Irish Melodies
1808-80
The Irish Melodies is a ten-volume series first published between 1808 and 1834. The publishers of the original series were James Power (based in London), and William Power (based in Dublin). Thomas Moore selected the tunes and wrote the lyrics. The Dublin-based composer Sir John Stevenson arranged the music for piano and voice.
Further information on Irish Melodies
For numbers 1 to 7, the brothers Power issued the Irish Melodies through separate production processes in Dublin and London. By 1821, the result of a court case between them saw James assuming the sole copyright. Notwithstanding, number 8 was still issued in London and Dublin, but with the fashionable composer Henry Rowley Bishop recruited to set the tunes for James Power, while William Power retained Stevenson as arranger. Numbers 9 and 10 were published solely in London, thus ending Stevenson’s connection with the series.
Within the ERIN database catalogue, the multiple copies available of each number reflect this complex history as well as the popularity of individual numbers. Apparently duplicate copies may evidence Moore’s small changes or additions to individual songs. ERIN also records the publication of individual songs as sheet music, arrangements of the Melodies (sometimes purely instrumental), as well as new editions issued post 1834.
Find out more
Project ERIN has created two collections of electronic images with attached metadata.
Moore’s Irish Melodies: Texts and Illustrations - This collection documents European editions of the texts for Thomas Moore's Irish Melodies published between 1808 and 1880.
Music to Moore’s Irish Melodies - This collection presents music from editions of the Irish Melodies produced in London or Dublin between 1808 and 1880.
This collection has two associated narrative exhibits:
Moore’s Irish Melodies in Europe - This exhibit traces the publication of collected editions of the lyrics across space (Europe) and time (between 1808 and 1880).