A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Patter-Song
PATTER-SONG. 'Patter' is the technical—or rather, slang—name for the kind of gabbling speech with which a cheap-jack extols his wares, or a conjuror distracts the attention of the audience while performing his tricks. It is used in music to denote a kind of song, the humour of which consists in getting the greatest number of words to fit the smallest number of notes. Instances of this form of composition are Haydn's 'Durch Italien, Frankreich, Preussen,' from 'Der Ritter Roland'; Grétry's syllabic duet in 'La fausse Magie' [see vol. i. p. 628b]; Dulcamara's song in Donizetti's 'L'Elisir d'amore,' etc. Mozart and many other composers often introduce bits of 'patter' into buffo solos, as for instance the middle of 'Madamina' in 'Don Juan,' etc. This form of song has for long been popular with 'entertainers' from Albert Smith to Corney Grain, and probably owes its name to a song sung by Charles Mathews in 'Patter versus Clatter.' Its latest development is in the operettas of Messrs. Burnand, Gilbert, and Sullivan, in all of which patter-songs fill an important place. Excellent instances are 'My aged Employer' in 'Cox and Box,' and 'My name is John Wellington Wells' in 'The Sorcerer.'
[ J. A. F. M. ]