Memoirs of the Life of the Late George Frederic Handel; to Which Is Added a Catalogue of His Wroks and Observations Upon Them

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1760 edition. Excerpt: ... character of the fpeaker with equal force and clearnefs. But the moment he heard Handel on the organ, this great man in his own eye fhrunk into nothing. He had now been a full twelvemonth in England, and it was time for him to think of returning to Hanover. When he took leave of the Queen at her court, and exprefled his fenfe of the favours conferred on him, her Majefty was pleafed to add to them by large prefents, and to intimate her defire of feeing him again. Not a little flattered with fuch marks of approbation from fo illuftrious a perfonage, he promifed to return, the moment he could obtain permiflion from the Prince, in whofe fervice he was retained. .; -. . .:, . .... Soon Soon after his return to Hanover he made twelve chamber Duettos for the practice of the late Queen, then electoral Princefs. The character of thefe is well known to the judges in Mufic. The words for them were written by the Abbate Mauro Hortensio, who had not difdained on other occafions to minifter to the mafter* of harmony. . Befides thefe Duettos (a fpeciet of compofition of which the Prin? cefs and court were particularly fond) he compofed variety of other things for voices and inftruments. Towards the end of the year 1712, he obtained leave of the Elector to make a fecond vifit to England, on condition that l& en G 3 - T' SaSed gaged to return within a reafonable timg. It was not many months after his arrival at London that the peace of Utrecht was brought to &'eonclufion. Each year of this memorable reign had been fo crowded with heroic achievements and grand events, that the poets and painters of our illand feem to have funk, as it were, under the load of matter, which had been heaped upon them. And had our muncians been thought equal to...