Bab Ballads

Einband einer Ausgabe von 1898 der Bab Ballads

Bab Ballads ist eine Reihe illustrierter humoristischer Gedichte von W. S. Gilbert.

Der Humor der Bab Ballads basiert auf einer verrückten Ausgangssituation, aus der sich absurde Schlussfolgerungen ergeben. Dieser Stil, der als „topsyturvydom“ („Auf-den-Kopf-stellen“) bezeichnet wurde, findet sich auch in den späteren Operetten von Gilbert und Sullivan. Die Bezeichnung Bab Ballads geht auf den Kosenamen „Bab“ zurück, den Gilbert als Kind trug, und mit dem er auch ab 1866 seine Illustrationen regelmäßig signierte.

Entstehungsgeschichte

Die Bab Ballads begannen mit einem illustrierten Artikel, den Gilbert der wöchentlich erscheinenden Zeitschrift Fun sandte. Daraufhin nahm er das Angebot des Fun an, zu jeder Ausgabe eine Spalte Text und eine Illustration beizutragen. Daneben lieferte Gilbert weitere Artikel, Gedichte und Theaterkritiken für die Zeitschrift. Der erste bekannte Beitrag Gilberts für den Fun ist eine mit „Some mistake here“ betitelte Zeichnung auf Seite 56 der Ausgabe vom 26. Oktober 1861. Die ersten Artikel, die er in die Gedichtesammlung aufnahm, erschienen 1865. Wegen seiner größeren Bekanntheit als Librettist schrieb Gilbert ab 1870 nur noch wenige Bab-Ballad-Gedichte. Eine erste Ausgabe der gesammelten Bab Ballads erschien 1868. Die in den folgenden Jahren erschienenen Ausgaben enthalten weitere Gedichte. Eine allgemein anerkannte Liste von Werken, die als Bab Ballads gelten, existiert nicht.

Liste von Bab Ballads

Die folgende Tabelle listet alle Bab Ballads auf, die in Ellis (1970) enthalten sind. Die zweite Spalte nennt die Zeitschrift, in der die Gedichte ursprünglich veröffentlicht wurden, und die dritte Spalte enthält die Gedichtesammlungen, in denen sie enthalten sind. Die folgenden Abkürzungen werden verwendet:

  • TBB: W. S. Gilbert: The “Bab” Ballads – Much Sound and Little Sense. John Camden Hotten, London 1868
  • MBB: W. S. Gilbert: More “Bab” Ballads. Routledge, London 1872
  • 50BB: W. S. Gilbert: Fifty “Bab” Ballads. Routledge, London 1876
  • D&G: Sidney Dark, Rowland Grey: W.S. Gilbert: His Life and Letters. Methuen, London 1923
  • Goldberg: Isaac Goldberg: The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan or The ‘Compleat’ Savoyard. John Murray, London 1929
  • Searle: Townley Searle: Lost Bab Ballads. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, London 1932
  • Ellis: James Ellis: The Bab Ballads. Belknap Press, Cambridge 1970, ISBN 0-674-05800-3

Beginnend mit „Mister William“ wies Gilbert den meisten Gedichten, die im Fun erschienen, eine Nummer zu. Diese Nummern werden in der zweiten Spalte nach der Quelle aufgeführt.

