1727
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The Titles of the Statutes. Private Acts. Anno 13 Georgii I. [...] 2. An Act for naturalizing Louis Sekehaye, George Frederic Handel, and others.[1] |
Mar 15
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Wednesday in the Afternoon, Mr. Salisbury, late servant to the celebrated Mr. Green, Organist of St. Paul’s, was chosen Organist of Alhallows in Breadstreet in the Room of Mr. Stanley the blind Youth, who being promoted to St. Andrew’s in Holborn, has resign’d the former.[2] |
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To Mr. HANDEL, on his Admetus. HAIL unexhausted Source of Harmony! Thou Chief of all Apollo’s tuneful Sons, In whom the Knowledge of all Magick Numbers, Or Sound melodious, is concentred! The Envy, or the Wonder, of Mankind May terminate, but never can thy Lays: For, when absorb’d in Elemental Flame, This World shall vanish, Music will exist; Then Thine, first of the Rest, shall mount the Skies, Where, with its Heav’n born Parent soon commixing, It breaks through Trumps of Teraphims and Angels; And fills the Heav’n with endless Harmony.[3] |
[...] he [i.e. Swift] got into his old Knack of Raillery, and begins to run upon all Mankind: In this Mood he falls upon C—— J——n, and Sir R—— Bl——re, a Pair of twin Poets, who suck’d one and the same Muse. After [27] this he has a Fling at Handel, Bononcini and Attilio, the Opera Composers; and a severe Sneer on the late High-Church Idol, Sacheverel.[4]
undated
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[“To Mrs. Cooper, at Gunton near Norwhich”] What tho’ I am a London lass And handsome am as can be And to set off my pretty face I dress my head like Denbigh—who is a foreigner. At operas I constant shine, By toupees so surrounded That with pulville and speeches fine My verces are confounded. In Masquerades I go well dress’d And talk so very pretty That by the crowd I am confess’d Like Lady Mary witty—my Lady Mary Wortley. I at Assemblys play Quadrille But not like Bristol storming Like Dorset I can lose and smile, My visage not deforming. At Court I go but there I frett And ruffle every feature To be push’d out by Nanny Brett A little silly creature. Like Manchester I grace the ball And move with Harvey’s air—a That ’tis confessed by one and all I am a graceful fair—a. At Leicester Fields I give my vote For the fine-piped Cotzoni At Burlington’s I change my note Faustina, for my money. Ottilio’s musick I dispise For none can please like Hendall But the disputes which hence arise I wish and hope may end well. [...][5] |
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On Tuesday-night
last, a great Disturbance happened at the Opera,
occasioned by the Partizans of the Two Celebrated Rival Ladies, Cuzzoni and Faustina. The Contention at first was only carried on by Hissing on one Side, and Clapping on the other; but proceeded at length to Catcalls, and other great Indecencies: And notwithstanding the Princess Carolina was
present, no Regards were of Force to restrain the Rudenesses of the Opponents.[6] |
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On Tuesday Night
last, a great Disturbance happen’d at the Opera, occasion’d by the
Partizans of the two celebrated Rival Ladies, Cuzzoni
and Faustina. The Contention at first, was only carried on by Hissing, on one Side, and Clapping, on
the other; but proceeded, at length, to the
delightful Exercise of Catcalls, and other Decencies,
which demonstrated the inimitable Zeal and
Politeness of that Illustrious Assembly. N. B. The Princess Carolina was present; but no Regards were of Force to restrain the glorious Ardour of the
fierce Opponents.[7] |
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Tuesday Night there was a great Uproar at the Opera-House; a new and great Quarrel being arisen between the Allies of Cuzzoni and Faustina; but, we hope, for the Good of the Nation, it will be soon amicably composed, or, at least, a Cessation agreed on for seven Months.[8] |
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N. B. We have received a
Letter in the Nature of a Remonstrance, sign’d by several who stile themselves the Gentlemen of the Brass Button; and also by
others who frequent our Theatres, and commonly see Plays and Operas from the upper Gallery. They complain, that being lately at the Opera-House in the Haymarket, several rude
and disorderly
Persons who appear about the Court End of the Town inseveral ridiculous Habits, and who distinguish them- selves by the Nicknames of Faustina’s and Cuzzoni’s Mobs, having found Means to get into the Pit and Boxes of the said Theatre, disturbed the Diversion, and insulted the Company in a riotous Manner, by several lewd Noises, to the great Scandal of the said Gentlemen of the upper Region. Therefore they expect that
the Directors of the said Opera, as also the Managers of both
