MUSICAL MEMORIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20510, 31 August 1936, Page 12

MUSICAL MEMORIES

“IN THE GLOAMING” One of Mayfair’s grandmothers, Lady Arthur Hill, was overjoyed at the fact that the younger generation are singing the old songs and dancing again to Victorian airs (states a writer in the London “Daily Telegraph”) . Among the songs that she has heard more frequently of late is one for which she composed the music almost 60 years ago—“ln the Gloaming.” It was one of the best sellers of the last century. She once told me how in 1877, the year of her marriage to the late Lord Arthur Hill, a friend of hers, Meta Orred, sent her the words and she promptly composed the setting. Lord Arthur had his wife’s song played by the band of the 2nd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers, who adopted it as a march. He was their commanding officer. In nine years 140,000 copies of the song were sold. The anthem setting to “Oh Perfect Love,” which she composed for her daughter’s marriage, was sung in 1913 at the wedding of Prince Arthur of Connaught.

Another old-time song that may epjoy a revival is “My Blue-Eyed Boy,” written by Princess Beatrice and sung by Mme. Pati before Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. Princess Beatrice’s son. Lord Carisbrooke, is also musical. He has a fine voice. His wife writes charming poetry-