1. A Beauteous Fair has Pierc'd my Heart - John Wall Callcott (1766-1821)
Our first catch is taken from the later period shortly before the "Glee" took over in popularity and the Victorians (and European counterparts) got their hands on everything and tried to make everything all horrible and wholesome.
The composer of this catch was a pupil of Joseph Haydn and the author of the popular “A Musical Grammar”. He is also responsible for the original musical setting of “Drink to me Only With Thine Eyes”.
This catch takes the form of a short conversation between two people about a certain Marianna with the hidden message this time being a typically immature commentary on a particular pastime she may participate in. Bowdlerised along with many others by William Horsely in 1824, the name Roger becomes Frolic. Horsely also created a piano accompaniment which I’ve included here in the final loop. I’m sure he would have loved that.
"A beauteous fair has pierc'd my heart, 'Twas Marianna threw the dart. Don't you now my tale betray, But she is Roger's daughter gay."
"Does she in your cottage dwell? If she does I know her well."