The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-12-28

patrons and partisans OF two great female sing
ers OF diSputa6Le talents, tho subscribers were
so divided in their opinion of the merit Of these
two strens, that when the admirers Of one be-
! gan to applaud, the admirers of the ether began
10 hass. few years after, quarrel happen
ed between Handel and Senesino. which
| broke up the Academy. Dr. Green was con-
temporary with Handel; and, leagued with
his other enemies, stroye TO supplant him !;
and DR.. Arne likewise lived at that time. and
was by no means friendly to Handel. Dr.
Green's biography says, that Green had the
| misfortune TO live in the age and neighbour
hood OF musical giant, with whom he was
utterly unable to contend, but by cnbaL and
an alliance with his opposers. While these in
| terror gcnIuses were envious and malignant,
| Handel treated them with roughness and con-
tempt. If Handers temper had al all resenl-
bled the flexibility of his fingers, it is proba-
bic this unhappy war of the musicians might
| have stopped, and occasional discords ended
| in sweetest harmony. II s painful to dwell
on this part OF IIandel's life, which was one
continued tissue of losses and misfortuncs.
Neglect and opposition conspired to rob him
at once of health, fame, and fortune.
After the year 1740, Cat which time the
Oratorlo Of Saul' was performed for the
hrst time,) Handel devoted his labors almost
solely totho service of the Church. In 174O.
handel composed his grand Dettongere de TIE
Deum IN CONNIE moration Of a great victory
OBTAINED by the English and their allies over
the French and their aiherents, an extract
from which is inserted in the late Professor
Hubbard's collection OF Anthems. Between
the years 1740 and 1851, he produced Is
original Oratorios. OF these the Messiah,
Samson, and Judas Maccabees were sure TO
hll the house whenever they were performed,
The Messiah in 1742, to the honor of the pub
nc at large, and to the disgrace of cabal and
faction, was received with universal admira-
ton and applause, and from that time to the
present, this great work has been heard in all
parts OF Great Britain with increasing rever-
ence and delight. 1t has fed the hungry.
clothed the naked, fostered the orphan, and
ebrlched succeeding managers of Oratorios
more IMAM any single musical production 10
/ England, or any country. This sacred Ora
| torio, as it was at first called, on account OF
the words being wholly composed of genuine
teXls OF scripture, appearing to stand in such
hiSn estimation with the public, Handel, ac-
tuated by motives of the purest benevolence
and humanity, formed the laudable resolution
OF performing it annually for the benefit of the
Founding Hospital, which resolution was
constantly carried into practice TO the end Of
his lie under his own direction, and long af
! forwards under that of others. From the wear
| l749 to l777, the Messiah was publicly per
! formed 70 times. and brought to the Found
| ling Hospital the sum Of EiO,299, sterling !!
we have In order of time anticipated a few
years and events in the life of the prosecuted
| Handel, and shall return TO notice few more
OF his mistortunes and the effects of hostility.
It was after repeated miscarrages, and yery
severe illness, supposed TO have been brought
80 ny Oh" J~'--t ~H-~'~.-f ssiety, modification.
distress, and disappointment, that Handel was
driven TO the flihernian coast. He remained
eight or nine months in Ireland, where he ex-
tended his fame, and in some measure repair.
ed his fortune; and after that time returned
to London. Though late in life, like The
great poets Homer and Milton, Handel was
afflicted with blindness, which. hcwever i,
might dispirit and emtanass him. at other
times, had no effect on his ,aerges or intellect in
public, as he continued to play concertos and
voluntaries between the parts of his Oratorios
to the last with the same vigor of thought
and touch for which he was ever so Justly re.
nowned. The last Oratorio at which he at.
tended and performed, was en- the 9th of April.
1859, and he expired on the 10th of the same
month in the 10th year of his age.
We have now come to the end of the life Of
the great g. F. Handel. His compositions
cease-his organ is mute-and his enchanting
voice silent in death And now that all com
petitions, enmities, jealousies, and operations
OF envy have subsidized, time. examination, and
reflection have given new charms and inpor
lance to his works, and he now stands like the
sun among inferior planets. Every biographel
and historian speak ofhim with yeneration and
rapture, and become his generous encen1iasts
DIR. Smollet, IN his History of England, thu:
honorab,y notices his exit: in the snring O.
the year 1853, the liberal arts sustained ala.
mentable loss in the death Of George F. Han.
del, the most celebrated master in music which
this age has produced. He was by birth a
Germsn; but he had studied in Italy, and
afterwards settled in England, where he mel
with the most favorable reception, and resided
above hall century, universally admired for
his stupendous genius in the sublime parts Of
musical composition" Another modern au-
thor declares, Handel was our .Nagnus .ApoI-
10 during the last century.n One thing can
be told Of Handel, which could be said of NO
other celebrated musical amateur-that he
died, notwithstanding his great benetaction,
and habiludI hbsrality, worth eco, 600! Pur-
cell, who in greatness and excellence ranks
next to Handel, died in l717, of whom the
poet exclaims-
Sometimes hero in an age appears,
But scarce Purcell in thousand gears -
but Green, Hotcurd, .Arne, and Boyce, all Eng
lish authors, and contemporaries with Handel,
were distinguished for musical genius and
skill but as the e6ulgence of the morning
sun eclipses the brightest stars, so Handel
| rises in this constellation, and obscures them
all. Though Handel despised the judgment
of the pOpulace yet the pIsbian and the noble
man and the KING were always equally pleas
ed with his music. He wrote for eternity,
and his works are destined to Immortality
The fame he acquired by silent and close ap-
plication to his professional business,
- Nee lows ira, nee ignes,
Nee potert terrum, nee edax aboIere vetustas"
| Every one who reads or hears of the name of