The Death of Nelson songsheet by Thomas Dibdin c1805

NELSON, Lord Horation; DIBDIN, Thomas. The Death of Nelson, on the Twenty First of October. Sung by Mr. Incledon, in the Interlude of Nelson's Glory, at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden.
 
London: Printed & Sold by Preston, at his Wholesale Warehouses, 97 Strand, [1805].
 
Folio bifolium, 320 x 240 mm, pp. [4]. Engraved musical notation and printed text. Unstitched as issued. Small holes and minor wear along former stitching line, old folds, a little creasing and light marking, but a sound and well-preserved example. Good. 
 
Scarce patriotic sheet music issued in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Lord Nelson on 21 October 1805. Written by the dramatist and songwriter Thomas Dibdin (1771-1841), the piece formed part of Nelson's Glory, a theatrical interlude performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, one of several productions mounted in response to Britain's greatest naval victory. The lyrics celebrate Nelson's triumph over the combined French and Spanish fleets while simultaneously memorialising his death in battle. 
 
The song was performed by the celebrated tenor Charles Incledon (1763-1826), among the most popular singers of the Georgian stage. His prominent appearance on the title-page reflects both his celebrity status and the commercial appeal of such commemorative productions. Printed by the Strand music publisher Preston and sold for one shilling, the work was intended for immediate performance and domestic consumption during the wave of public mourning and patriotic enthusiasm that followed Trafalgar.