George Frideric Handel by Balthasar Denner

''Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne'' ( HWV 74) is a secular cantata composed by

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training ...

to a

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major litu ...

Ambrose Philips Ambrose Philips (167418 June 1749) was an English poet and politician. He feuded with other poets of his time, resulting in Henry Carey bestowing the nickname " Namby-Pamby" upon him, which came to mean affected, weak, and maudlin speech or verse ...

, of which the first line, "Eternal source of light divine", provides an alternative title for the work. It was probably composed during January 1713 for a performance on 6 February 1713, although there is no record of the performance having actually taken place. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xlvi A; and HHA i/6.

Overview

The cantata celebrates Queen Anne's birthday, and the accomplishment of the

Treaty of Utrecht The Peace of Utrecht was a series of peace treaties signed by the belligerents in the War of the Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht between April 1713 and February 1715. The war involved three contenders for the vacant throne of ...

(negotiated by the

Tory A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. The ...

ministry of Anne in 1712) to end the

War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...

. It is scored for 3 solo voices, choir and chamber orchestra. Queen Anne was said by the Duke of Manchester to be "too careless or too busy to listen to her own band, and had no thought of hearing and paying new players however great their genius or vast their skill." Nevertheless, and whether or not she ever heard this ode for her birthday, she granted Handel a "pension" (subsidy for living expenses) of two hundred pounds a year, for life.

Structure

Each of the seven stanzas of the ode concludes with the following words sung by the chorus: : ''The day that gave great Anna birth'', : ''Who fix'd a lasting peace on Earth''. * (Alto solo with solo trumpet over sustained strings) :Eternal source of light divine :With double warmth thy beams display :And with distinguish'd glory shine :To add a lustre to this day. *(Alto solo, then chorus with orchestra) :The day that gave great Anna birth :Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth. *(Soprano solo, then chorus with orchestra) :Let all the winged race with joy :Their wonted homage sweetly pay :Whilst towr'ing in the azure sky :They celebrate this happy day. :The day that gave great Anna birth :Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth. *(Alto solo, then alto and soprano solo with chorus and orchestra) :Let flocks and herds their fear forget :Lions and wolves refuse their prey :And all in friendly consort meet :Made glad by this propitious day. :The day that gave great Anna birth :Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth. *(Bass and alto duet, then chorus with orchestra. The ground bass of this movement with octave leaps was reused by Handel in his "Concerto a due cori".) :Let rolling streams their gladness show :With gentle murmurs whilst they play :And in their wild meanders flow :Rejoicing in this blessed day. :The day that gave great Anna birth :Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth. * (Soprano and alto duet with solo oboe and orchestra) :Kind Health descends on downy wings :Angels conduct her on the way. :T'our glorious Queen new life she brings :And swells our joys upon this day. * (Alto and soprano, then chorus with orchestra) :The day that gave great Anna birth :Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth. * (Bass solo, then chorus with orchestra) :Let envy then conceal her head :And blasted faction glide away. :No more her hissing tongues we'll dread :Secure in this auspicious day. :The day that gave great Anna birth :Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth. * (Alto solo then chorus with echo effects, solo trumpet and orchestra) :United nations shall combine :To distant climes their sound convey :That Anna's actions are divine :And this the most important day! :The day that gave great Anna birth :Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth.

Notable performances

On 23 August 2007,

Kate Royal Kate Royal (born 1979) is an English lyric soprano. She is the daughter of Steve Royal, a singer and songwriter for television, and of Carolyn Royal, a former model and dancer. Royal was born in London and attended Talbot Heath School in Bourne ...

performed the aria "Eternal source of light divine" at

the Proms The BBC Proms or Proms, formally named the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts Presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hal ...

. On 19 May 2018, Elin Manahan Thomas performed the aria "Eternal source of light divine" as the bridal entry music for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, accompanied by the event's orchestra and with David Blackadder playing the trumpet

obbligato In Western classical music, ''obbligato'' (, also spelled ''obligato'') usually describes a musical line that is in some way indispensable in performance. Its opposite is the marking ''ad libitum''. It can also be used, more specifically, to indica ...

Selected recordings

Alfred Deller Alfred George Deller, CBE (31 May 1912 – 16 July 1979), was an English singer and one of the main figures in popularising the return of the countertenor voice in Renaissance and Baroque music during the 20th century. He is sometimes referr ...