our Theatres, will
take Care that such rude and disorderly Persons shall
no more be admitted into any of our Theatres, that the upper Gentry, who are more civilized, may no more be disturbed in their Diversions.[9] |
Jun 6 <
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[Mary,
Countess Pembroke to Charlotte Clayton] DEAR MADAM, I hope you will
forgive the trouble I am going to give you, having always found you
on every occasion most obliging. What I have to
[230] desire is, that if you find a convenient
opportunity, I wish you would be so good as to tell her Royal Highness, that every one who wishes
well to Cuzzoni is in the utmost concern for what happened last Tuesday at the Opera, in the Princess Amelia’s presence; but to show
their innocence of the disrespect which was shown to her Highness, I beg you will do them the justice to say, that the Cuzzoni had been
publicly told, to complete her disgrace, she was to
be hissed off the stage on Tuesday; she was in
such concern at this, that she had a great mind
not to sing, but I, without knowing anything that
the Princess Amelia would honour the Opera with her presence, positively ordered her not to
quit the stage, but let them do what they would: though not heard, to sing on, and not to go
off till it was proper; and she owns now that if she
had not that order she would have quitted the stage when they cat-called her to such a
degree in one song, that she was not heard one
note, which provoked the people that like her so
much, that they were not able to get the better of
their resentment, but would not suffer the Faustina
to speak afterwards. I hope her Royal Highness would not disapprove of any one preventing
the Cuzzoni’s being hissed off the stage; but I
am in great concern they did not suffer anything
to have happened to her, rather than to have failed
in the high respect every one ought to pay to a
Princess of her Royal Highness’s family; but as they
were [231] not the aggressors, I hope that may in some measure excuse them. Another thing I beg you would say is, that I, having happened to say that the Directors
would have a message from the King, and that her
Royal Highness had told me that his Majesty had
said to her, that if they dismissed Cuzzoni they
should not have the honour of his presence, or what
he was pleased to allow them, some of the
Directors have thought fit to say that they neither
should have a message from the King, and that he
did not say what her Royal Highness did me the honour to tell me he did. I most humbly ask
her Royal Highness’s pardon for desiring the
Duke of Rutland (who is one of the chief amongst
them for Cuzzoni) to do himself the honour to speak
of it to her Royal Highness, and hear what she
would be so gracious to tell him. They have had
also a message from the King, in a letter from Mr. Fabrice, which they have the insolence
to dispute, except the Duke of Rutland, Lord Albemarle, and Sir Thomas Pendergrass. Lady Walsingham having desired me to let her know
how this affair went, I have written to her this
morning, and, at the Duke of Rutland’s desire, have sent an account of what was done at the
Board, for her to give his Majesty. As I have
interested myself for this poor woman, so I will not leave anything undone that may justify her; and if you will have the
goodness to state this affair to her Royal Highness,
whom I [232] hope will still continue her most gracious
protection to her, I shall be most extremely obliged to you, that am, Dear Madam, With the most
sincere friendship, Your most
affectionate humble servant, M. PEMBROKE.[10] |
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To CALEB D’ANVERS, Esq; SIR, SInce [sic] our publick Quarrels are in so fair a way of being adjusted, I am sorry to see our private ones increase; and as you are deservedly the most popular Writer we have, I think you the most proper one to apply to, on so serious an Occasion. I was last night at the Opera, and, in the middle of one of the finest Songs, was surprized at an Instrument, I had never heard before. As it was new to me, it was likewise disagreeable; I looked upon it as an awk[w]ard Design to improve and fill up Bononcini’s Musick, which is condemn’d by some of our very fine Gentlemen for its too great Simplicity; I observed that it was intended to accompany Cuzzoni’s Voice; but thought it very ill judged to single out hers, which has too much sweetness in it, to want so untuneful and harsh a Pipe: Besides, the Performers on it were wretched ones, being as much out of time, as they were out of tune. Indeed they were only some of the Gentry of the upper Gallery or the Pit, whose merit is a Tupee—& praetera nihil. I apply’d at last to one, who sat by me for Information, who told me it was a Cat-call; that it never was design’d as an Instrument to give any Pleasure, but made use of only martem accendere cantu, as a sound to Battel [sic] between the