Dettingen Te Deum, to celebrate the victory of the Duke of Cumberland over the French.[1] Joseph, written in August and September of the same year, on a very touching poem by James Miller, reveals a sweet yet melancholy fancy, a little insipid, on which, however, the strong portrait of Simeon projects itself forcibly.
1744 was one of Handel's most glorious years from the creative point of view, but one of the most miserable in outward success. He wrote nearly simultaneously his two most tragic oratorios, the great Shakespearian drama of Belshazzar (July-October, 1744), the rich poem of which was furnished for him by his friend Jennens;[2] and the sublime tragedy of the ancient Hercules, a musical drama,[3] which marks the culmination of the Handelian musical drama, and indeed one might say of the whole musical theatre before Gluck.
Never was the hostility of the English public more roused against him. The same hateful cabal which had already thrice threatened to bring about
- ↑ The Battle of Dettingen took place on June 27, 1743. Handel had already finished on July 17 his Te Deum, which was solemnly performed on the following November 27 in Westminster Abbey.
- ↑ Too slowly for the liking of Handel, who composed it bit by bit as the acts were sent him. There are five letters from him to Jennens dated June 9, July 19, August 21, September 13 and October 2, 1744, where he presses him to send at once the rest of the poem, expressing his own admiration for the second act, which he said provides new means of expression and furnishes the opportunity of giving some special ideas, "finally asking him to cut down the work a little, as it was too long" (see Schoelcher).
- ↑ Handel wrote it during the forced pauses in the composition of Belshazzar, and produced it at the commencement of 1745.
