.
• Commodore Pennant (1809) – the last countless these entertainments, a slight piece, was given in a room in authority author's shop in the Strand.

John Adolphus, writing of Dibdin's involvement in probity entertainment Bannister's Budget, wrote: "Charles Dibdin, year after year... had been delivery delight and, for a time, deriving great emolument, by means of entertainments under different names, in which powder not only pleased but instructed probity public; advancing the cause of need by natural and energetic sentiments, lecturer raising the flame of patriotism shaft loyalty by songs and speeches, change in conception and illustration, and stimulating on the memory and the analysis by vivid imagery and pointed representation. His sea-songs form a class stop themselves: they are calculated alike detect cheer solitude and to animate public assemblages, to raise the laugh give orders to the tear, and to engrave boxing match the heart benevolence, courage, and fine trust in Providence."^[43] Charles's son Clockmaker Dibdin, a close associate of Bathroom Bannister, wrote that "Charles Bannister, meticulous his exemplary son John, were team a few of [Dibdin's] most intimate friends."^[44]

An idea of Dibdin

The author of his life story, who witnessed one of Dibdin's Entertainments Sans Souci when a lad, offers the following picture: 'Dibdin was verification a handsome man, of middle largest part, with an open pleasing countenance, lecturer a very gentlemanlike appearance and native land. His costume was a blue dirty, white waistcoat, and black silk trousers and stockings; and he wore fillet hair, in the fashion of rank day, fully dressed and profusely select. His manner of speaking was efficient and colloquial; and his air was more that of a person playful a party of friends in well-organized private drawing-room, than of a trouper exhibiting to a public audience. Put your feet up was near-sighted; and, when seated decay his instrument, he would bend jurisdiction head close to his book in lieu of a few moments, and then, location it down, throw himself back boast his chair, and deliver his vent without further reference to book unimportant music. His voice was a baryton (a medium between the tenor slab the bass) of no great administrate or compass, but of a become fully grown and mellow quality. He sang become infected with simplicity, without any attempt at energetic ornament, but with a great arrangement of taste and expression; and, sheet a poet as well as practised musician, he was particularly attentive dispense a clear and emphatic utterance be partial to the words... In singing, he attended himself with facility and neatness, in line an instrument of a peculiar kindly, combining the properties of the piano and the chamber organ, and straightfaced constructed that the performer could create the tones of either instrument one at a time, or of both in combination. Analysis this instrument were attached a unexpected result of bells, a side drum, tidy tambourine, and a gong, which explicit could bring into play by a number of mechanical contrivances, so as to commit a pleasing variety to his accompaniments.'^[45]

'His manner of coming upon the fastening was in a happy style; without fear ran on sprightly and with just about a laughing face, like a observer who enters hastily to impart take on you some good news.'^[46]

War songs come to rest later years

Dibdin's patriotic sea songs move their melodious refrains^[47] powerfully influenced magnanimity national spirit^[48] and were officially suppositional to the use of the Land navy during the war with Writer. They were not shanties or employed songs, but a form of in particular English ballad combining the tonality manipulate the hornpipe with vivid if sentimentalized depictions of the comradeship, the separations from love, the simple patriotism, faithfulness and manly courage of Tom, England's Jack Tar. In 1803 he was induced by Pitt's government, with trim pension of £200 a year (equivalent to £23,100 in 2023),^[26] to abandon uncultivated engagements to compose and sing 'War Songs' to keep up the boil of popular feeling against France. That was withdrawn for a time slipup the administration of Lord Grenville, on the contrary afterwards partly restored.

Dibdin still on the assumption that texts for operas, including The Cabinet, which was presented at Covent Estate in February 1803 with John Braham, Nancy Storace and Charles Incledon, innermost in December The British Fleet affront 1342.^[49] At least two further operas appeared: Broken Gold was a joke in two acts on the action of Lord Nelson's victory and demise, produced at Drury Lane with Gents Bannister in 1806, which was 'damned on the first night, and not ever published'.^[50] His last production, The Equivalent Robin, was first acted at position Haymarket in June 1811. This fit into his highly successful song 'The conception toast,' which had been written varied time before.^[51]

During this period, in 1805, he sold Sans Souci and open a music shop in the Fibre (opposite the Lyceum), but the parenthesis was a failure and he was declared bankrupt. He retired from get around life in 1805, disposing of tiara stock (including the copyright of 360 songs) to a firm in University Street for £1,800, with £100 well-organized year for the next three life in consideration of whatever songs stylishness might write. He took up dwelling in Arlington Road in Camden City, where he suffered a paralytic knock in 1813 after which the authority granted him a pension of £200. In 1810 a subscription dinner subject concert was held for his support. This raised £640, of which £560 was invested in long annuities perform himself and his family. He epileptic fit on 25 July 1814 in proportionate poverty, and was buried in Overbearing Martin's churchyard there. His widow be a stone over his grave put down with a quatrain from "Tom Bowling".

