Regency Music: Let the Fleeting Hours Enjoy; Songs of the Regency Era

I can’t be the only Regency Reader that likes to rock some Regency tunes when I am writing. And you can only listen to the soundtracks of Jane Austen adaptations so many times before you are humming them in your sleep. And Bridgerton is fun for a modern take, but authenticity is what my little heart craves for the deep sessions.

So I was super excited when Parma Recordings reached out to share a new album from Grammy Winning Vocalist, Molly Filmore, that features an array of compositions from the 18th and 19th century, including those composed by Haydn, Storace, and even the Duchess of Devonshire.  According to the website blurb:

“The inspiration for this recording came from contemporary authors of Regency-era fiction. There is no shortage of wonderful writers who set their stories during that time in England when Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters were penning their own masterpieces…As I read the works of such authors as Christina Dudley, Anna Lee Huber, Mimi Matthews, Lynn Messina, M. A. Nichols, and Kasey Stockton, as examples, there was often mention of a character going to the piano to play or sing, or both. As a professional singer, I was particularly intrigued by what it was that they would have sung in that era. There has been much research done on the music that was part of Jane Austen’s library, and I encourage people to seek out this scholarship, much of which is readily available online. Because that collection of songs is actively researched, I was drawn to discovering songs of that era that weren’t necessarily part of the Jane Austen collection, to add to a more general knowledge of Regency songs available for performance and study by contemporary musicians.

Once I began seeking out the musical material, I realized that though many (most?) of the songs I chose are not part of the standard canon, they deserve to be. Many of them fall within the grasp of both amateurs and developing classical singers, adding a wealth of material beyond what is currently the standard selection from which we choose “early” English song repertoire. — Molly Fillmore”

Yes, Molly is a Regency romance fan, so you know she is going to care about the history, the mood, and women.

Now I am an eclectic music listener who does like Opera, so this was an easy listen for me.  I particularly liked the gentler compositions from the many female composers included in this collection, and found the accompaniment with the fortepiano and harp subtle and soothing.  There are also two additional singers, including a mezzo soprano and baritone that make songs like Under the Greenwood Tree fun and flirty. A couple of instrumental songs including a waltz and Le Carnaval de Venise, a romantic and sprightly song on the harp, provide a nice intermission. I am in no way qualified to judge the singing, but I found it delightful and well produced.

I love the inclusion of several Haydn songs, as he was top of the charts during the long Regency and featured at many significant celebrations so it’s transporting to hear his compositions. I also love the curation of material that does a good job at showing not only “pop stars” like Haydn, but a selection of songs many young ladies and gentlemen would have played at home or at musicales. Music has such a transporting quality, that I found it easy to sink into the music and feel myself in the ballrooms and music rooms of the Regency.

I think it’s worth a listen, as I guarantee you will find at least a few songs to put in the rotation when you are dreaming, writing, or reading historical romance.

Learn more about the album on the webpage here: https://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6818/

You can find the album on most major streaming services, and give it a free listen on Youtube.