Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Leadership Through Laughter: How Henry Carey Reinvented English Music And Song, Jennifer Cable

Music Faculty Publications

Polly refers to Miss Polly Peachum, a character in John Gay's The Beggar's Opera of 1728 (January). Henry Carey (1687-1743) set this verse (1728) to his famous tune Sally in our Alley, which Gay had used in the opera. Carey's verse about Polly Peachum became so popular that it was eventually incorporated into The Beggar's Opera libretto, beginning with the third edition.¹ Even in this short example, we can detect Carey's delight that Polly had overtaken "the Opera of Rolli," alluding to Italian opera in general by referring specifically to the Italian poet and librettist who adapted libretti for …