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Colinette à la cour ou La double épreuve : comédie lyrique en trois actes

Description: A comparison of the scores for Colinette à la cour and Barbe-bleue illustrates the primary distinguishing factor between the genres of comédie lyrique and opera comique: the method of dialogue delivery. In Paris, the issue of genre was tied to the performance venue of a particular opera, due to government regulations. Although comic opera was traditionally presented with spoken dialogue, as in opera comique, when Grétry composed for the Opéra, where recitative was expected, he merged comic su… more
Date: 1782
Creator: Grétry, André Ernest Modeste, 1741-1813 & Lourdet de Santerre, Jean Baptiste, 1732-1815

Panurge dans l'Isle des Lanternes : comédie lirique en trois actes

Description: Panurge, like Colinette à la cour, features recitative, rather than spoken dialogue. In his memoirs, Grétry recognized Panurge for being the first comic opera to enjoy a successful run at the Opéra, and he saw it as a turning point for this theater, which traditionally presented serious plots (Grétry, Memoires; ou, Essais sur la musique, 377). The overture to Panurge was featured on concerts in the nineteenth century, and although the opera eventually disappeared from the repertoire, its long… more
Date: 1785
Creator: Grétry, André Ernest Modeste, 1741-1813 & Morel de Chédeville, Etienne, 1747-1814

Barbe bleue : comédie en prose et en trois actes

Description: Although the story of Bluebeard was familiar to French readers from Charles Perrault’s 1698 collection of children’s tales, transferring it to the operatic stage was problematic due in large part to the gruesome nature of the plot. Other violent works had appeared in Paris, but in this instance, the drama was to be performed at the Comédie-Italienne, which typically featured lighter plots than that of Raoul and Isaure. Nevertheless, the opera had a successful run, receiving over a hundred per… more
Date: 1789
Creator: Grétry, André Ernest Modeste, 1741-1813 & Sedaine, 1719-1797

Silvain

Description: This one-act opera to a libretto by Marmontel is dedicated "a son Altesse Royale Monseigneur Le Prince Charles de Pologne." This full score features a catalogue of Grétry's music on the verso of the title page. The opera was premiered in Paris on 19 February 1770 at the Comédie-Italiènne.
Date: 1770~
Creator: Grétry, André-Ernest-Modeste, 1741-1813

Le mariage d'Antonio. Divertissement en un acte et en prose

Description: Lucile Grétry’s opera Le mariage d’Antonio premiered in Paris when she was a mere fourteen years old. As the second daughter of André-Ernest-Modeste Grétry, she was afforded lessons at a young age in counterpoint and declamation. Her father supplied the orchestral parts for her comédie mêlée d’ariettes after Lucile had composed the vocal, bass, and harp parts. Although Le mariage d’Antonio was a modest success, Lucile’s second endeavor, a divertissement mêlée d’ariettes entitled Toinette et … more
Date: 1786
Creator: Grétry, Lucile

Acis and Galatea

Description: This is a ca. 1743 score of Acis and Galatea, a musical masque (also considered an English pastoral opera) by Handel to a libretto by John Gay. The performance forces include: oboes (2), flauto [recorder], violins, basso continuo, and chorus of mixed voices (mostly soprano, three tenors and bass) and vocal soloists. On the front cover the name Morgan appears imprinted on a red stamp with golden ornaments and letters. The names Anna Maria [Lawes] and Mary Anne Morgan were written at the top … more
Date: 1743
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Esther, a sacred oratorio in score

Description: This is a ca. 1794 score of "Esther," a sacred oratorio by Handel. According to the Grove Dictionary of Music, the English libretto of the oratorio was probably a collaborative work between John Arbuthnot and Alexander Pope with additional words by Samuel Humphreys. The engraved frontispiece that precedes the t.p. bears the title "Apotheosis of Handel," and the inscription, "The portrait from an original picture of Hudson's in the possession of Dr. Arnold. Designed by Rebecca [Biagio]. Engrave… more
Date: 1794
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Esther, a sacred oratorio in score

Description: This is a bound copy of a ca. 1794 score of "Esther," a sacred oratorio by Handel. The cover contains the inscription, "The works of Handel, edited by Dr. Arnold." It does not include the frontispiece preceding the t.p. According to the Grove Dictionary of Music, the English libretto of the oratorio was probably a collaborative work between John Arbuthnot and Alexander Pope with additional words by Samuel Humphreys. A table of contents appears on p. 185 with incipits of first lines of text of… more
Date: 1794
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Giulio Cesare : opera in tre atti

Description: This is a [ca. 1743] score of "Giulio Cesare," an Italian opera seria in three acts by Handel. The performance forces include: flute, oboe, horns (in A and D), strings (violin, viola, violoncello, bass), continuo (theorbo and viola da gamba), harp, chorus of mixed voices (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), and soloist singers. A list of solo arias and duets of each act appears on p.170 followed by a list containing the names of the subscribers on pp.[171-172]. Two mythological figures [possibly, th… more
Date: 1743
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Handel's Songs, Selected From His Oratorios: Volume 2

Description: This is the second of a five-volume anthology featuring 160 arias and songs from various oratorios by G. F. Handel. The vocal score contains musical selections arranged for 1-2 voices with unrealized figured bass intended for harpsichord (continuo), oboe, or flute accompaniment. The English text is printed between the treble and bass, or alto staves. A publisher's note in the t.p. announced the availability of instrumental parts are available separately for concerts. The table of content that … more
Date: 1780
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Handel's Songs, Selected From His Oratorios: Volume 3

