BIOGRAPHIC DETAILS: ENGLAND 1738-1751

1738

3 January: First performance of "Faramondo" in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. Handel had reached an agreement with Heidegger so as to use the Haymarket Theatre once again. Repeats 7, 10, 14, 21 and 24 January and 16 May 1738.

14 February: Handel finishes the opera "Serse". He finished the first act of the opera on 9 January and the second on 25 January.

25 February: First performance of the pastiche "Alessandro Severo" (HWV A13) in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. The music predominantly stems from other works of Handel but the overture was newly composed. Repeats: 28 February, 4, 7 and 11 March, 30 May 1738.

28 March: Benefit concert for Handel in the Haymarket Theatre. The event fell in holy week. The programme included a "Chandos Anthem" ("As pants the hart"); HWV 251), a "Coronation Anthem" ("My heart is inditing"; HWV 261), some arias and duets as well as an organ concerto.- Earl of Egmont: "he got this night  1000".

25 April: First performance of the opera "Serse" in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. Repeats: 18, 22 and 25 April and 2 May 1738.

23 April: First meeting of the members of the "Fund for the Support of Decayed Musicians and their Families" (today: Royal Society of Musicians) in the Crown and Anchor Tavern. Handel was one of the first subscribers.

April: Erection, at the end of the month, of Louis Francois Roubiliac's statue of Handel in Vauxhall Gardens, commissioned by John Tyer.

July-September: Composition of the oratorio "Saul" (HWV 53). The start is not dated. The beginning of the first chorus is dated 23 July and the end of the chorus "O fatal day" 27 September. The second act (in outline) was finished on 8 August and completed on 28 August.
September: Composition of the opera "Imeneo" (HWV 41). The starting date is unknown. The slow movement, autographed in front of the allegro of the overture but later crossed out by Handel, is overwritten with "Overture. 9 Sept. 1738. Saturday". Further entries by Handel on 14 and17. The end is dated 20 September. The date "10 October 1740" refers to the revision made for the first performance of the opera on 22 November 1740.

1 October-1 November: Composition of the oratorio "Israel in Egypt" (HWV 54). During the period from 1-11 October the second part was written and completed on 1 November. ). During the period from 15-20 October the first part was written and completed on 28 October. 4 October: First edition of the six Organ Concertos op. 4 (HWV 289-294) by John Walsh, authorised by Handel. Publication of the harpsichord and the organ parts on 4 October, the orchestral parts on 2 December.

1739

16 January: First performance of the oratorio "Saul" (HWV 53) in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. Repeats: 23 January, 3 and 10 February, 27 March and 19 April 1739. Further performances: London: 21 March and 24 April 1740; 18 March 1741; 16 and 21 March 1744; 13 March 1745; 2 and 7 March 1750; 15 and 20 March 1754; - Bristol: 1758. – Dublin: 25 May 1742. – Newcastle: 28 November 1739. – Oxford: 27 June 1757 (only Epinicion and act III). – Salisbury: 1758.

2 April: Handel finishes the Organ Concerto in F major No. 1 the second collection without an opus number (HWV 295).

4 April: First performance of the oratorio "Israel in Egypt" in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. Repeats: 11 and 17 April 1739. Further performances: London: 1 April 1740; 17 and 24 March 1756; 4 March 1757; 24 February 1758. – Dublin 1744/1745.

24 April: Handel finishes the pastiche "Jupiter in Argos" (HWV A14). The music predominately stems from Handel's old operas; two recitatives, two arias and the finale were newly composed. (cf. Deutsch, p. 484)

1 May: First performance of "Jupiter in Argos" in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. Repeat: 5 May 1739.

15-24 September: Composition of the "Ode for St. Cecilia's Day" (HWV 76).

September/October: Composition of the twelve Concerti Grossi op. 6 (HWV 319-330). No. 1 in F major was completed on 29 September, No. 2 in F major on 4 October, No. 3 in E minor on 6 October, No. 4 in A minor on 8 October, no. 5 in D major on 10 October, No. 7 in B flat major on 12 October, No. 6 in G minor on 15 October, No. 8 in C minor on 18 October, No. 12 in B minor on 20 October, No. 10 in D minor on 22 October, No. 11 in A major on 30 October.

31 October: Second Royal printing patent for Handel's work granted to John Walsh the younger, first used for his edition of the twelve Concerti Grossi op. 6 on 21 April 1740.

22 November: First performance of the "Ode for St. Cecilia's Day" (HWV 76) at the close of a performance of "Alexander's Feast" (cf. 19 February 1736). Repeat: 27 November 1739. Further performances: London: 26 February, 28 February and 11 March (together with Acis and Galatea), 8 April (with L'Allegro ed il Penseroso) 1741; 18 March 1743 (after L'Allegro ed il Penseroso); 23 May 1754 (after L'Allegro ed il Penseroso); 21 February 1755 (after L'Allegro ed il Penseroso). – Dublin: 20 and 27 January 1742 (after Acis and Galatea). – Hereford: 17 September 1756 (after L'Allegro ed il Penseroso). – Oxford: 24 November 1755; October 1756; 31 October 1757 (together with The Choice of Hercules). – Salisbury: 20 September 1749.

