Odd Pieces: Illustrated Music of the Victorian and Edwardian Era explores the wide variety of music written and published to commemorate events and personalities in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. It showcases over fifty illustrated music titles inspired by both British and foreign Royalty, the military, famous people, events and innovations in communication and transport. The sheets give a fascinating and sometimes amusing insight into the life and interests of people in Britain at the time.  They also remind us how quickly both the music and the events commemorated have vanished into the mists of time.

The exhibition features illustrated music sheet covers drawn by important artists of the period including Concanen and Lee, Laby, Banks and Macquire and Brandard. It draws on the Peter Edwards music sheet collection which was purchased by the museum in 1980 with the assistance of the V&A Purchase Grant Fund, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.


On display are many illustrated covers that Edwards acquired from the author Ronald Pearsall (1927-2005).  Pearsall  was a musician and the author of numerous books on many subjects, including Victorian Sheet Music Covers, published in 1972. Edwards bought a number of music sheets that were illustrated in Pearsall’s book, including The Excursion Train which features in the exhibition.

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