Titel Quelle Sammlungen
The Advent of Spring Fun, II (1 February 1862), 200. Ellis
The Cattle Show Fun, V (12 December 1863), 121. Searle, Ellis
The Cattle Show The Comic News, I (19 December 1863), 180. Ellis
Sixty-Three and Sixty-Four Fun, V (2 January 1864), 162. Ellis
The Dream Fun, V (27 February 1864), 242. Goldberg, Ellis
The Baron Klopfzetterheim Fun, VI (19, 26 March.; 2, 9, 16 April 1864), 8-9, 18, 21, 38, 48. Searle, Ellis
Down to the Derby Fun, VI (28 May 1864), 110, 111. D&G, Searle, Ellis
Something Like Nonsense Verses Fun, n.s., I (10, 24 June 1865), 31, 51. Ellis
Ode to my Clothes Fun, n.s., I (10 June 1865), 33. Ellis
The Student Fun, n.s., I (1 July 1865), 67. Ellis
Tempora Mutantur Fun, n.s., I (15 July 1865), 82. TBB, Ellis
The Bachelors' Strike Fun, n.s., I (22 July 1865), 99. Ellis
A Bad Night Of It Fun, n.s., I (19 August 1865), 139. Ellis
To Phœbe Fun, n.s., I (26 August 1865), 144. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Ozone Fun, n.s., II (16 September 1865), 2. Ellis
To the Terrestrial Globe Fun, n.s., II (30 September 1865), 29. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Monkey in Trouble Fun, n.s., II (7 October 1865), 31. Ellis
Back Again! Fun, n.s., II (7 October 1865), 39. Ellis
To My Absent Husband Punch, XLIX (14 October 1865), 151. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
My Return Punch, XLIX (21 October 1865), 153. Ellis
Musings in a Music Hall Fun, n.s., II (28 October 1865), 69. D&G, Ellis
Pantomimic Presentiments Fun, n.s., II (2 December 1865), 111. Ellis
The Bar and its Moaning Fun, n.s., II (9 December 1865), 122. Ellis
To Euphrosyne Fun, n.s., II (23 December 1865), 150. Ellis
The Phantom Curate Fun, n.s., II (6 January 1866), 162. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
To a Little Maid Fun, n.s., II (6 January 1866), 167. Ellis, TBB, 50BB
Ferdinando and Elvira Fun, n.s., II (17 February 1866), 229. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Pantomime “Super” to His Mask Fun, n.s., II (24 February 1866), 238. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Yarn of The “Nancy Bell” Fun, n.s., II (3 March 1866), 242-243. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Monsieur le Blond on London Fun, n.s., II (3 March 1866), 249. Ellis
Haunted Fun, n.s., III (24 March 1866), 12. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Reverend Rawston Wright Fun, n.s., III (28 April 1866), 67. Searle, Ellis
The Story of Gentle Archibald Fun, n.s., III (19 May 1866), 100-101. D&G, Searle, Ellis
To My Bride Fun, n.s., III (9 June 1866), 125. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Only a Dancing Girl Fun, n.s., III (23 June 1866), 146. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
To My Steed Fun, n.s., III (23 June 1866), 152. Ellis
King Borria Bungalee Boo Fun, n.s., III (7 July 1866), 167. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Jack Casts His Shell Fun, n.s., IV (6 October 1866), 37. Ellis
How to Write an Irish Drama Fun, n.s., IV (1 December 1866), 127. Ellis
General John Fun, n.s., V (1 June 1867), 127. TBB, Ellis
Sir Guy the Crusader Fun, n.s., V (8 June 1867), 139. TBB, Ellis
Sir Galahad the Golumptious Fun, n.s., V (15 June 1867), 149. Ellis
Disillusioned Fun, n.s., V (6 July 1867), 173. TBB, Ellis
John and Freddy Fun, n.s., V (3 August 1867), 222. TBB, Ellis
Lorenzo de Lardy Fun, n.s., V (10 August 1867), 225. TBB, Ellis
The Bishop and the Busman Fun, n.s., V (17 August 1867), 238. TBB, Ellis
Babette’s Love Fun, n.s., V (24 August 1867), 247. TBB, Ellis
Fanny and Jenny Fun, n.s., V (7 September 1867), 269. D&G, Searle, Ellis
Sir Macklin Fun, n.s., VI (14 September 1867), 6-7. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Troubadour Fun, n.s., VI (21 September 1867), 15. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Ben Allah Achmet Fun, n.s., VI (28 September 1867), 25. TBB, Ellis
The Folly of Brown Fun, n.s., VI (5 October 1867), 35. TBB, Ellis
Joe Golightly Fun, n.s., VI (12 October 1867), 54. TBB, Ellis
