Jane Austen, author and pianist
“If you are speaking of music...it is of all subjects my delight.” --j.a.
Scroll down for two manuscripts, plus musical and biographical links
“The Duke of York’s New March performed by the Coldstream Regt.,” CHWJA19/2.42 - Manuscript of keyboard music, copied c.1790-1810.
Page depicts handwritten score of music for keyboard. It also contains a few corrected errors (circled notes on system 2 and 3 with penciled corrections) in a different type of ink or pencil marking that appear to be in the same handwriting as the parenthetical note on the bottom of the page.
“Larghetto” (from Artaxerxes), CHWJA 12/2.92 Manuscript of keyboard music, copied c.1790-1810.
Excerpt demonstrates the opening of the middle movement from the keyboard reduction of “Overture to Artaxerxes” by Thomas Arne. The original score printed by J. Bland at his Music Warehouse No. 45 Holborn [London, ca. 1790], but doesn’t include the inner notes of the bottom two staves. This appears to be an example of Austen applying thorough bass practice in her copy.
“The Soldier’s Adieu” by Dibdin, CHWJA 19/3.32 - Manuscript of vocal music, copied c.1790-c.1805
At the bottom of the page, Austen has crossed out her previously inscribed word “Soldier’s” and replaced it with “Sailor’s.” Her connections with the Royal Navy through her brothers Francis and Charles and the characters she creates in her novel writing, including Fanny Price’s brother, William (Mansfield Park), and Captain Wentworth and Admiral Croft (Persuasion) suggest the rationale for her choice to change the original lyric.
Jane Austen
Jane Austen portrait by Cassandra Austen, Circa 1810, National Portrait Gallery, London
Sonata op 5/3: II. Andante, “Whar Hae Ye Been a Day” [Domenico Corri] - Jane Austen’s keyboard book
MY LOVE, SHE’S BUT A LASSIE YET [Thomas Powell] — Jane Austen’s keyboard manuscript c. 1790-1810
The DUKE OF YORK’S NEW MARCH [adapted from Mozart] - Jane Austen’s keyboard manuscript c.1790-1810