292 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[2°^ s, VII. April 9. '59. 



writing fast, and in the heat of composition, 

 Handel does not bar off every measure, but 

 scores off room for four bars ; that is to say, 

 paper enough for an entire rhythm, the poetical 

 framework he was using. If actually copying, 

 Handel would in all probability bar off every mea- 

 sure, especially if copying other people's music. 

 If only copying his own he might, or might not, 

 insert the bars. Again, in transferring music, the 

 artist would either write rather stiffly, and with 

 a picture (i. e. laying it out like an engraver), 

 having all his movement before him ; or he 

 might, as he feared no obstacle and stood in no 

 hesitation, dash off the movement in as hurried 

 a hand as he could possibly command. The Hail- 

 stone chorus is thus written. But the "jHe spake 

 the word " is all regularly laid out, and too closely 

 for the accompaniment of the violins, showing that 

 Handel, when transferring Stradella, omitted to 

 provide room for his own additions in the or- 

 chestra. H. J. Gauntlett. 



Handel at Oxford. — The following notices of 

 Handel may be interesting at the present moment. 

 The dislike entertained by Hearne for everything 

 connected with the Hanoverian succession, added, 

 no doubt, a sting to his words. 



" July 5, 1733. One Handel, a foreigner (who, they 

 say, was born at Hanover), being desired, to come to Ox- 

 ford, to perform in music this Act, in which he hath great 

 skill, is come down, the Vice-Chancellor having requested 

 him to do so ; and as an encouragement, to allow him the 

 benefit of the Theatre both before the Act begins and 

 after it. Accordingly he hath published papers for a 

 performance to-day at 5s. a ticket. This is an innova- 

 tion. The plaj'ers might as well be permitted to come 

 and act. The Vice-Chancellor is much blamed for it." — 

 Reliq. Hearn., ^ol. ii. p. 778. 



" July 8. Half an hour after 5 o'clock yesterday, in the 

 afternoon, was another performance at 5 shillings a ticket, 

 in the Theater, by Mr. Handel, for his own benefit, con- 

 tinuing till about 8 o'clock. 



" JN.B. His book (not worth Id.) he sells for Is." — 

 Ditto, p. 779. 



Francis Trench. 



Islip Rectory. 



HandeVs Naturalisation. — Schcelcher, in his 

 Life of Handel (p. 58.), informs us, that " Rada- 

 misto is dedicated to (Jeorge I. by Handel, who 

 signs himself 'Your faithful servant and subject.' 

 Burney concludes from this that the Saxon musi- 

 cian had become naturalised. His conjecture is, 

 however, in advance of the fact ; for England 

 had not the honour of becoming the country of 

 Handel before 1726, when a private Act of Par- 

 liament was passed, entitled 'An Act for Natural- 

 ising Louis Sechehaye, George Frideric Handel, 

 and others.' " 



The following is a copy of the petition in which 

 Handel prayed the House of Lords that his name 

 might be added to Sechehaye's Naturalisation 

 Bill. It was presented to the House on 13th Feb. 



1726, and has, we believe, never before been 

 printed : — 



" To the Right Honourable The Lords Spiritual 



and Temporal in Parliament Assembled, 

 " The Humble Petition of George Frideric Han- 

 del, 



" Sheweth, 

 " That your Petitioner was born at Hall, in 

 Saxony, out of His Majesties Allegiance, but hath 

 constantly professed the Protestant Religion, and 

 hath given Testimony of his Loyalty and Fidelity 

 to His Majesty and the good of this Kingdom, 

 " Therefore the Petitioner humbly prays. 

 That he may be added to the Bill now 

 pending, entituled ' An Act for Natural- 

 ising Levis Sechehaye,' 

 *' And the Petitioner will ever pray, &c. 



" George Frideric Handei.." 



His petition was complied with. Handel at- 

 tended at the House of Lords, and took the neces- 

 sary oaths on the 14th Feb., and his name was then 

 added to the bill, which received the royal assent 

 on the 20th Feb. 1726. \V. J. T. 



THE HANDEL JUBILEE, IN 1784. 



First Viol ins, 49; Second ditto, 52 ; Tenors, 32; 

 Oboes, 12 ; Second ditto, 14 ; Flutes, 7 ; Violon- 

 cellos, 30 ; Bassoons, 25 ; Double Bassoon, 1 ; 

 Double Basses, 18; Trumpets, 14; Trombones, 

 3; Horns, 12; Drums, 4; Double Drums, 1. 



Cantos, 22; Altos, 51 ; Tenors, 66; Basses, 69. 

 Total of the band, 482. 



May 26 (Westminster Abbey). The organ was 

 built by Mr. Green for Canterbury Cathedral, but 

 first used for this festival. The programme was 

 Pakt I. 



Coronation Anthem, Zadock the Priest. — Overture of 

 Esther. — Dettingen Te Deum. 



Part II. 

 Overture and Dead March in Saul. 

 When the ear heard him (from the Funeral Anthem). 

 He delivered the poor that cried (from ditto). 

 His body is buried in peace (from ditto). 

 Glory be to the Father (from the Jubilate). 



Part III. 



O sing unto the Lord all the whole earth. 



The Lord shall reign for ever and ever (Israel in 

 Egypt). 



May 27 (the Pantheon : 2400 subscribers). 

 Part I. 



Second Hautboy Concerto. 



Sorge infausta (Orlando), Signor Tasca. 



Ye sons of Israel (chorus from Joshua). 



Rendi il sereno (Sosarmes), Mr. Harrison. 



Caro vieni a me (Richard), Miss Cantelo. 



He smote all the first-born (chorus, Israel in Egypt). 



Ne tacito e nascosto (Julius Cajsar), Signor Pacchie- 

 rotti. 