Rival Queens and their mighty Parties. As I have always, from the natural indolence of my Temper, kept myself a stranger to all disputes between Sovereigns, whether real or imaginary, I [] was at a loss to know what he meant, till he let me into the secret of the Quarrel, which it seems is the right of Pre[-]eminence: Each pretends to it: The Adherents on both Sides are very numerous; Faustina’s are the most powerful, but Cuzzoni’s the most judicious. As great numbers of either Party have no taste of their own to judge by, so they have no temper to dispute with; they applaud or condemn, as their affection, or spleen, or the fashion directs them; by which means, these two Singers, who are perhaps the most excellent in their different Ways, of any in the Universe, are denied by some of their Opposites to have any merit at all. I have ever looked on Musick as an Amusement only (though indeed ’tis a fine one) and was therefore surprized to hear that it was the Business of so many; but since it is so, and a Rupture seems so near, in which both the Rivals may suffer, I think it expedient, Mr. D’Anvers, that you propose a Congress for adjusting their Rights, and beg leave to offer some Preliminary Articles. 1. That Senesino be desired to assist as Mediator, and to use his well-known Abilities to lay the Passions of these fair Antagonists. 2. That as in all other Congresses the longest Heads are thought the most proper for Plenipotentiaries, the longest Ears shall carry it here, being the best qualified for so important a Charge. 3. That it shall be debated in the Congress, whether Cuzzoni has a Voice or not; and if she has, whether the Property of it is in herself, or in the Academy. 4. That it be decided in the Congress, whether the first Part in the Opera, which has been for some Years in possession of Cuzzoni, and of which no Singer cou’d ever justly dispossess her (tho’ she has been warmly attacked this Winter) shall remain with her, or be given up to the Faustina, either for or without an Equivalent. 5. That all Rights and Possessions in the Academy shall remain on the Foot of the former Treaties and Conventions between the contracting Parties; unless either of them hath departed from her Right, by any secret Engagements, which shall be decided at the Congress proposed. 6. That from the first meeting of the Congress there shall be a Cessation of Cat-calls. 7. That within four Days after the said Parties have signed the Preliminaries, the Congress shall be opened at the Opera-House in the Hay-market, and the Ratifications shall be returned, if possible, in two Days afterwards. 8. That the Conferences shall be carried on with Harmony on both Sides, who shall mutually abstain from all frivolous Disputes, which can only tend to prolong Debates, and obstruct the good Design of the Congress. I have here given you, Sir, in these Preliminary Articles, a faint Sketch of a Plan for the ensuing Congress; if you have no Objection to them, I have as many to add, as will make the Number twelve, all equally conducive to the Interest and Glory of the Academy. I doubt not but they will prove acceptable; for I believe every Man, who has the Musick and Good of his Country at heart, will agree with me, that it is a pity such Dissentions shou’d arise in a Christian Country, and that any Discord shou’d prevail in the House of Harmony. I am, SIR, Your humble Servant, PHIL— HARMONICUS.[11] |
Jun 20
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Just Publish’d, A curious Metzotinto Print of Seigneur SENESINO, the famous Italian Singer; done from the Original Painting by Mr. Jos. Goupy. Sold by Mr. Regnier in Newport-street the End of Long-acre, at Mr. Moat’s the new Toy and Print-shop near St. James’s Coffee-house in St. James’s-street, and by the Printsel- lers of London and Westminster. Price One Shilling. [...][12] |
[Admetus]
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A LIST OF THE SUBSCRIBERS. B. THE Honourable Mrs. Benson Francis Brerewood, Esq; Thomas Brerewood, Jun. Esq; Mrs Lowesa Baudin Mr David Boswillibald 5 Books Mr Robert Boulton Mr Boughton Mr Barret C. Mr Cole, Organist Mr Cook, at Newyork Mr J—— S—— Coussar Mr Henry Carey D. Obstrapus Danby, Esq; E. The Right Honourable the Earl of Essex The Right Honourable the Lord Erskine Mary Eyles, Jun. F. The Lady Essex Finch William Freeman, Esq; Mrs Charlotte Fox Mr Michael Festin Mr John Forsyte H. Hewer Edgley Hewer, Esq; Henry Harrington, Esq; 2 Books Marianna Hays Mr Hare 12 Books I. Ralph Jenison, Esq; Mr Thomas Jackson Mr Jennens Mr Charles Jennor Theodoro Jacobson L. Mrs Legh of Ablington in Cheshire Mr La Porte N. Sir Clobery Noel Mr William Neale, at Dublin 6 Books P. Edward Pennant, Esq; Philip Percival, Esq; Philarmonica Club 3 Books Q. Mr Quanz R. His Grace the Duke of Richmond Her Grace the Dutches of Richmond ———— Rich, Esq; Mr Robinson, Organist 6 Books Mr de Reichenbach S. Baron de Sohlenthal, Envoy Extraordinary of Denmark Otto Henry von Schlabrendorff Mr Schnider Sgr. Sandoni 6 Books Mr John Seaers Mr Smith 3 Books Mr Charles Steward, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin Mr John Stones, Harpsicord-Master, Dublin Mr John Philip Smith, Organist, 2 Books T. Mr John Travers, Organist of St. Paul Covent Garden, and Sub Organist of St. Paul’s Cathedral Mr Tompson W. Mr Thomas Walton, Mathematicus Mr Warner Z. Mr Zollman.[13] |
