Annotation:Slingsby's Hornpipe (2)
X:1 T:Slingsby's Hornpipe [2] M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Hornpipe B:Elias Howe – Musician’s Omnibus Nos. 6 & 7 (Boston, 1880-1882, p. 648) B: http://ks4.imslp.net/files/imglnks/usimg/c/c7/IMSLP601433-PMLP562790-ONeill_Rare_Medium_M40_M8_v6.7_text.pdf Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:D f/g/|(a/f/).d/.d/ {e}dc/d/|(e/d/).c/.B/ (A/G/).F/.E/|F/A/d/c/ B/a/e/d/|cA Af/g/| (a/f/).d/.d/ {e}dc/d/|e/d/c/B/ A/G/F/E/|F/A/d/c/ B/g/e/c/|d3:| |:f/g/|f/g/a/b/ =c'/a/b/c'/|b/a/g/f/ gb/a/|b/a/g/f/ e/d/c/B/|c/d/c/B/ A/G/F/E/| F/d/A/d/ G/d/B/d/|c/a/f/a/ d/a/f/a/|b/g/b/g/ f/e/d/c/|d3:|]
SLINGSBY'S HORNPIPE [2]. AKA and see "Danc'd by Aldridge (3)." English, Hornpipe (2/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. Simon Slingsby (d. 1811) was an Irish-born dancer, choreographer and theater manager in the latter half of the 18th century, primarily in London where he was associated in his hey-day with the King's Theatre (the opera house supported by the aristocracy), and even danced in Paris where he was the first English dancer to acquire fame there. His name is mentioned with other famous 18th century dancers, such as Fossan, Duprè, Lany, Vestris and Noverre, and he vied with his teacher, Robert Aldridge, for the distinction of being the premier dancer of the day. In his early years at Drury Lane he frequently danced with Mary Baker; particularly well-known was their tambourine dance. He remained on stage until 1785.
Robert Aldridge, of Crow-street Theatre, is said never to have been surpassed in the various excellencies of Irish grotesque dancing. He composed a ballet called the "Irish Lilt", made up of original Irish airs; also an entertainment called the "Tambourine Dance," in part of which, when produced on a benefit night, Aldridge's pupil, Slingsby, made one of the figures, a tall man, stand upon a pedestal and hold a tambourine as high as he could; "Slingsby, dressed in character, dancing on, sprang up and kicked the tambourine out of the man's hand, to the delight of the audience, and the astonishment of his master, Aldridge. Barry, the Manager, being a spectator of this wonderful feat, asked Carmichael who he was: the Prompter answered, --'Why sir, it is little Simon Slingsby, the boy that you have seen here every night, and thought very little about.' 'Engage him; article him for any money', said Barry. Slingsby afterwards excelled all the dancers even in Paris, where he performed before the royal family, and was the first dancer at Drury-lane Theatre. The rapidity of his motions was such, that the human figure was scarcely distinguishable: his forte was agility. [1]
- ↑ Sir John Thomas Gilbert, A History of the City of Dublin, vol. 2, 1861, p. 191.