R.M.20.e.6

ROYAL MUSIC COLLECTION. (Händel-Gesellschaft XVIII, XLVI b; Hallische Händel-Ausgabe I/31, 1963). Between ff. 58 and 59 is inserted a blank leaf, foliated 58a; ff. 9v and 37v are also blank. See also R.M.20.g.13. (ff. 37-39), R.M.20.f.12. (ff. 7-14), Add. MS. 30310 (ff. 13-34); for a copy see R.M.18.d.6. (ff. 62-145). See also Donald Burrows and Martha J. Ronish, A Catalogue of Handel’s Musical Autographs (Oxford: Clarendon, 1994), pp. 115-117.

ff. 63. 9.25 x 11.5in.

Points of note:

1. f. 1. ‘The Choice of Hercules a Musical Interlude: Persons. Virtue, Pleasure, Hercules. Chorus of Virtue’s Attendants. Chorus of Pleasure’s Attendants’. The Introduction (not ‘Sinfonia’, as in H-G., p. 1) has only the bass and a few notes written until the last two bars (H-G., p. 1, bottom line). At the foot of the page: ‘angefangen den 28 Juny. [Here is the symbol for Wednesday] 1750’.

2. f. 1v. ‘Recitative accompanyed’ [sic] (H-G., p. 2). Only the bass and a few notes are written until the beginning of H-G., p.4, line 2, bar 1.

3. f. 9. Inserted leaf, a note in the hand of F. Nicolai.

4. f. 10. ‘While for thy arms’. At the end: ‘entra il coro. Seize, seize these Blessings blooming Boy’. This chorus (H-G., p. 16-19) is on ff. 60-62.

5. f. 17v. ‘Hear’st thou, what dangers’ (H-G. , p. 36). At the end: ‘Segue song of Pleasure with the Chorus of Attendants on Pleasure’.

6. ff. 18-19. ‘The golden trump of Fame’ (H-G., p. 33). ‘Chorus of Attendants on Virtue’. The original words (crossed out in ink) were: ‘O bless, ye Pow’rs above’. This belonged to Alceste (H-G.XLVI b, p. 26).

7. ff. 21-36. Part of Alceste (H-G.XLVI b, p. 5-26) adapted for The Choice of Hercules. ‘Grand Entrée Act 1. Chorus’s and Songs. angefangen den 27 Decembr. 1749. [Here is the symbol for Wednesday]’.

8. f. 22v. ‘Triumph Hymen’. (Alceste, H-G., p. 7).

9. f. 26v. ‘Still caressing’ (Alceste, H-G., p. 14), with words altered to ‘Turn thee youth’ (Choice of Hercules, H-G., p. 37). At the beginning: ‘NB for the Song of Pleasure with the Chorus of Attendants on Pleasure entra’.

10. f. 31v. ‘Ye swift minutes’ (Alceste, H-G., p. 20).

11. f. 35. ‘Gentle Morpheus’. ‘Mrs. Arne. Calliope Air. Sing to Admetus sleeping’. ‘for Hercules song sub numero 7. the Instruments’. (Alceste, H-G., p. 35, Version B; Choice of Hercules, H-G., p. 44).

12. f. 36. A note [by V. Schoelcher] as to a song from Alceste in another volume.

13. f. 37. Inserted leaf, a note in the hand of F. Nicolai.

14. f. 38. ‘Short is my way’. Recitative (Choice of Hercules, H-G., p. 43). At the end: ‘the Song of Hercules yet can I hear vide pag 20 sub numero 7. the Instruments’, followed by the voice (in the Alto clef) and Continuo parts of ‘Yet can I hear’.

15. f. 38v. ‘Segue l’Aria for the Attendant on Pleasure, by Mr. Low. Enjoy the sweet Elysian Grove sub litera A. the first part only’. (Alceste, H-G., p. 35; Choice of Hercules, H-G., p. 48).

16. f. 39. ‘O! whither Reason’, recitative (H-G., p. 52) and ‘Where shall I go’, trio (H-G., p. 53).

17. f. 44. ‘Arise, arise’. ‘Chorus of Attendants on Virtue’ (H-G., p. 61). Both voice and instrumental parts are not fully written out.

18. f. 58. ‘G. F. Handel völlig geeniget July 5 [here the symbol for Wednesday is rubbed out, and instead the symbol for Thursday is inserted] 1750’.

19. ff. 59-62. ‘Thrice happy who’ (Alceste, H-G., p. 46), adapted as ‘Seize these blessings’ (Choice of Hercules, H-G., p. 16).

20. f. 62. ‘Welcome to the Elysian Grove’. ‘For an Attendant on Pleasure. by Mr. Low this Song. The first part only, sub litera A.’ (Alceste, H-G., p. 50, printed as ‘Enjoy the sweet’, etc.). Altered for the Choice of Hercules (H-G., p. 48). Wanting all after the end of H-G., p. 50, line 3, bar 4.

Victor Schoelcher, French politician and writer on music: Handel's autograph manuscript with notes in the hand of Victor Schoelcher: circa 1735- circa 1750.

Robert Lowth, Bishop of London: Thomas Morell, DD: Handel's 'The Choice of Hercules' (HWV69) to a libretto by (?) Thomas Morell, after a text by Robert Lowth: 1750-1767.

Frederick Nicolay, royal musician and librarian: Handel's autograph scores annotated by: circa 1760- circa 1809: Autogr.

George Frideric Handel, composer: Music manuscripts: 18th cent: Autogr.

includes:

• ff. 21-36, 59-63 Tobias Smollett, novelist: Handel's 'Alceste' to a text by Tobias Smollett: circa 1750.