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Whereas several Persons stand indebted to the Royal Academy for Calls and otherwise, the Court of Directors do hereby order Notice to be given, That they will pay or cause to be paid, at the Office in Hay-Market, or to the Person attending them in that Behalf, such Sum or Sums as they are owing, on or before Wednesday the 19th Instant, otherwise they shall be obliged to cause Process to be made at Law against them, in order to recover the same.[14] |
The Musick composed for the Coronation by Mr. Hendel is to be performed by Italian Voices and above 100 of the best Musicians; the Rehearsal was this Week and is allowed to [be] the best performance of that kind that ever was.[15]
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[Mrs. Pendarves to Mrs. Ann Granville, the day after the Coronation] [...] The room [Westminster Hall] was finely illuminated, and though there was 1800 candles, besides what were on the tables, they were all lighted in less than three minutes by an invention of Mr. Heidegger’s, which succeeded to the admiration of all spectators; [...][16] |
Nov 10
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[Mrs. Pendarves to Mrs. Ann Granville, 11 November 1727] I was yesterday at the rehearsal of Mr. Handel’s new opera called King Richard the First — ’tis delightful. There I saw Captain Elliot. I was in Lady Sunderland’s box, Mrs. Dashwood and Miss Peyton with me, and he came and sate behind me. [...] Masquerades are not to be forbid, but there is to be another entertainment barefaced, which are balls. Twelve subscribers, every subscriber pays ten guineas a night, and [145] is to have three tickets to dispose of, two of them to ladies and the other to a gentleman, that will make up four-and-twenty couple. There is to be a handsome collation, and they will hire Heidegger’s rooms to perform in. Some prudes already have attacked the reputation of those ladies that will accept of the tickets, but as all the subscribers are men of the first quality, and most of them married men, I don’t see what scandal can ensue, only spiteful people make harm of everything. There are to be no spectators, nor tickets to be sold, and there are to be twelve of these balls. [...][17] |
Nov 22
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[Mrs. Pendarves to Mrs. Ann Granville, 25 November 1727] [...] Last Wednesday [22 November] was [149] performed the musick in honour of St. Cecilia at the Crown Tavern. Dubourg was the first fiddle, and everybody says he exceeds all the Italians, even his master Geminiani. Senesino, Cuzzoni and Faustina sung there some of the best songs out of several operas, and the whole performance was far beyond any opera. I was very unlucky in not speaking to Dubourg about it, for he told me this morning he could have got me in with all the ease in the world. [...] I doubt operas will not survive longer than this winter, they are now at their last gasp; the subscription is expired and nobody will renew it. The directors are always squabbling, and they have so many divisions among themselves that I wonder they have not broke up before; Senesino goes away next winter, and I believe Faustina, so you see harmony is almost out of fashion. I have been making up some packets of musick for Dublin. [...][18] |
A musical festival, probably the first held in Bristol, took place in the Cathedral on the 22nd November, 1727. The programme consisted of “a fine Te Deum, Jubilate, and Anthem, composed by the great Mr. Handell, in which above 30 voices and instruments were concerned.” In the evening of the same day two “consorts,” conducted by musical rivals, took place in the Merchants’ Hall and the Theatre on St. Augustine’s Back, “the gentlemen of the Musick Society” taking part in the former.[19]
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The Court of Directors of the Royal Academy of Musick have appointed a Call of 5 l. per Cent. which is the 19th Call, to be made payable on all the Subscribers to the said Royal Academy on or before the 23d Instant. Notice is hereby given, that the Deputy-Treasurer is to attend on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the 21st, 22d, and 23d Instant, at the Office in the Hay-Market, from Nine in the Morning till Two in the Afternoon, in order to receive the same.[20] |
MUSICK Engrav’d and Printed for J. CLUER and B. CREAKE.