(countertenor), Mary Thomas (soprano), Maurice Bevan (bass), Deller Consort, Oriana Concert Choir, Vienna Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Alfred Deller (conductor).

Vanguard Records Vanguard Recording Society is an American record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York City. It was a primarily classical label at its peak in the 1950s and 1960s, but also has a catalogue of recordings by a nu ...

8113. Released 1963. * James Bowman (countertenor),

Emma Kirkby Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, (; born 26 February 1949) is an English soprano and early music specialist. She has sung on over 100 recordings. Education and early career Kirkby was educated at Hanford School, Sherborne School for Girls in Dorse ...

, (soprano), David Thomas, (bass),

English Chamber Orchestra The English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and their ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall. The orchestra regularly tours in the UK and internationall ...

, Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford,

Simon Preston Simon John Preston (4 August 1938 – 13 May 2022) was an English organist, conductor, and composer.
...

(conductor).

Decca Decca may refer to: Music * Decca Records or Decca Music Group, a record label * Decca Gold, a classical music record label owned by Universal Music Group * Decca Broadway, a musical theater record label * Decca Studios, a recording facility in We ...

4666762. Released 1978. * James Bowman (countertenor),Gillian Fisher (soprano),Michael George (bass), Choir of New College, Oxford,

The King's Consort The King's Consort is a British period music orchestra founded in 1980 by the English conductor and harpsichordist Robert King (b. 1960, Wombourne). The ensemble has an associated choral group, Choir of The King's Consort. Together, they have ma ...

, Robert King (conductor).

Hyperion Records Hyperion Records is an independent British classical record label. History Hyperion is an independent British classical label that was established in 1980 with the goal of showcasing recordings of music in all genres and from all time period ...

CDA66315. Released 1989. * Robin Blaze (countertenor),

Susan Gritton Susan Gritton (born 31 August 1965) is an English operatic soprano. She was the 1994 winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Award and has sung leading roles in a wide-ranging repertoire from Handel and Mozart to Britten, Janáček and Strauss. Life a ...

(soprano), Michael George (bass), King's College Choir, Cambridge,

The Academy of Ancient Music The Academy of Ancient Music (AAM) is a British period-instrument orchestra based in Cambridge, England. Founded by harpsichordist Christopher Hogwood in 1973, it was named after an 18th-century organisation of the same name (originally the Ac ...

Stephen Cleobury Sir Stephen John Cleobury ( ; 31 December 1948 – 22 November 2019)EMI Classics EMI Classics was a record label founded by Thorn EMI in 1990 to reduce the need to create country-specific packaging and catalogues for internationally distributed classical music releases. After Thorn EMI demerged in 1996, its recorded musi ...

CDC 5571402. Released 2001. *

Andreas Scholl Andreas Scholl (born 10 November 1967) is a German countertenor, a male classical singer in the alto vocal range, specialising in Baroque music. Born into a family of singers, Scholl was enrolled at the age of seven into the Kiedricher Chorbube ...

(countertenor), Helene Guilmette (soprano), Andreas Wolf (bass), Vocalconsort Berlin, Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin,

Marcus Creed Marcus Creed (April 19, 1951) is an English conductor. Born in Eastbourne, Sussex (South England), he was educated at Eastbourne Grammar School, King's College, Cambridge, Christ Church, Oxford, and Guildhall School in London. He moved to Germ ...

(conductor).

Harmonia Mundi Harmonia Mundi is an independent record label which specializes in classical music, jazz, and world music (on the World Village label). It was founded in France in 1958 and is now a subsidiary of PIAS Entertainment Group. Its Latin name ''harm ...

0794881924325. Released 2005. Although composed for countertenor, the section "Eternal source of light divine" is often sung by sopranos. For example: * Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano), Album: Eternal Light,

Armonico Consort Armonico Consort is a British company founded in 2001 by conductor and organist Christopher Monks, which specialises in producing performances of Renaissance and Baroque music. In 2002 the company oversaw the creation of a series of academies desi ...

, Heliodor (Universal Music Decca) CD 4765970. Released July 2007

References

External links

Handel Week: Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne
(The complete programme, from the

BBC Radio 3 BBC Radio 3 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It replaced the BBC Third Programme in 1967 and broadcasts classical music and opera, with jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also featuring. The sta ...

series "Discovering Music", is not available, but there is a clip of "Eternal source of light divine"). BBC. * {{Authority control Cantatas by George Frideric Handel Anne, Queen of Great Britain 1713 compositions