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Event: Visit to the Pleasure Gardens at RanelaghDates: 1786-04-17 - 1786-04-17Short Description: Jefferson paid 3/6 to hear music at Ranelagh. These, along with Vauxhill, are one of the famous pleasure gardens of England. Ranelagh opened for the season on this date, which also happened to be Easter Monday. A newspaper reported that the music “was extremely well performed” and “considering that it is not the fashion to be there the first week, a very respectable company graced the room.” (Mem. Books, p. 261, footnote 93) Gouverneur Morris wrote that “The Amusement here is to walk round till one is tired and then sit down to tea and rolls.” (Mem. Books, p. 261 footnote 93) Music was played underneath the large Rotunda, the main feature of Ranelagh. Jefferson owned two books of music concerning Ranelagh: The Ballads Sung by Mr. Dibdin this Evening at Ranclagh .... composed by Mr. Dibdin -- printed and sold at the composer's house, at the Lyre and Owl, in St. Martin's Lane; at Mr. Griffin's, bookseller in Catharine St; at Ranelagh House, [ca. 1764-76]. Listed by first lines. • "My Nancy was as neat jade" • "There was a fair maiden, her name it was Gillian" • (a 22-page "Conclusion Piece" -- 4-part vocal, also instrumental) The Favorite Songs Sung At Ranelagh .... printed for Robert Bremner, Harp and Hautboy, opposite Somerset House in Strand, [ca. 1762-89]. • "Come Ye Hours" -- by Vento • "Not on Beauty's Transient pleasure" -- by Giardini • "Sylvia" -- cantata, the words from Tasso's Aminta • "Go, Lovely Rose" -- the words taken from Waller's poems • "Phyllis and Silvano" • "Cloris" -- from Waller's poems These two books perhaps contained some of the songs Jefferson heard at this time. Clearly, he enjoyed the music enough to own books of it at Monticello. (Cripe) Event Type:'Tourist' Visit Record created by Lauren Schmidt Connected EvidenceMemorandum BookUVa Library Website Connected PlacesRanelagh |