George Frideric Handel: Aci, Galatea e Polifemo (HWV 72). Autograph
Scope & Content:
The MS. ends at the end of H-G., p. 48, line 5, bar 1. The last four leaves of the work will be found in Eg. 2953, ff. 98-101, which contain a long recitative for Polifemo (not in H-G.), the Finale ‘Chi ben ama’, and the date: ‘Napoli li 16 di Giugnio [sic]. 1708. d’Alvito.’. Points of note: ...
George Frideric Handel: Acis and Galatea, (masque by John Gay, with texts by Alexander Pope and John Hughes), HWV 49. Autograph
Scope & Content:
Points of note: 1. f. 5. ‘Oh the pleasures.’ The Alto, Tenor 1 and Tenor 2 parts are written in the Tenor clef. Name of singers: ‘Mr Blackley’, ‘Mr Row’, ‘Hardres’[?; Burrows and Ronish suggest ‘?Rogers’], over which are written: ‘Ten 1’, ‘Ten 2’ and ‘Ten 3’. 2. f. 10. ‘Ye verdant plains’. ‘Sr...
George Frideric Handel: Agrippina (dramma per musica by Vincenzo Grimani), HWV 6. Autograph
Scope & Content:
f. i. is an inserted leaf with a note (‘The 1st scena of this Opera is missing’) by F. Nicolai, originally before f. 1, now bound at the end of the volume, after f. 121. Points of note: 1. f. 1. All is wanting before the words ‘a poveri dispensa l’or’ in Act I, sc. 1. 2. f. 1v. Agrippina’s r...
George Frideric Handel: Alcina (dramma per musica after a libretto by Antonio Fanzaglia), HWV 34. Autograph
Scope & Content:
The text and clefs of some of the recitatives are in the handwriting of a copyst. Some of the Balli, who are missing from this MS, are in Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS. 30 H 8, pp. 1-8. ff. 21v and 36v are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 12v. Act I. At the end...
George Frideric Handel: Alessandro (dramma per musica by Paolo Antonio Rolli after a libretto by Ortensio Mauro), HWV 21. Autograph
Scope & Content:
The numbering of the scenes differs in the MS. from H-G., which follows the printed libretto. ff. 29v, 38v, 51v, 84v, 96v, 99v, 107v and 119v are blank. Points of note: 1. f. 5. Act I, sc. 1. At the end of the opening recitative: ‘Il nemico fugge dal muro all’arrivo di Alessandro’. H-G. print...
George Frideric Handel: Arianna (dramma per musica after a libretto by Pietro Pariati), HWV 32. Autograph
Scope & Content:
ff. 24v, 82v and 84v are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 3v. Act I. The stage directions for scene 1 precede the Minuet (marked Andante). 2. f. 22v. Sc. 11. The last words of Arianna’s recitative (‘mi compiaci…tu taci’) are on f. 57. 3. f. 29. Sc. 12. The ‘Balli...
George Frideric Handel: Ariodante (dramma per musica after a libretto by Antonio Salvi), HWV 33. Autograph
Scope & Content:
The recitative ‘Ah che questo’ and air ‘Il primo ardor’ (Act I, sc. 11; H-G., pp. 48-50) and the King’s air ‘Più contento’ (Act II, sc. 6, H-G., p. 82) are not present in this MS. ff. 7v, 24, 62v, 72v are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 1. Overture. At the foot of...
George Frideric Handel: Arminio (dramma per musica after a libretto by Antonio Salvi), HWV 36. Autograph
Scope & Content:
ff. 39r, 80v, 81r are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 5. On foot of the page ‘Mitt[woch?] angefangen Sept 15 1736’. 2. f. 26. ‘Fine dell’Atto Primo Sept 19. 1736’. 3. f. 48. ‘Fine dell’Atto 2do Sept 26. 1736’. 4. ff. 71v-78. Act III, sc. 8. The recitative (‘Per...
George Frideric Handel: Atalanta (dramma per musica after a libretto by Belisario Valeriani, HWV 36. Autograph
Scope & Content:
f. 68v is ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 23. ‘Fine dell’Atto 1. April 9. 1736’. 2. f. 44. ‘Fine dell’Atto 2do April 14. 1736’. 3. ff. 51v-61. Act III, sc. 6 (H-G., p. 68). The arrangement of the MS. is as follows: f.51v: Recitatives down to ‘vostro core’. f. 52...
George Frideric Handel: Berenice (dramma per musica after a libretto by Antonio Salvi), HWV 38. Autograph
Scope & Content:
f. i is a blank leaf at the end of the volume; ff. 41v-42 and 49v are ruled with staves but otherwise blank. Points of note: 1. f. 1. At foot of page: ‘angefangen Decembr 18. 1736’. 2. f. 3. At the end of the third movement of the Overture: ‘Segue la Giga’. The gigue is not in the MS. (Cf Fi...
