"BEGGAR'S OPERA"
Sir,-In the 2YA programme for Sune day, February 13, The Beggar’s Opera appears to have been composed by John Gay. The music found in the ballad opera is the vehicle of the libretto, and not vice versa. As the name ballad opera implies, this music is culled from ballads, popular songs, dances, and operas, For instance, in The Beggar’s Opera the air 44, "The modes of Court so common are grown..." is set to the music of "Lillibullero," the air 20 "Let us take the road... " is the march in "Rinaldo," and "Since Laws were made for ev'ry Degree" (air 67) is the tune of "Green Sleeves." The Beggar's Opera then is not, as stated in the programme, composed by John Gay, but written by him, whereas the only two original airs and the overture are composed by Pepusch.
H. S. K.
KENT
(Otago University).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19440218.2.10.6
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 10, Issue 243, 18 February 1944, Page 5
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147"BEGGAR'S OPERA" New Zealand Listener, Volume 10, Issue 243, 18 February 1944, Page 5
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