Annotation:General Toast (The)
X:1 T:General Toast, The – In the School for Scandal M:6/8 L:1/8 R:Air B:Samuel, Anne & Peter Thompson – The Hibernian Muse B:(London, 1787, No. 71, p. 45) N:”A Collection of the most Favorite Compositions N:of Carolan the Celebrated Irish Bard” Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:G G>AG gfg|ede d3|GAG gfg|Te3 d3| G>AG gfg|ede !fermata!d2d|cdc BcB|TA3 G3| Bcd d3|dcB A2A|Bcd ded|cBA G3| Bcd d3|dcB A2A|Bcd dgd|cBA G3||
GENERAL TOAST, THE. AKA - "General Trust (The)." AKA and see "Gamest Toast (The)," "Here's to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen," "To Arms." English, Air & Jig (6/8 time). England; Northumberland, Lancashire. G Major (Peacock, Raven): F Major (Plain Brown). Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Peacock, Raven, Thompson): AABB (Doyle). A song air that appears in numerous publications and musicians' manuscript books from 1780 through the early 19th century, beginning with appearances in two separate oboe tutors both published in London in 1780 -- Longman and Broderip's New and Complete Instructions for the Oboe or Hoboy and Preston's New and Complete Instructions for the Hautboy. See also an Irish version under "Gamest Toast (The)." The air was originally called "Here's to the Maiden of bashful fifteen. A General Toast" and was sung by Mr. Vernon in Richard Sheridan's popular and critically acclaimed comedy School for Scandal (1777). The song was much imitated in different versions and parodies. It begins:
Here's to the maiden of bashful fifteen;
Here's to the widow of fifty;
Here's to the flaunting extravagant quean,
And here's to the housewife that's thrifty.
Chorus
Let the toast pass,--
Drink to the lass,
I'll warrant she'll prove an excuse for the glass.