1740

19 January-9 February: Composition of the oratorio "L'Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato" (HWV 55). Handel finished the first part on 25 January, the second on 2 February and the third on 4 February.

17 February: Handel finishes the Organ concerto in B flat major, op. 7 No. 1 (HWV 306).

27 February: First performance of "L'Allegro, il Penseroso, ed il Moderato" in Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre. Repeats: 6, 10 and 14 March and 23 April 1740. Further performances: London: 21 February, 8 April 1741; 18 March 1743 (without Il Moderato); 23 May 1754 (without Il Moderato); 21 February 1755 (with the Ode for St. Cecilia's Day in place of part III); 1756; 1 March 1759. – Bath: 27 April 1758 (without Il Moderato). – Bristol 16 August 1758. – Dublin: 23 December 1741, 13 January, 17 March (without Il Moderato) 1742; 21 January 1748 (without Il Moderato). – Gloucester: 29 August 1751; 11 September 1754 (without Il Moderato). – Hereford: 17 September 1756 (with the Cecilia Ode). – Oxford: 25 February (without Il Moderato) and 3 July 1754; 24 February (without Il Moderato) and 4 August 1755; 1 August 1757 (without Il Moderato); 30 October 1758 (without part III); 10 December 1759 (without part III). – Salisbury: 5 October 1750; 19 September 1753 (without Il Moderato). The performances were often given without part III ("Il Moderato") or with the Cecilia Ode in its place (cf. 22 November 1739).

21 April: First publication of Handel's twelve Concerti Grossi op. 6 (Twelve Grand Concertos; HWV 319-330) by John Walsh.

July to October: At the beginning of July Handel stays on the continent, inter alia in Haarlem, Berlin and Halle(?).

10 October: Revision of the opera "Imeneo" (HWV 41). (cf. September 1738)

27 October – 20 November: Composition of Handel's last opera "Deidamia" (HWV 42). Handel finished the first act on 1 November, the second on 2 November. He started the third on 14 November.

8 November: Publication of Handel's second collection of six organ concertos (without opus number; HWV 295-300) by John Walsh.

22 November: First performance of "Imeneo" in Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre. Repeat: 13 December 1740. Further performances: Dublin 24 and 31 March 1742 (concertante "Hymnen" (sic) with English text).

1741

10 January: First performance of the opera "Deidamia" (HWV 42) in Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre. Repeats: 17 January 10 February 1741.

10 February: Third performance of the opera "Deidamia" and Handel's last opera performance.

1 July: Composition of the duet "Quel fior ch'all'alba ride" (HWV 192).

3 July: Composition of the duet "N , di voi non vuo' fidarmi" (first version; HWV 189).

22 August – 14 September: composition of the oratorio "The Messiah" (HWV 56). Handel finished the first part on 28 August. He started the second part on 6 September and finished it on 12 September.

29 October: Handel finished the third act of the oratorio "Samson" (HWV 57). The first act was finished on 29 September, the second on 11 October. Important additions by Handel are dated 12 October 1742.

November: At the beginning of the month Handel travels to Dublin at the invitation of William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire and Viceroy of Ireland. The exact date of the trip is not known. It is assumed that the journey took two weeks. It is reported by Charles Burley, then a fifteen-year-old living in Chester, that Handel made a halt in Chester for two weeks to train a collection of musicians in some choruses from the "Messiah". (Burney/Eschenburg, p.XXXVI; Deutsch, p. 525)

18 November: Arrival in Dublin.

23 December 1741 – 3 June 1742: Dublin: Performances of "L'Allegro" (23 December 1741, 13 January and 17 March 1742), "Acis and Galatea" and  "Caecilian-Ode" (20 and 27 January 1742), "Esther" (3 and 10 February, 7 April), "Alexander's Feast" (17 February, 2 March), "Imeneo" (14 and 31 March), "Messiah" (13 April, 3 June; public rehearsals on 9 April and 1 June) and "Saul" (25 May, public rehearsal on 21 May).

29 December: Letter from Dublin to Charles Jennens. Report about Handel's successes in Dublin.

1742

24 March: Performance of the concertante, "Hymen", the English language version of the opera "Imeneo" (HWV 42) in the Music Hall in Fishamble Street in Dublin. cf. 22 November 1740.