Other writings

Besides his Musical Tour get your skates on England (1788), his Professional Life, hoaxer autobiography published in 4 volumes invoice 1803, a Complete History of justness British Stage (5 vols, 1795), Observations on a Tour through England roost Scotland (2 vols, 1803) and a sprinkling smaller works, he wrote upwards tactic 1400 songs and about thirty theatrical pieces. He also wrote the multitude novels: The Devil (2 vols, 1785); Hannah Hewitt (3 vols, 1792); The Younger Brother (3 vols, 1793) perch Henry Hooka (3 vols, 1806). Knob edition of his songs by Fuzzy. Hogarth (1843) contains a memoir presentation his life.

Allusions in music view literature

The tune of "Tom Bowling" forms part of Sir Henry Wood's 1905 Fantasia on British Sea Songs popularly played on the Last Night deadly the Proms. Verdant Green, eponymous star of the novel by Cuthbert Beda, learns to row and 'feathers diadem oars with skill and dexterity' (Part II Chapter VI), borrowing a model from Dibdin's song "The Jolly Junior Waterman." The great Victorian baritone Sir Charles Santley made his farewell lend a hand at Covent Garden in 1911 clear up the role of Tom Tug coop up Dibdin's opera The Waterman. And unplanned James Joyce's story "Eveline" (from Dubliners), Frank 'sang about the lass become absent-minded loves a sailor' from the vent of the same name (also styled 'The standing toast') by Dibdin.

Just before his marriage, James Boswell wrote a song, "A Matrimonial Thought" which was given a tune "by illustriousness very ingenious Mr. Dibden."

In integrity blithe days of honey-moon,
With Kathe's allurements smitten,
I lov'd her look out over, I lov'd her soon
And Beside oneself called her dearest kitten.
But minute my kitten's grown a cat,
Stomach cross like other wives,
O! get by without my soul, my honest Mat,
Rabid fear she has nine lives.^[52]

Family

Dibdin esoteric married early in life, but desolate his first wife and left gibe destitute. He then formed an felonious connection with Harriett Pitt (stage honour Mrs. Davenet), a chorus-singer at Covent Garden Theatre, and had some descendants by her.^[53] In time he abandoned Harriet in favour of Ann Wyld, with whom he remained and locked away several further children during his wife's lifetime, and finally married Wyld incorporate 1798 after his first wife acceptably. She and only one daughter chastisement that union survived him.^[54]

Dibdin's two course of action with Harriet − Charles and Clockmaker John Dibdin, whose works are over and over again confused with those of their father confessor − were also popular dramatists detailed their day. Through his son Socialist, Dibdin was an ancestor of distinction British politician Michael Heseltine.^[55]

He was along with the uncle of the bibliographer Clocksmith Frognall Dibdin.

Public memorials

Seven years back end his death a subscription to strengthen engage a monument to Dibdin was initiation in train under the patronage model the Duke of Clarence and Admiral Sir George York. At a lever dinner and concert a large amount was raised, but insufficient to put away the project. A second grand melodic entertainment, The Feast of Neptune, marvellous a further £400 and the commemoration was eventually raised in the Veterans' Library at the Royal Hospital, Borough, which is now the Peacock Coach, part of the Trinity Laban School of Music and Dance.

British stateswoman Michael Heseltine is a distant kid of Dibdin, having 'Dibdin' as reschedule of his middle names. He run through a fan of Dibdin's works, beam was responsible for the government's fabrication of a statue of Dibdin invite Greenwich.^{[citation needed]}

On the west face infer the tower of Holyrood Church pull Southampton is a memorial plaque chance on Dibdin, where he is described trade in a "native of Southampton, poet, dramaturge and composer, author of Tom Bowling, Poor Jack and other sea songs".^[56]

In 1889 a Celtic cross memorial was erected, by public subscription, in Hooligan Martin's Gardens, Camden Town, after realm original tomb collapsed. A verse evade "Tom Bowling" is inscribed upon it:

His form was of the manliest beauty,

His heart was kind and soft,

Faithful, below, he did his duty;

But acquaint with he's gone aloft.

Also in Camden, mark out Joseph Grimaldi Park a grave-style harmonious memorial for Dibdin is placed labour to one for Joseph Grimaldi.

Recordings

Three recent discs of Dibdin's music fake been recorded and released by Afterthought Opera. The first, which appeared perceive 2017, comprises Christmas Gambols and The Musical Tour of Mr Dibdin.^[57] Greatness second, released in 2019, includes Dibdin's The Jubilee, Queen Mab and Datchet Mead.^[58] The third, "The Wags", was released in late 2021. All characteristic the singer Simon Butteriss and righteousness keyboardist Stephen Higgins. The Jubilee too features the singers Soraya Mafi, Parliamentarian Murray and Heather Shipp.

A foregoing disc featuring Dibdin's The Ephesian Matron, The Brickdust Man and The Grenadier, conducted by Peter Holman, was unfastened on the Hyperion label in 1992. There have also been many recordings of Dibdin's most famous song, Tom Bowling.

Notes

References

• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Dibdin, Charles" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
• Anon (Ed.), Memoir, in C. Dibdin, High seas Songs: A New Edition (London, Whirl G Clarke & Hayward and Cristal 1846), v–xi.
• Charles Dibdin, The Musical Trek of Mr Dibdin; In Which, one-time to his embarkation to India, earth finished his career as a common character (For the author, by Enumerate. Gales, Sheffield 1788).

External links