G.H. Chirgwin  (1854-1922)
Last updated: 04.10.24
p_chirgwingh.jpgAccording to the Internet source given below, G.H. Chirgwin [George Chirgwin] was a British music hall comedian, singer and instrumentalist, billed as "The White-Eyed Kaffir", a black face minstrel act, born in the Seven Dials area of London.
His first appearance was a member of the Chirgwin Family troupe in 1861. The family were regular music hall performers until 1868 when George Chirgwin first appeared as a solo act. He played a number of instruments including piano, violin, cello, banjo, bagpipes and one-string "Jap fiddle" ando sang falsetto.
His stage appearance was unusual, appearing in a cloak, tightly fitting jumper and tights, and an exaggerated tall top hat. His makeup was black-faced with a large white diamond over one eye.
In the 1890s, Chirgwin appeared in two actuality films, Chirgwin in his Humorous Business and Chirgwin Plays a Scotch Reel. He also wrote and acted in a silent drama film called The Blind Boy
He appeared in the first Royal Variety Command Performance in 1912 and retired in 1919.
Chirgwin died in Streatham, London.
Two of his songs, My Fiddle is My Sweetheart (1896) composed by himself and The Blind Boy (1890 words. R. Lee; music: G.W. Moore), are given in 60 Old-Time Variety Songs.
Websites:
url15.gif G. H. Chirgwin Biography by wikipedia.org.  
  Title (Release Year) Composer Performers Issue
         
  Wax Cylinders      
     Title Author Supplier
       
book15.gif  Chirgwin's Chirrup G.H. Chirgwin flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
     Performer CD Title Supplier
       
Folk Music CDs:
cd15.gif Various Performers Let's All Go To The Music Hall: Vol. 2
cd15.gif Various Performers Your Own, Your Very Own: Stars of the Music Hall 1901-1929 flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
cd15.gif Various Performers At The Football Match Last Saturday flag15us.gif flag15uk.gif flag15de.gif flag15fr.gif flag15ca.gif flag15it.gif flag15es.gif
This list is derived from information provided by Monologues.co.uk which went down sometime in 2023.
The loss of this valuable resource is very sad and a mystery.
     Title Attribution Remarks
       
  All Scotch Unknown (words & music)
G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)
 
  Blind Boy, The G.W. Moore (music)
R. Lee (words)
G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)
 
  Good Old London Town Girl, A Charles Osborne (words & music)
G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)
 
  My Fiddle Is My Sweetheart G.H. Chirgwin (music)
Harry Hunter (words)
G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)
 
  My Fiddle Was My Sweetheart G.H. Chirgwin (music)
Charles Osbourne (words)
G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)
 
  Village Blacksmith - Parody, The Walter Burnot (words & music)
G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)
 
The peformer is featured on 17 sheet music/recording covers. It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: (w&m) ER
     Title Composer Attribution Remarks
         
perf15.jpg Village Blacksmith - Parody (1889), The Walter Burnot G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg All in His Sunday Clothes (1881) T. Vincent Davies Eldred Powel (words)
G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg Jester (1884), The Edmund Forman(w&m) G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg Second Floor (1894), The J. Holbrook Arthur Corney (words)
G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg Blind Boy (1890), The G.W. Moore R. Lee (words)
G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
youtube15.jpg
perf15.jpg  Good Old London Town Girl (1898), A Charles Osborne Edmund Forman (words)
G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg Cockney Coon (1899), The Charles Osborne G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg Night of the Party (1906), The Charles Osborne(w&m) G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg Jocular Joker (1908), The Charles Osborne(w&m) G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg All the Time! (1894) Joseph Tabrar(w&m) G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg Je-Hos-So-Phat! (1896) Joseph Tabrar(w&m) G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
perf15.jpg All Scotch (?) Unknown G. H. Chirgwin (perf.)
This list is arranged in chronological order and contains 7 works by G.H. Chirgwin (1854-1922). It does not claim to be complete and represents only the number of items located. Keys: ER
Title Year Attribution Remarks
       
It Never Could Happen Here 1884 W. Burnot (words)  wvicon.gif
Comparisons Melodious 1889 Harry Hunter (words)  Pub.
Comin' Thro' the Rye 1891 Boy Jones (words)
John S Baker (words)
G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)
 Pub.
My Fiddle Is My Sweetheart 1896 Harry Hunter (words)
G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)
 Pub.  cylinder15.gif
My Fiddle Was My Sweetheart 1896 Charles Osbourne (words)
G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)
Burlesque Yodel 1906 G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)   cylinder15.gif
Few Eccentric Gaglets, A 1906 G.H. Chirgwin (perf.)   cylinder15.gif
     Composer Title Performer
       
youtube15.jpg G.H. Chirgwin The My Fiddle is my Sweetheart (2:29) G.H. Chirgwin
youtube15.jpg G.W. Moore The Blind Boy (3:26) G.H. Chirgwin