John Barnett (1802-1890), Harry Stoe van Dyk (words): The light guitar [Oh! leave the gay and festive scenes]; Koen van Stade (tenor), Neal Peres Da Costa (pianoforte); Elizabeth Bay House, Sydney, 27 February 2022

Abstract

This theatre song, with its chivalric evocations of troubadors and guitars, was first popularised by a star theatrical singer in 1820s London, Madame (Lucia) Vestris. A decade later, in Sydney, the song was still being sung in concerts, as well as on the Sydney stage between the plays (usually two, sometimes three plays a night) by local professional vocalists. Words: Oh! leave the gay and festive scenes, / The halls, the halls of dazzling light, / And rove with me thro’ forests green, / Beneath the silent night. / Then as we watch the ling’ring rays, / That shine from ev’ry star, / I’ll sing the song of happier days, / And strike the light Guitar. // I’ll tell thee how the maiden wept / When her true night was slain, / And how her broken spirit slept, / And never woke again. / I’ll tell thee how the steed drew nigh, / And left his lord afar, / But if my tale should make thee sigh, / I’ll strike the light Guitar. See here for the original London sheet music edition: https://archive.org/details/hartley00535542/page/n237/mode/2up (DIGITISED)