Annotation:General Toast (The)

Tune properties and standard notation

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GENERAL TOAST, THE. AKA and see "Gamest Toast (The)," "Here's to the Maiden of Bashfull Fifteen." English, Air & Jig. England; Northumberland, Lancashire. G Major (Peacock, Raven): F Major (Plain Brown). Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Peacock, Raven): AABB (Plain Brown). 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 bashfull fifteen. A General Toast" and was sung by Mr. Vernon in Richard Sheridan's popular play School for Scandal. 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.

Source for notated version: the 1845-47 music manuscript of Ellis Knowles, a musician from Radcliffe, Lancashire, England [Plain Brown].

Printed sources: Aird (Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs, vol. 3), 1788; p. 196. Peacock (Peacock's Tunes), 1980; No. 21, p. 7. Doyle (Plain Brown Tune Book), 1997; p. 19. Raven (English Country Dance Tunes), 1984; p. 115.

Recorded sources:

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Tune properties and standard notation