The Rival Curates Fun, n.s., VI (19 October 1867), 57. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Thomas Winterbottom Hance Fun, n.s., VI (26 October 1867), 74-75. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
A. and B.; OR, The Sensation Twins Fun, n.s., VI (2 November 1867), 77. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
Sea-Side Snobs Fun, n.s., VI (9 November 1867), 88. Searle, Ellis
The Bishop of Rum-ti-Foo Fun, n.s., VI (16 November 1867), 104. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Precocious Baby Fun, n.s., VI (23 November 1867), 113. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Baines Carew, Gentleman Fun, n.s., VI (30 November 1867), 124. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
A Discontented Sugar Broker Fun, n.s., VI (14 December 1867), 137. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Force of Argument Fun, n.s., VI (21 December 1867), 149. TBB, Ellis
At A Pantomime Fun, n.s., VI (28 December 1867), 165. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Three Kings of Chickeraboo Fun, n.s., VI (18 January 1868), 191. TBB, Ellis
The Periwinkle Girl Fun, n.s., VI (1 February 1868), 211. TBB, Ellis
Captain Reece (Memento vom 8. Juni 2011 im Internet Archive) Fun, n.s., VI (8 February 1868), 221. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Thomson Green and Harriet Hale Fun, n.s., VI (15 February 1868), 242. TBB, Ellis
Bob Polter Fun, n.s., VI (29 February 1868), 260-261. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Ghost, the Gallant, the Gael, and the Goblin Fun, n.s., VII (14 March 1868), 6. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Ellen McJones Aberdeen Fun, n.s., VII (21 March 1868), 16. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Sensation Captain Fun, n.s., VII (4 April 1868), 43. TBB, Ellis
Trial by Jury Fun, n.s., VII (11 April 1868), 54. Ellis
The Reverend Micah Sowls Fun, n.s., VII (18 April 1868), 65. TBB, Ellis
Peter the Wag Fun, n.s., VII (25 April 1868), 75. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Story of Prince Agib Fun, n.s., VII (16 May 1868), 107. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Gentle Alice Brown Fun, n.s., VII (23 May 1868), 111. TBB, 50BB, Ellis
Pasha Bailey Ben Fun, n.s., VII (6 June 1868), 133. MBB
Blabworth-cum-Talkington Fun, n.s., VII (20 June 1868), 153. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
The Sailor Boy To His Lass Fun, n.s., VII (27 June 1868), 163, MBB, 50BB, Ellis
Sir Conrad and the Rusty One Fun, n.s., VII (4 July 1868), 174. D&G, Searle, Ellis
The Cunning Woman Fun, n.s., VII (25 July 1868), 205. MBB, Ellis
The Modest Couple Fun, n.s., VII (8 August 1868), 225. MBB, Ellis
The “Bandoline” Player Fun, n.s., VII (22 August 1868), 246. D&G, Searle, Ellis
Sir Barnaby Bampton Boo Fun, n.s., VII (29 August 1868), 255. MBB, Ellis
Boulogne Fun, n.s., VIII (12 September 1868), 7. Searle, Ellis
Brave Alum Bey Fun, n.s., VIII (19 September 1868), 16. MBB, Ellis
Gregory Parable, LL.D. Fun, n.s., VIII (3 October 1868), 35. MBB, Ellis
Lieutenant-Colonel Flare Fun, n.s., VIII (10 October 1868), 46. MBB, Ellis
The Hermit Fun, n.s., VIII (17 October 1868), 62. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
Annie Protheroe Fun, n.s., VIII (24 October 1868), 65. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Captain and the Mermaids Fun, n.s., VIII (7 November 1868), 85. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
An Unfortunate Likeness Fun, n.s., VIII (14 November 1868), 96. MBB, 50BB
A Boulogne Table d'Hôte Tom Hood’s Comic Annual for 1868 (London: Fun office, 1868), 78. Searle, Ellis
The Railway Guard’s Song Tom Hood’s Comic Annual for 1868 (London: Fun office, 1868), 79. Ellis
The Undecided Man Tom Hood’s Comic Annual for 1868, (London: Fun office, 1868) 79. Searle, Ellis
Premonitory Symptoms Fun, n.s., VIII (28 November 1868), 117. Ellis
Lost Mr. Blake Fun, n.s., VIII (28 November 1868), 121. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
Little Oliver Fun, n.s., VIII (5 December 1868), 132. MBB, Ellis
What Is A Burlesque? Belgravia Annual, ed. M. E. Braddon (London, 1868), 106-107. Ellis
The Phantom Head Fun, n.s., VIII (19 December 1868), 151. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
