Handel at Cannons
Encyclopedia
George Frideric Handel was the house composer at Cannons from August 1717 until February 1719. The Chandos Anthems and other important works by Handel were conceived, written or first performed at Cannons.
Cannons
was a large house in Middlesex
, the seat of James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
who was a patron of Handel
. The duke, a flute player, had a private orchestra, consisting of 24 instrumentalists. Johann Christoph Pepusch
was the Master of Music
at Cannons from 1716 and he saw the size of the musical establishment at first expand and then decline in the 1720s in response to Brydges' losses in the South Sea Bubble, a financial crash which took place in 1720.
, and he was based at Burlington House
before becoming Cannons’ resident composer from 1717 to 1718. It has been suggested that the move to Cannons was related to the fact that in 1717 there was reduced demand for his services in central London because operatic productions were experiencing a temporary downturn. At the end of Handel's stay at Cannons the Duke and his friends helped the composer establish a new opera company in London, the so-called Royal Academy of Music
.
While Handel was at Cannons the ducal chapel was still being constructed (and finished in 1720). Brydges had already rebuilt the local parish church
(St Lawrence, Whitchurch
) to his baroque taste. Here Handel's church music was performed, the Chandos Te Deum and the Chandos Anthems (settings of texts from the psalms
for use in the Anglican liturgy). St Lawrence still contains artwork by Louis Laguerre
and Bellucci (who also worked on the decorative scheme of the house). At the east end of the church is the organ used by Handel. The instrument was modernised over the years, but in 1994 it was restored using the surviving parts of the original 1716 single-manual
organ as the reference point.
The number of singers at Handel's disposition is not known, although Daniel Defoe
referred to the duke having a "full choir" at a slightly later period.
It seems alto
s were missing at the start of Handel's association with Cannons (see As pants the hart
).
, was performed by the Cannons musicians as early as 1718. The libretto, based on a tragedy by Jean Racine
, was by John Arbuthnot
and Alexander Pope
, and according to Dean appears to have been given in a semi-staged version, but cannot be proved by any document. Handel used several parts from his Brockes Passion
.
Another premiere in May 1718 is without doubt the masque
Acis and Galatea.
The libretto was by John Gay
, who was to collaborate with Pepusch on "The Beggar's Opera
" in 1728. According to tradition, Acis and Galatea was performed in the garden. Appropriately for Cannons, which had expensive water features, the hero Acis is transformed into a fountain.
(a set of variations included in the 5th suite) was written at Cannons.
Cannons
Cannons (house)
Cannons was a stately home in Little Stanmore, Middlesex built for James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos between 1713 and 1724 at a cost of £200,000 but which in 1747 was razed and its contents dispersed....
was a large house in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, the seat of James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos
James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, MP, PC was the first of fourteen children by Sir James Brydges, 3rd Baronet of Wilton Castle, Sheriff of Herefordshire, 8th Baron Chandos; and Elizabeth Barnard...
who was a patron of Handel
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Handel was born in 1685, in a family indifferent to music...
. The duke, a flute player, had a private orchestra, consisting of 24 instrumentalists. Johann Christoph Pepusch
Johann Christoph Pepusch
Johann Christoph Pepusch , also known as John Christopher Pepusch and Dr Pepusch, was a German-born composer who spent most of his working life in England....
was the Master of Music
Kapellmeister
Kapellmeister is a German word designating a person in charge of music-making. The word is a compound, consisting of the roots Kapelle and Meister . The words Kapelle and Meister derive from the Latin: capella and magister...
at Cannons from 1716 and he saw the size of the musical establishment at first expand and then decline in the 1720s in response to Brydges' losses in the South Sea Bubble, a financial crash which took place in 1720.
Handel's move to Cannons
Handel settled in England in 1712, but appears not to have maintained his own household in London until 1723. He attracted the patronage of noblemen such as Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of BurlingtonRichard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington
Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington and 4th Earl of Cork PC , born in Yorkshire, England, was the son of Charles Boyle, 2nd Earl of Burlington and 3rd Earl of Cork...
, and he was based at Burlington House
Burlington House
Burlington House is a building on Piccadilly in London. It was originally a private Palladian mansion, and was expanded in the mid 19th century after being purchased by the British government...
before becoming Cannons’ resident composer from 1717 to 1718. It has been suggested that the move to Cannons was related to the fact that in 1717 there was reduced demand for his services in central London because operatic productions were experiencing a temporary downturn. At the end of Handel's stay at Cannons the Duke and his friends helped the composer establish a new opera company in London, the so-called Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music (company)
The Royal Academy of Music was a company founded in February 1719, during George Frideric Handel's residence at Cannons, by a group of aristocrats to secure themselves a constant supply of baroque opera or opera seria. It commissioned large numbers of new operas from three of the leading composers...
