Author: GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL
Title: Handel Commemoration, Westminster Abbey. Subscriber's Ticket.
Description: 1784. On thick paper, trimmed to an oval shape, 220 x 180 mm. browned. This item may have at some time been mounted and will bear traces on the reverse of adhesive or removal of mounts. The engraving is based on a painting by R. Smirk [1753-1845], and executed by Francis Howard ARA, 1759-1797. The Commemoration, marking the 25th anniversary of the composer's death, was a series of concerts of Handel's music during which two performances of Messiah took place. ED Mackerness described the Handel Commemoration as "the single most important event in the history of English music" (A Social History of English Music, London 1964). Messiah was given its first performance in O'Neal's Music Hall, Fishamble Street, Dublin in 1742.

Keywords: Ephemera


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