The Improvisation of Poetry, 1750 – 1850
A database of commentaries on improvisational performance
An obituary for Hook recalls his talent for improvising verses and songs, especially the performance that prompted George IV to favour him with a colonial government appointment.
Blessington describes and records a performance by Signor Leoni, in which the latter improvises a poem on the death of Lord Byron. Blessington also discusses the gift of genius required for improvisational poetry, and her experience of watching improvised performances in Italy.
Hunt speaks of Hook’s talent and confidence in improvising English poetry in front of an audience.
Campbell describes Hook’s astonishing talent in improvising about “pepper and salt,” and mentions Admiral Moore’s patronage of an Italian improvisatore.
A recorded conversation between Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, in which the two touch on Kemble and Hook briefly, and then speak about Sgricci at greater length. Shelley mentions Sgricci’s improvised performance of Iphigenia at Tauris in Lucca, which very much impressed him. Byron notes the marked difference between the arts of written poetry and improvisation. In the second passage, Medwin describes Byron’s incredible memory, focus, and the perfection of his manuscripts, likening his skills to those of an improvisatore.
Jerdan describes a meeting between Coleridge and Theodore Hook, where Hook impressed Coleridge with a poetic improvisation on “cocoa-nut oil.”