Description: This is the third volume of a five-volume anthology featuring arias and songs from various oratorios by G. F. Handel. The vocal score contains musical selections arranged for 1-2 voices with unrealized figured bass intended for harpsichord (continuo), oboe, or flute accompaniment. The English text is printed between the treble and bass, or alto staves. A publisher's note on the t.p. announced the availability of instrumental parts sold separately. The table of content indicates the oratorio f… more
Date: 1785
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Judas Maccabaeus

Description: This is a [ca. 1740] score of Judas Maccabaeus, a sacred oratorio by Handel. It contains a table of songs for each of the three acts of the oratorio and a descriptive catalog of music composed by Handel, which includes: Italian operas, English oratorios as well as concertos, chamber music and transcription of vocal music for instruments. The performance forces include: vocal soloists (SATB or SATB), strings (violins, viola, violoncello and contra bass), oboes, traverse flute, and bassoon. It a… more
Date: 1740
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Messiah

Description: Score of the first published edition of Handel's sacred oratorio, Messiah to the English text by the librettist Charles Jennens. Characteristics identified on pages 125-126 of C.W. Smith's Handel. A Descriptive Catalogue of the Early Editions further identify this instance as the fourth issue, and the "b" variant within that issue. It includes an engraved frontispiece by Houbraken showing a portrait of Handel and musical instruments and mythological figures playing instruments. A list of subscr… more
Date: 1767
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

The musick for the Royal fireworks

Description: This is a [ca. 1788] score of one of the arrangements Handel made of his "Music for the Royal Fireworks." The caption title gives indication that this version contains the music as performed in 1749. The Grove Dictionary of Music lists two other arrangements from ca. 1746. The performance forces of this edition include: trumpets (3), horns (3), timpani, oboes (2), bassoon, and strings (violin, viola, violoncello, and contrabass). The plate no. appears in both Roman and Arabic forms: No. XXI… more
Date: 1788
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

The Occasional: an Oratorio in Score Composed by Mr. Handel

Description: A sacred oratorio for mixed chorus (SATB) and orchestra (2 violins, viola, "principale", 2 oboes, 2 trumpets, timpani, and continuo). The score includes a list of subscribers and an index for each of the three sections of the oratorio. The anthem "God save the King" is included on pp. 164-26, each page bearing an additional sequence number from 14-26.
Date: 1784
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Saul: a sacred oratorio, in score

Description: Musical score of Saul, a sacred oratorio including vocal soloists (SATB), mixed chorus, and orchestra (2 oboes, bassoon, trombones (3), horns (2), strings (violin, viola, violoncello, bass), timpani, organ, harp and continuo). A content index with the incipits of recitatives and arias appears on a separate page at the end of the score.
Date: 1792%
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Saul : Oratorium

Description: This is ca. 1820 vocal score of Handel's oratorio Saul. The orchestra reduction for piano is credited to J.F. [Johann Friedrich] Naue. The hand-written date 1738 that appears at the top of the t.p. underneath Saul corresponds to the year when Handel composed the oratorio. The music parts for the soloists (soprano alto tenor, bass) and the chorus appear at the top of the piano reduction staff.
Date: 1820?
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Sosarme

Description: This item is a copy from [ca. 1790] of the score of Handel's opera Sosarme to a libretto by Matteo Noris. The performance forces include: oboe, horns, strings (violin, viola, bass), continuo, and soloist singers. A list of important musical numbers, solo arias and duets of each act appears on p.116. The names of the subscribers appear on pp.[119-120]. The title page contains an engraving showing two mythological figures [possibly, the god Apollo and the Muse Erato] and musical instrument… more
Date: 1788
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759

Hercules: an oratorio in score

Description: The plot of this oratorio centers around Hercules's death by an inadvertent action of his wife Dejanira. Handel set to music the English libretto by Rev. Thomas Broughton's English, based on Sophocles' Trachiniae, and additions from Ovid's Metamorphoses. The performance forces include: soloists (SATB) and mixed chorus with oboes (2) violins (2), viola, Bass (unspecifdied) and continue. The index that appears on p.248 contains the incipits of arias, recitative and choruses for each of the thre… more
Date: 1788/1789
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759 & Broughton, Thomas, 1704-1774

Alexander's Feast or the Power of Musick.

Description: A secular choral work in two parts for four soloists (SSTB) and mixed chorus (SATB) with orchestra acc. (2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, 3 violins, viola, violoncello, and continuo). The names of the vocal soloists (Mr. [John] Beard, Signora [Anna Maria] Strada, Miss. [Cecilia] Young, and Mr. Erard) are printed at the top of their designated songs.
Date: 1743
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759 & Dryden, John, 1631-1700

Belshazzar : a sacred Oratorio in Score

Description: A sacred oratorio in three acts for soloists and mixed chorus (SATB) with orchestra acc. (2 oboes, 2 violins, viola, and basso continuo). A contents index is given on p. 219. According to the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Handel composed this oratorio from 23 August - 23 October 1744. Charles Jennens wrote the libretto on the Biblical story of the downfall of the King of Babylon with details taken from "Cyropaedia" (a political romance about the education of an ideal ruler) by Herod… more
Date: {1744-08-23,1744-10-23}
Creator: Handel, George Frideric, 1685-1759 & Jennens, Charles, 1700-1773
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