TITLEY,William MS
Mr William Titley, Pave Lane, Shropshire
Manuscript Book, circa 1860
FOREWORD by Brian Tomkinson
The following pages of music (Ed. See PDFs) are a complete copy of a manuscript book, which I was given by my late uncle Mr Joe Evans of Bromstead near Newport, Shropshire.
The book belonged to his grandfather Mr W. Titley who was an accomplished musician and it records in his own hand writing the music played by him in the area in the mid to late 1800’s. The 1891 census records William Titley, aged 62, was at the time resident at the Plough Inn, Bromstead and his occupation was given as carpenter, farmer, and beer house keeper. This information confirms stories that I heard from family members that Mr Titley worked on local estates as a carpenter and that his musical talent was such that a pony and trap would be sent from as far afield as Shrewsbury to take him to play at hunt balls etc. This crossing of social boundaries would have been uncommon at the time and indicates the level of his musical talent. I have been told that he played the piccolo and may have also played the flute and fiddle. He was well known in the district at the time and played for many village functions.
To obtain some estimate of the date of this music I have assumed that Mr Titley would have been in his 30’s when in peak demand as a musician and resident at Pave Lane, so if he was 62 in 1891 it dates the manuscript book to about 1860. One of his children [also William] was listed in the 1901 census as being born in Pave Lane in 1865, which agrees with the address given in the book. Some of the music is well known tunes of the day, some seem more uncommon. A large number of quadrilles, a dance in five parts for four couples, and a significant number of polka’s are included which goes some way to indicating the types of dances in demand at the time. Pave Lane, where my mother’s family lived for many years, is a small village on the A41 south of Newport. It is now only a cluster of houses, a farm, and a pub but it has had a busy industrial past with a canal wharf and lime kilns.
The book provides a unique insight into one man’s music and is a permanent record of popular music in the Shropshire area in the mid to late 1800’s. I have reproduced and circulated copies in the hope that some of this music may be heard again.
Back to Tune Manuscripts List
CONTENTS
Brian Tomkinson
Jenny Lind’s Polka
The Trotting Pony Polka
The Dublin Polka
Polka Galop
The National Schottische
Dublin Llasses
The Drum Polka
The Rose of Allandale
St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning (Untitled)
Romeo Waltz
Waltz by Worrall
The New Schottische
Newcastle Schottische
Olga Waltz
Polka
Polka [by Julian]
Walhalla Polka
The Pandowr Waltz
The New Schottische
A Waltz
Waltz by Schubert
Waltz by J. King
Mozart’s Waltz
Music by Winter
Love Not
The Special Polka
The Victorine Polka
The Rose Polka
Waltz [Stoddart]
Waltz
Duke of York’s March
The Opera Schottische
May Queen Waltzes 1&2
Schottische
3rd & 4th Caledonian (Quadrilles?)
Polka
Wild Rose Polka
Lennora Schottische
The Inkerman Polka
Waltz
Silver Lake Varsoviano
Miriam Polka Mazurka (cont.)
The King Pippin Polka
Moldavian Schottische
The Great Eastern Polka
Miriam Polka Mazurka (cont.)
Sandringham Polka
Early in the Morning Schottische
Only a Pansy Blossom
Fizz Galop (?)
God Bless the Prince of Wales
Down by the River Side
Only a Pansy Blossom
Hornpipe The Blue Jacket
The Souvenir Schottische
Victoria Waltz
Scots Abroad Barn Dance
Strolling Players Quadrilles
Sherwins Polka
Susanna Quadrilles
New Caledonians
Musards 43 set
The Caledonians Quadrilles
Le Petit Postilion Quadrilles
Les Belles Nuits de Venise Quadrilles
Jetty Treffz Quadrilles
Quadrilles from the Ofries Masanieto
Les Rats Quadrilles
Lancers Quadrilles
Harlequin
Palmyra Quadrilles
Quadrilles composed by G. Collier
Le Chateau de Kenilworth
Normandie Quadrilles
No 9 set Galop
Souvenir de Loyons Quadrilles
Daughter of St Mark Quadrilles
Margarita Waltzes
Tubal Cain Polka
Cherbourg Quadrilles
Faust Waltzes
No 1 set
Cottage Polka
No 4 set
Coquette Polka
The Elfin Quadrille
The Warrington Quadrille
Le Prophete Quadrille
Storming of Mooltan Quadrille
Elizor de Amour Quadrille
Mandoline Waltzes
Emmeline Waltzes
Rosalinda Waltzes
Nymph of the Wave
Uncle Tom’s Cabin Quadrille
Edinburgh Quadrilles
The Burlesque Quadrilles
Homage to the Prince of Wales: parts named as The Delight of the Men of Harlech
Ar hydy nos
The King’s Joy
Margaret’s Daughter
Rising of the Lark
Ap Shenkin
Rule Brittania
Winter Night Galop
My Grandfather’s Clock
Blue Bells
Palace of Lee Mazurka
Fanny Bell Schottische
The War Galop
Back to Tune Manuscripts List