Category Archives: music

Award Winning Love Songs in Time for Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

As we are in the midst of award programs, and it is Valentine’s Day, let’s go back to the songs that made us fall in love. These are some of my LONG-time favorites.  Today, I offer you an “evergreen” post. … Continue reading →

Posted in acting, film, holidays, music | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

“Deck the Hall” with Music and History

Posted on December 15, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

I recently attended the local Christmas Parade for our rural community. You can keep your Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, for there is nothing better than watching young children scrambling for candy thrown by the various floats. Young, shining face, full … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, history, medieval, music, Scotland, Wales | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What If I Gave “Pride and Prejudice” an “& Juliet” Style Makeover?

Posted on August 18, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

& Juliet is a 2019 coming-of-age jukebox musical. The story focuses on a “what if” scenario [Geez! Are not all Austenesque literature also “What If” scenarios?] where Juliet does not die at the end of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In it, Juliet … Continue reading →

Posted in Always Austen, film adaptations, Jane Austen, music, Pop Culture, Pride and Prejudice, romance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What If I Gave “Pride and Prejudice” an “& Juliet” Style Makeover?

The Origin of “Humpty Dumpty” + the Release of “Amending the Shades of Pemberley” + a Giveaway

Posted on April 21, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

The most common version is Humpty Dumpty is a representation of King Richard III of England, who was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. The “egg” shape refers to King Richard supposedly being a “humpback,” as is portrayed in Shakespeare’s play. “Shakespeare called Richard III a ‘hunchback’, which means that he was hunching forward while walking. Richard III’s skeleton actually shows a sideways displacement of the spine, a heavy scoliosis, which made the king walk obliquely. So there is a certain match between the two: something unusual about the body.” (British Council) The “wall” falling is the loss of his reign as king. The king’s horses and men are the army who failed to defeat their enemy Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, customs and tradiitons, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, music, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, research, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Men of Harlech (Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech), a Welsh Military March

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

 “Men of Harlech” (Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech) is a traditional military march and is said to chronicle the seven-year long siege of Harlech Castle in the 1460s. The incident is considered the longest known siege in British history. The garrison was commanded … Continue reading →

Posted in ballads, British history, film, legends, military, music, Wales | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

George Thomson, Savior of British Traditional Music

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

“The Maid of Llanwellyn” is a Welsh song of love in which the girl admits she has no care for whether her lover is rich or not. From Contemplator [You may listen to the music on this site.] we learn, “This … Continue reading →

Posted in ballads, British history, Georgian Era, music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Buying a Commission During the Regency Era

Posted on October 24, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

In times of peace and of war, most promotions were achieved by purchasing a higher rank, rather than earning a field promotion, so to speak. This made it easy for a man to have a high rank without much actual … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, music, Napoleonic Wars, Northanger Abbey, political stance, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ben Jonson’s “Song to Celia” ~ The Poem You Did Not Know Was a Song

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

 One of my favorite love songs comes to us from the poet Ben Jonson. According to Poets.org, “The poet, essayist, and playwright Ben Jonson was born on June 11, 1572 in London, England. In 1598, Jonson wrote what is considered his … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, literature, love quotes, music, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Origin of a Sea Shantie: “What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?”

Posted on May 5, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

“What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?” was a work song, mainly sung on ships with a large number of crewmen. According to Song Facts, it is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon sea shanties, one sung by the Indiamen … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history, British Navy, music, tradtions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Christmas Carols Jane Austen Might Have Known, a Guest Post from Jann Rowland

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Regina Jeffers

This post originally appeared on Austen Authors in December 2016. I thought you might enjoy it, given the time of the year.  As anyone who knows me will attest, I love music, and I also love Christmas. But while do … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Guest Post, Living in the Regency, music | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Christmas Carols Jane Austen Might Have Known, a Guest Post from Jann Rowland