A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Foundling Hospital

FOUNDLING HOSPITAL. The connection of Handel with this charitable institution (founded by Captain Coram in 1739) forms a pleasant episode in the composer's life in England, and gives a signal illustration of his benevolence. Following the example of the masters of the sister art of Painting, who organised an exhibition on its behalf, and of Hogarth and others who presented paintings for its decoration, Handel on May 4, 1749, attended a committee at the Hospital, and offered a performance of vocal and instrumental music in aid of the fund for finishing the chapel. The Gentleman's Magazine records that 'Saturday 27th [May] the Prince and Princess of Wales, with a great number of persons of quality and distinction, were at the chapel of the Foundling Hospital to hear several pieces of vocal and instrumental music, composed by George Frederick Handel, Esq., for the benefit of the foundation: 1st, the music of the late Fire Works and the anthem on the Peace; 2nd, select pieces from the oratorio of Solomon relating to the dedication of the Temple; and 3rd, several pieces composed for the occasion, the words taken from Scripture, applicable to the charity and its benefactors. There was no collection, but the tickets were at half-a-guinea, and the audience above a thousand.' For this act Handel was at once enrolled as one of the governors and guardians of the Hospital, and during every subsequent year, while his health permitted, he directed the performance of the Messiah in the chapel, which yielded to the charity a net result of £7000 in all. The governors, under a misapprehension, imagined that he intended to present them with the copyright of the oratorio, and prepared a petition to parliament praying that a bill might be passed to secure to them the right in perpetuity; but Handel indignantly repudiated any such intention, and the petition never reached the House. On the completion of the chapel Handel presented it with an organ, which he opened on May 1, 1750, when the attendance was so large that he was compelled to repeat the performance. The composer by his will bequeathed 'a fair copy of the score and all the parts of the Messiah' to the Hospital, and on his death a dirge and funeral were performed in the chapel on May 26, 1759, under the direction of his amanuensis, John Christopher Smith, who, with his full concurrence, had been appointed the first organist. In July 1774 Dr. Burney proposed to the governors a scheme for forming a Public Music School at the Hospital for the training of the children; but strong opposition was raised to it, and it was never proceeded with. The chapel services are still noteworthy for their music, in which the professional choir is assisted by the children, under the direction of Mr. Willing, the organist. (1878.)

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