R.M.20.f.8

ROYAL MUSIC COLLECTION. (Händel-Gesellschaft I; Hallische Händel-Ausgabe I/28, 1967). f. 49v is ruled with staves but otherwise blank. See also R.M.20.f.12. (ff. 26-31); for a copy see R.M.18.f.4. See also Donald Burrows and Martha J. Ronish, A Catalogue of Handel’s Musical Autographs (Oxford: Clarendon, 1994), pp. 154-157.

ff. 134. 9.25 x 11.75in.

Points of note:

1. f. 1. ‘angefangen den 11. July [here is the astrological symbol for Monday] 17[48]’.

2. f. 7. The part of Joacim is written for Soprano clef.

3. ff. 7v-8. These leaves have been fastened down. They contain an air for Joacim: ‘Hertfelt sorrow, constant woe’.

4. f. 8v. (H-G., p. 12). More words are written for the recitatives, without music and crossed out in ink.

5. ff. 21-22. These leaves have been fastened down. They contain part of another setting of ‘Would custom bid’ (H-G., p. 37, ‘Siciliana’ in 12/8); the end of another setting of ‘’Tis not age’sullen face’ (H-G., p. 167) with the following recitatives for a Judge and Daniel, without music. All crossed out in ink.

6. f. 23v. (End of ‘Would custom bid’): ‘Segue Chelsias Recit. down my old cheeks’.

7. f. 24. The end of the version of ‘Would custom bid’ on f. 21; crossed out [in ink]

8. f. 32v. The beginning of ‘Virtue shall never long’ (H-G., p. 56). Some leaves are here missing from the MS. [They are in R.M.20.f.12., ff.26-31].

9. f. 33. ‘Tyrannic Love’. (H-G., p. 66).

10. f. 49. ‘Fine della parte prima geendiget July 21 [here is the astrological symbol for Thursday]. 1748’.

11. f. 51v. ‘Lead me to some cool retreat’ (H-G., p. 103) is not in the MS.

12. f. 54v. ‘To lovely youth… ev’ry woe’ (H-G., p. 109). This recitative is not in the MS.

13. ff. 55-6. The two folios have been fastened down. They contain three versions of ‘Ask if yon damask rose’, crossed out. That ultimately adopted (H-G., p. 110) is on f. 56v.

14. ff. 74-75. ‘Let justice reign’. These leaves have been fastened down, so as to make a long cut after the end of H-G., p. 137, line 2, bar 5.

15. ff. 83-84. ‘Oh Joacim’. These leaves have been fastened down. They contain a rejected continuation of the chorus from the end of H-G., p. 149, line 2, bar 6. [See also Dean, Winton, Handel’s Dramatic Oratorios and Masques, London, 1959, p. 553].

16. ff. 86-87. These leaves have been fastened down. They contain sketches for a rejected continuation from H-G., p. 152, line 1, bar 5.

17. f. 87v. ‘fine della parte 2da völlig Agost 21’.

18. ff. 100-101. ‘Impartial Heav’n’. These leaves have been fastened down. They contain cancelled sketches of the chorus, from H-G., p. 173, line 2, bar 1.

19. f. 108. Recitative (H-G., p. 183). Daniel’s recitative ends at ‘You as surely fall’.

20. f. 108v. ‘Righteous, matchless youth’. Chorus (not in H-G.).

21. f. 112v. ‘Instant conduct them’. Recitative (H-G., p. 183).

22. f. 116v. ‘Raise your voice’. A long air for Chelsias, only 28 bars of which are in H-G., pp. 191-2.

23. f. 124v. ‘Guilt trembling spoke my doom’. The version in the MS. is much longer than that in H-G., p. 198.

24. f. 134v. ‘S.D.G. Fine dell’Atto 3zo G. F. Handel. Agost 9. ♂ [Tuesday]. 1748, ætatis 63. völlig geendiget Agost 24 [here is the astrological symbol for Wednesday]. 1748’.

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