The Politest of Nations! Fun, n.s., VIII (2 January 1869), 173. Ellis
Woman’s Gratitude Fun, n.s., VIII (9 January 1869 ), 176-177. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
The Baby’s Vengeance Fun, n.s., VIII (16 January 1869), 188. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Two Ogres Fun, n.s., VIII (23 January 1869), 204. MBB, Ellis
Mister William Fun, n.s., VIII (6 February 1869), 218. No. 60. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Martinet Fun, n.s., VIII (13 February 1869), 228. No. 61. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The King of Canoodle-Dum Fun, n.s., VIII (20 February 1869), 238-239. No. 62. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
First Love Fun, n.s., VIII (27 February 1869), 248. No. 63. MBB, Ellis
The Haughty Actor Fun, n.s., IX (27 March 1869), 31. No. 64. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Two Majors Fun, n.s., IX (3 April 1869), 41. No. 65. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Three Bohemian Ones Fun, n.s., IX (10 April 1869), 51. No. 66. D&G, Searle, Ellis
The Policeman’s Beard Fun, n.s., IX (1 May 1869), 75. No. 67. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
The Bishop of Rum-ti-Foo Again Fun, n.s., IX (8 May 1869), 85. No. 68. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
A Worm Will Turn Fun, n.s., IX (15 May 1869), 104. No. 69. MBB, Ellis
The Mystic Selvagee Fun, n.s., IX (22 May 1869), 112. No. 70. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
Emily, John, James, and I Fun, n.s., IX (29 May 1869), 115. No. 71. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Ghost to his Ladye Love Fun, n.s., IX (14 August 1869), 223. Ellis
Prince Il Baleine Fun, n.s., IX (28 August 1869), 253. No. 72. D&G, Searle, Ellis
The Way of Wooing Fun, n.s., X (11 September 1869), 13. No. 73. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Scornful Colonel Fun, n.s., X (25 September 1869), 31. No. 74. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
The Variable Baby Fun, n.s., X (9 October 1869), 51. No. 75. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
The Ladies of the Lea Fun, n.s., X (30 October 1869), 75. No. 76. Goldberg, Searle, Ellis
Hongree and Mahry Fun, n.s., X (20 November 1869), 105. No. 77. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
Etiquette The Graphic, I (25 December 1869, Weichnachtsausgabe), 6-7. 50BB, Ellis
The Reverend Simon Magnus Fun, n.s., X (5 February 1870), 215. No. 78. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
My Dream Fun, n.s., XI (19 March 1870), 15. No. 79. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
Damon v. Pythias Fun, n.s., XI (26 March 1870), 31. No. 80. MBB, Ellis
The Bumboat Woman’s Story Fun, n.s., XI (9 April 1870), 45. No. 81. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Fairy Curate Fun, n.s., XII (23 July 1870), 32-33. No. 82. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
Phrenology Fun, n.s., XII (6 August 1870), 45. No. 83. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Perils of Invisibility Fun, n.s., XII (20 August 1870), 65. No. 84. MBB, 50BB, Ellis
The Wise Policeman Fun, n.s., XII (22 October 1870), 156. No. 85. Ellis
A Drop of Pantomime Water The Graphic, II, 25 December 1870, Weichnachtsausgabe, 20. Ellis
Old Paul and Old Tim Fun, n.s., XIII (28 January 1871), 35. No. 86. MBB, Ellis
“Eheu! Fugaces” The Dark Blue, III (April 1872), 142-143. Searle, Ellis
Jester James Time, I (April 1879), 54-57. Ellis
The Policeman’s Story Time, I (May 1879), 166-168. Ellis
The Thief’s Apology Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, XXII (6 December 1884), “Holly Leaves” (Christmas number), 267. Ellis
The King and the Stroller The Queen’s Christmas Carol: An Anthology of Poems, Stories, Essays, Drawings and Music by British Authors, Artists and Composers The Daily Mail, London 1905, 80-81. Ellis

Literatur

  • Jane W. Stedman: W. S. Gilbert, A Classic Victorian & His Theatre. Oxford University Press, Oxford 1996, ISBN 0-19-816174-3
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