And Sold by A. CAMPBELL at the Printing-Office in Westminster.
A Pocket Companion for Gentlemen and Ladies: Being a Collection of the finest Opera Songs and favourite Airs out of the most celebrated Operas, compos’d by Mr. Handel, Bononcini, Attilio, &c. in English and Italian: To which is added, several choice Songs of Mr. Handel’s, never before printed (in two Volumes) carefully corrected and figur’d for the Harpsicord [sic], also transpos’d for the Flute in the most proper Keys. Price 1 l. 5 s.[21]
If a Man has a bright Genius, he will excel, if he follows his Genius; but where the Genius is either poor or constrain’d, the best Instructions will never bring it to bear good Fruit; one might as well suppose it possible to make a RAPHAEL, a POPE, or a HANDEL, in Painting, Poetry, and Musick, by Education only.[22]
[1] An Exact Abridgment of all the Statutes in Force and Use, from the Beginning of the Eleventh Year of King George I. to the Fourth Year of His present Majesty’s Reign. Vol. VII. (London: his Majesty’s printers and the assigns of Edward Sayer, 1732), no pagination; repr. The Statutes at Large, from the Twelfth Year of Queen Anne to the Sixth Year of King George the Second, inclusive. To which is prefixed, A Table of the Titles of all the Publick and Private Statutes during that Time. Volume the Fourth (London: Thomas Baskett, the Assigns of Robert Baskett, and Henry Lintot, 1758), no pagination.
[2] The Weekly Journal: Or, the British Gazetteer, no. 97, Saturday 18 March 1727, [3].
[3] The British Journal, no. 235, Saturday 25 March 1726-7, [3]; repr., Deutsch, 206.
[4] [Henry Carey], Pudding and Dumpling burnt to Pot. Or, A Compleat Key to the Dissertation on Dumpling (London: A. Dodd, and H. Whitridge, 1727), 26-27.
[5] The Manuscripts of the Duke of Beaufort, K.G., the Earl of Donoughmore, and others (London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1891), 188.
[6] The British Journal, no. 246, Saturday 10 June 1727, [3]; repr., Deutsch, 210.
[7] The London Journal, no. 410, Saturday 10 June 1727, [3]; repr., Deutsch, 210.
[8] Mist’s Weekly Journal, no. 112, Saturday 10 June 1727, [2].
[9] Mist’s Weekly Journal, no. 113, Saturday 17 June 1727, [1].
[10] Memoirs of Viscountess Sundon, Mistress of the Robes to Queen Caroline, Consort of George II, ed. Mrs. Thomson, 2nd edn., 2 vols. (London: Henry Colburn, 1848), 1:229-32.
[11] The Country Journal: Or, The Craftsman, no. 49, Saturday 10 June 1727, [2-3].
[12] The Daily Post, no. 2415, Tuesday 20 June 1727, [2].
[13] Admetus, An Opera, Compos’d by Mr. Handel (London: J. Cluer, [?1727]); advertised in The London Journal, no. 412, Saturday 24 June 1727, [3].
[14] The Daily Courant, no. 8032, Thursday 13 July 1727, [2].
[15] The Country Journal: Or, The Craftsman, no. 66, Saturday 7 October 1727, [3].
[16] The Autobiography and Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs. Delany, ed. Lady Llanover, 3 vols. (London: Richard Bentley, 1861), 1:138.
[17] The Autobiography and Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs. Delany, ed. Lady Llanover, 3 vols. (London: Richard Bentley, 1861), 1:144-45.
[18] The Autobiography and Correspondence of Mary Granville, Mrs. Delany, ed. Lady Llanover, 3 vols. (London: Richard Bentley, 1861), 1:148-49.
[19] John Latimer, The Annals of Bristol in the Eighteenth Century (Bristol: [the author], 1893; repr. Bath: Kingsmead Reprints, 1970), 161.
[20] The Daily Courant, 8162, Thursday 7 December 1727, [2].
[21] R[ichard]. Bradley, Ten Practical Discourses concerning Earth and Water, Fire and Air, as they relate to the Growth of Plants (Westminster: B. Creake, 1727), back matter.
[22] Noel Chomel, Dictionaire Oeconomique: Or, The Family Dictionary, edited by R. Bradley, 2 vols. (Dublin: J. Watts, 1727), 1:Preface.