Note 25 — Chapter VIII · 1880. ‘THE CORSICAN BROTHERS’ AND ‘THE CUP.’

A curious little controversy arose as to the authorship of the Ghost Melody. It was claimed for Mr. Stöpel, who was acting as chef d’orchestre at the Théâtre Historique when the play was originally produced. Another claim was made for Varney, author of the stirring hymn, Mourir pour la patrie. Oddly enough, Stöpel, who was then at the Adelphi, could not be got “to say yes or no.” “He was amused,” he said, “at the importance attached to such a trifle, and could, if he chose, set the matter at rest in a few words.” But he did not. Still, there used to be a pianoforte piece by one Rosellen—a Reverie—which certainly began and went on for many bars in the same fashion. However, a copy of the music of the Ghost Melody, arranged for the pianoforte, and published in 1852, was unearthed, which bore on its title the words: “Composed by M. Varney, of the Théâtre Historique: arranged by R. Stöpel, director of the music at the Princess’s Theatre.” This settled the point, and it explained the ambiguous declaration of the arranger. We must assuredly give the whole credit of this air to Varney.