.
Church music
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
(St Lawrence, Whitchurch
Whitchurch, London
Little Stanmore is a locality in the London Borough of Harrow in London, England.-Toponymy:Little Stanmore was named to distinguish it from Great Stanmore, which is now known as Stanmore. The parish was also known as Whitchurch. Whitchurch is a common English place-name meaning 'white church', and...
) to his baroque taste. Here Handel's church music was performed, the Chandos Te Deum and the Chandos Anthems (settings of texts from the psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
for use in the Anglican liturgy). St Lawrence still contains artwork by Louis Laguerre
Louis Laguerre
Louis Laguerre , was a French decorative painter mainly working in England.Born in Versailles in 1663 and trained at the Paris Academy under Charles Le Brun, he came to England in 1683, where he first worked with Antonio Verrio, and then on his own...
and Bellucci (who also worked on the decorative scheme of the house). At the east end of the church is the organ used by Handel. The instrument was modernised over the years, but in 1994 it was restored using the surviving parts of the original 1716 single-manual
Manual (music)
A manual is a keyboard designed to be played with the hands on a pipe organ, harpsichord, clavichord, electronic organ, or synthesizer. The term "manual" is used with regard to any hand keyboard on these instruments to distinguish it from the pedalboard, which is a keyboard that the organist plays...
organ as the reference point.
Chandos Anthems
The Chandos Anthems were written at a time when the musical establishment at Cannons was still being expanded. The scoring of the anthems varies: the strings are first and second violins (with violas occasionally), cellos and basses. There is usually a separate part for an oboe, and occasionally bassoons join the basses, and a part for organ.The number of singers at Handel's disposition is not known, although Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe , born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, and pamphleteer, who gained fame for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain and along with others such as Richardson,...
referred to the duke having a "full choir" at a slightly later period.
It seems alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
s were missing at the start of Handel's association with Cannons (see As pants the hart
As Pants the Hart (Handel)
As pants the hart is an anthem composed by George Frideric Handel for the Chapel Royal of Queen Anne and subsequently revised. There are five versions of the work , the first being completed in 1713, and the final in 1738...
).
Dramatic music
Handel's Esther (HWV 50a), which is now recognised as the first English oratorioOratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
, was performed by the Cannons musicians as early as 1718. The libretto, based on a tragedy by Jean Racine
Jean Racine
Jean Racine , baptismal name Jean-Baptiste Racine , was a French dramatist, one of the "Big Three" of 17th-century France , and one of the most important literary figures in the Western tradition...
, was by John Arbuthnot
John Arbuthnot
John Arbuthnot, often known simply as Dr. Arbuthnot, , was a physician, satirist and polymath in London...
and Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
, and according to Dean appears to have been given in a semi-staged version, but cannot be proved by any document. Handel used several parts from his Brockes Passion
Brockes Passion
The Brockes Passion, or Der für die Sünde der Welt gemarterte und sterbende Jesus is a German oratorio libretto by Barthold Heinrich Brockes, first published in 1712 and going through 30 or so editions in the next 15 years....
.
Another premiere in May 1718 is without doubt the masque
Masque
The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment which flourished in 16th and early 17th century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio...
Acis and Galatea.
The libretto was by John Gay
John Gay
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera , set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch...
, who was to collaborate with Pepusch on "The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satirical ballad opera to remain popular today...
" in 1728. According to tradition, Acis and Galatea was performed in the garden. Appropriately for Cannons, which had expensive water features, the hero Acis is transformed into a fountain.
Instrumental music
In 1720 Handel published eight keyboard suites. It is possible that some of this music was written while he was at Cannons, but there is no proof. Dating the music is made difficult by that fact that it was written over a number of years and the composer had been happy to leave it in manuscript until he got wind of a forthcoming unauthorised publication. A myth grew up that The Harmonious BlacksmithThe Harmonious Blacksmith
The Harmonious Blacksmith is the popular name of the final movement, Air and variations, of George Frideric Handel's Suite No. 5 in E major, HWV 430, for harpsichord...
(a set of variations included in the 5th suite) was written at Cannons.
See also
- As Pants the Hart (Handel)As Pants the Hart (Handel)As pants the hart is an anthem composed by George Frideric Handel for the Chapel Royal of Queen Anne and subsequently revised. There are five versions of the work , the first being completed in 1713, and the final in 1738...
- The Harmonious BlacksmithThe Harmonious BlacksmithThe Harmonious Blacksmith is the popular name of the final movement, Air and variations, of George Frideric Handel's Suite No. 5 in E major, HWV 430, for harpsichord...