The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-19
Tho handel Revival in germany.


When the centenary of Handlers death
Was approached two of his admirers de-
cided to pay him a tribute similar to that
which Bach had received. These men
were the professor of literature, George
Gottfried Gervinus. and the historian of
music. Friedrich C~hrysander. The latter.
who was then In his 3oth year. had al
ready published the first volume of his
celebrated biography of q. +. Handel"
This faithful investigator has now passed
his 7ith year. and Is still engaged In the
great task OF revealing the true Aature of
the eminent composer. Thus. for over 10
years. his labors In this field have been
unremitting.
In 1856 both Chrysander and Gervinus
aimed at the establishment of a Handel
society. whose object was to be the pub
LEGATION and propagation of Handlers
works. Such a society had been already
established ir London I'm 1si3. The edi-
ton which IL published was, however.
incomplete. and just as incorrect as that
of 11S6. For this reason an entirely new
edition was absolutely essential. Chry-
sander and Gervinus chose H~auptmann
and Dehn to cooperate with them. and
these four organized AS a board of direc-
tors. They solicited subscriptions to furth-
er their enterprise. bur all their efforts
were I'm vain. the movement was not ia
vored and langnished for lack OF support.
Discussions among the managers of the
society also contributed to arrest I'm pro-
gress. Finally. some of the original found
ers determined to defray the cost OF pub
licatior out of their own pockets. Even
then. however. the enterprise did not
prosper. IL was only after Gervinus had
pledged himself to pay a considerable
part of the expense that the firm decided
to publish "a few volumes as an expert
ment.
Nobody at that time believed that the
matter would ever prosper. Chrysander
was the only one entirely faithful TO the
movement; but. unfortunately, he pos
sessed no pecuniary means.
All this was changed in 1850. when
George ". the last king of Hanover. sum-
moned Chrysander to his capital In order
that he might confer with him on matters
relating TO church music. This monarch
became so greatly interested In the mod
est musician and scholar that he sought
some means of making life easier for him.
The topic was one day brought up I'm con-
versation. Chrysander never for "A mo-
ment thought of his personal well being.
but advised the king to further the cause
of Handel to which his own life was so
entirely devoted. King George thereupon
donated an annual pension of 5000 marks
to be paid for n period of u years. Chry-
sander faithfully forwarded the entire
sum tn the board OF directors-and reaped
ingratitude.
Dissension among the members contin-
ued to characterize the further progress
OF the society. which. indeed. had always
been such only In name. In 1852. one after
another OF the original members having
dropped out. only Gervinus and Chrysan-
der remained To carry on the work.
Four years later an event occurred
which proved still more calamitous to the
undertaking. Prussia annexed Hanover
and confiscated the fortune of the king.
The interest OF this money was used by
Prussia for all kinds of political purposes.
but no provision was made for the contin-
uance of the Handel fund until some time
nfterward. when C~hrysander unaided.
after an incredible amount of trouble sue
ceeded I'm obtaining some concession from
the government. Chrysander had already
become the soul of the movement, and
upon the death of Gcrvinus in 1871 he was
compelled to assume all debts and respon-
sibilities. He did not despair. however.
hut remained faithfully at his post. max
ing the greatest sacrifices. and to-day he
Is engaged alone In the stupendous task
of publishing Handel's works. Equipped
with "A single hand-press and assisted by
only one printer and one ergraver Of Glu-
sic. he has already proceeded SO far that
but three volumes are now needed to
complete the full edition of Handars
works.-Professor Bruno Schrader In the
April Forum.