Shakespeare famously
wrote: 'If music be the food of love, play on'. Music and love have long been companions, and the history
of romantic songs and ballads stretches all the way from antiquity to the
chart-toppers of the present day. This exhibition presents a selection of romantic sheet
music covers from the Royal College of Music Collection. They span the period
1845–1925, offering a glimpse into changing tastes in music and
design over this eighty year period.
Cover of 'Guard Her as a Treasure' by J.E. Carpenter and John Barnett, 1845, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'First Love Quadrille' by J. Pridham, 1858, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'The Bridal Morn' by George Hodder and J.L. Hatton, Cramer, Beale & Chappell, 1858, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Norah, Darling, Don't Believe Them' by Jessica Rankin and M. W. Balfe, Brewer & Co., 1858 - 1902, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Oh! Keep me in your memory' by J.E. Carpenter and Stephen Clover, Brewer & Co., circa 1859, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'My Queen' by P. Bucalossi and Charles Coote Jr., Berridge Brothers engravers and steam litho's, circa 1860, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'The Wedding Bells Schottische' by J. W. Cherry, Brewer & Co., 1873, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'My Little Sweetheart' by Josef Meissler, Cramer & Co, 1885, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Beauty's Eyes' by Frank Leslie and F. Paolo Tosti, Chapell & Co, 1892, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Rendez-Vous' by W. Aletter, Bosworth and Co., 1894/1903, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Mon Adoree' by Theo. Bonheur, D. Wilcock, 1900, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Lady Madcap' by Paul A. Rubens and Ernest Bucalossi, Chappell & Co., 1905, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Moon Madrigal' by Charles Willeby, The John Church Company, 1912, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Rosemaiden' by Montagu Jones, Carry & Co., 1912, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Reverie' by E. Kershaw, W. Paxton & Co, 1916, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'Slumberland' by Kennedy Thayne, Warren & Phillips, 1921, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Cover of 'In the Gloaming' by Evan Marsden, J. H. Larway, 1925, From the collection of: Royal College of Music
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Credits: Story
This exhibition was developed by the Royal College of Music Museum, with the assistance of Digitisation Volunteer Anuka Randev.
Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Stories from Royal College of Music