Autograph letter signed by inventor Edward Light about the harp-lute 1807

Musician Edward Light explains his invention, the harp-lute - and reports its royal approval, 1807

LIGHT, Edward (1747-1832) inventor and musician. Autograph letter to Susan Priscilla Tarleton concerning the harp-lute, musical transposition and royal patronage, Brown Bear, Piccadilly, 9 January 1807.

Single folded sheet, manuscript in ink on both sides. Several original folds, with general modernate to heavy age toning, worn, some staining and handling wear, and edge wear; entirely legible and sound. Dated at the foot, "Sent this day from the Brown Bear Piccadilly, January 9th - 1807." Good.

An exceptionally scarce letter from the musician, teacher and instrument-maker Edward Light to Susan Priscilla Tarleton, wife of General Banastre Tarleton, answering her questions concerning the practical use of Light's harp-lute.

Light first discusses the transposition of music into different keys and advises Mrs Tarleton on the maintenance of the instrument, explaining that stiff brass pins should be worked backwards and forwards until they loosen. He also refers to music supplied for pianoforte and reports the growing fashionable success of his invention: "the Harplute being now also, taken, & approved, by the Princess of Wales and many other ladies of first Distinction, we shall be continually arranging and publishing Music for it, particularly in the vocal." On the reverse Light supplies a separate "Statement of the Minor keys", giving detailed instructions for transposing music according to the range of the singer's voice, including the movement of G minor into A, D and E minor and of A-flat major into other major keys.

Edward Light was a musician, teacher and designer of plucked-string instruments. His best-known invention was the harp-lute, an attempt to combine characteristics of the harp and guitar in a portable instrument suitable for domestic performance. Light was closely associated with Princess Charlotte of Wales as a music teacher and subsequently advertised himself as "Lyrist to H.R.H. the Princess of Wales." 

The recipient, Susan Priscilla Tarleton, nee Bertie, was the daughter of Robert Bertie, 4th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven, and wife of General Sir Banastre Tarleton, the prominent cavalry officer of the American Revolutionary War and later Member of Parliament for Liverpool. Autograph material by Edward Light appears to be exceptionally scarce; I have been unable to trace another autograph letter by him.