Martial music

The life and times of the first Duke of Wellington were explored through songs of the 18th and 19th century at an annual lecture at Southampton University. Folk legend Martin Carthy broke new ground in giving this year's Wellington Lecture in musical form in his presentation, 'The Songs of Wellington Wars'. The French Wars, which took place between 1793 and 1815, had a profound effect on British popular music of the time, inspiring recurring themes of separation and death. Napoleon Bonaparte was ridiculed in songs such as Little Boney .