Buckleys Serenaders.

[Carl Anderton]

I found this in an English newspaper from January of 1861.  As usual, apologies for vile language.

_________________________

THE BUCKLEYS SERENADERS.

 

We are glad they are come at last, and the many good reasons we have for being glad will be discerned by all the world who pay a visit to the St. James's Hall. The Buckley Serenaders, with Miss Julia Gould from 585 Broadway, New York, United States, may be heard any evening at the St. James's Hall.

 

The taste for nigger melody is of modern date and very rapid growth. About twenty - one years ago the English musical world was in a miserable plight. Our ballads were of the most mawkish kind. Unnatural, drawling, miserable productions, which gave us some faint conception of the unknown tune which caused the death of an unknown cow. Now nigger music is natural, and the style somewhat novel. No wonder it met with an instant success, and considering the talented troupe which have devoted themselves to this amusement, it is not surprising that its popularity should have continued to increase.

 

The Buckley Troupe began in 1842 as the Congo Melodists. Since then its success has been great in the United States, and at 585, Broadway, a very substantial building has been erected for its performances. Mr. G. S. Buckley has a sweet tenor voice; Mr. R. B.Buckley is an excellent buffo singer; aud Mr. F. Buckley is a good director, and evidently an accomplished musician and composer. Miss Julia Gould is a charming prima donna. Besides these there are other clever artists. Although the Buckleys are rather given to sentimental operatic music, the banjo, tambourine, and bones are played with tremendous energy. There was likewise the Chinese cremona, a one stringed violin in a Chinese disguise, and upon which Mr. R. B. Buckley admirably burlesqued the vagaries of Paganini.

The performance consists of three parts. In the first the troupe are seated, whilst they give sundry vocal and instrumental pieces. The second part consists of character singing, dancing, &c., and the third is a burlesque opera, assisted by a very efficient orchestra .

Lucrezia  Borgia was selected for Monday night. It was a capital parody.

 

A laughing song and a bone solo of Zampa by Mr. G. S. Buckley were irresistibly comic. Altogether their first appearance was a complete success, and the Buckleys will engross a considerable share of patronage, much to their own pecuniary benefit, and the amusement of their audiences.

Some of their ballads are pretty compositions, and are published by Messrs. Hopwood and Crew.