9 April: Public rehearsal of "Messiah" (HWV 56) in the Music Hall in Fishamble Street in Dublin.

13 April: First performance of "Messiah" in the Music Hall in Fishamble Street in Dublin. Further performances: London: 23, 25 and 29 March 1743; 16 February 1744; 9 and 11 April 1745; 30 April 1747 (only excerpts); 23 March 1749; 12 April, 1 May 1750; 18 April and 16 May 1751; 9 April 1752;13 April and 1 May 1753; 5 April, 15 May 1754; 19 and 21 March, 1 May 1755; 7 and 9 April, 19 May 1756; 5 May 1757; 10, 15 and 17 March, 27 April, 11 May 1757; 10, 15 and 17 March, 27 April, 11 May 1758; 30 March and 4 and 6 April, 3 May 1759. – Bath: 17 May 1755; 24 November 1756. – Bristol: 14 January 1756; 3 March 1757; 17 August 1758. – Church-Langton (Leicestershire): 26 or 27 September 1759 (cf. Deutsch, p. 802 and 832). – Dublin: 3 June 1742; 7 February 1744; 16 December 1745; 14 December 1750; 29 November 1751; 19 December 1752; 16 December 1756; 14 December 1758. – Gloucester: 16 September 1757. – Hereford: September 1750. – Oxford: 14 April 1749; 1752; 5 July 1754; 31 March 1755 (Parts II and III); 8 July 1756; 7 February and 28 March (the first performance with only part I of the oratorio and the close of part II, beginning with "Lift up your Heads", the second performance with the remaining sections) and 6 July 1757; 6 February and 13 March 1758 (with the same procedure as the previous year). – Salisbury: 4 October 1750. – Worcester: 1 September 1758.

12 August: Performance of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" with David Garrick in Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin that Handel is said to have attended.

13 August: After a stay of ten months leaves Dublin. Towards the end of the month or beginning of September arrival in London.

9 September: Letter to Charles Jennens. Mention of a second trip to Dublin that did not materialise.

8 October: The new organ was played for the first time at the opening concert of the second season of the Charitable and Musical society. Handel had bought this organ for the Music Hall in Fishamble Street, Dublin.

31 October: Composition of the duet "Beato in ver chi pu " (HWV 181)

2 November: Composition of the duet "No,  di voi non vuo  fidarmi" (second version; HWV 190).

1743

5 February: Completion of the composition of the organ concerto in A major, op. 7 No. 2 (HWV 307)

18 February: First performance of the oratorio "Samson" (HWV 57) in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 23 and 25 February, 2, 9, 11, 16 and 31 March 1743. Further performances: London: 24 and 29 February 1744; 1 and 8 March 1745; 3, 8, 10 and 15 March 1749; 4 and 6 April 1750; 16 March 1751; 6, 11 and 13 March 1752; 4, 6 and 11 April 1753; 29 March 1754; 26 February and 7 March 1755; 9 December 1756; 14 March 1757; 6 March 1758 (Haymarket Theatre) as well as an undated performance by the Castle Society in Pater Noster Row in the same year; 14, 16 and 21 March 1759. – Bath: 3 May 1755; 29 December 1757; 26 April 1758. – Bristol: 7 September 1757. – Dublin: 4 February as well as 17 November 1748; 12 March 1751; 19 November 1753. – Gloucester: 14 or 15 September 1748. – Hereford: 13 September 1753; 15 September 1756. – Oxford: December 1743 (verified by: a mention in a letter from Catherine Talbot on 27 December 1743; Deutsch, p. 577); 13 April 1749; 1 March (Acts I and II) and 22 March (Act III) 1746; 3 July 1759. – Salisbury: 27 September 1751; 27 September 1752; September 1759. – Worcester: 21 September 1752; 10 September 1755.

23 March: First London performance of the "Messiah" (HWV 56) in Covent Garden Theatre. cf. 13 April 1742.

April/ May: Handel is supposed to have suffered a second stroke.

3 June – 4 July: composition of the musical drama "Semele" (HWV 58). Handel finished the first act on 13 June and the second on 20 June.

27 (16) June: English victory under George II against the French at Dettingen am Mai in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748). (cf. 21 April 1749)

17 July: Handel starts the "Dettingen Anthems" (HWV 283) completed in the same month.

30 June – 3 August: Composition of the "Dettingen Anthem" (HWV 265)

August/ September: Composition of the Oratorio "Joseph and his Brethren" (HWV 59). Handel finished the first part on 26 August, the second part on 12 September.

26 September: First performance of the "Dettingen Te Deum" and the "Dettingen Anthem" in the Chapel Royal in St. James' Palace in the presence of the Royal Princes. On 27 November a performance before the King and Royal Family.

15 November: Performance of the opera "Rossane" (Roxana or: Alexander in India"), after Handel's "Alessandro" (HWV 21) in the adaptation by Giovanni Battista Lampugnani, by the new opera company named after Lord Middlesex, in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. (cf. Deutsch, p. 572 f.) Repeats: 19, 26 and 29 November; 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20, 27 and 31 December 1743. Further performances: London: 6, 10, 13 and 17 March 1744; 20 and 27 February and 8 and 12 March 1748.
Handel subscribes to "Solomon. A dramatic cantata, in Score, taken from the Canticles" by William Boyce.

1744

10 February: First performance of "Semele" (HWV 58) in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 15 17 and 22 February 1744. Further performances: London 1 and 8 December 1744.

2 March: First performance of the oratorio "Joseph and his Brethren" (HWV 59) in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 7, 9 and 14 March 1744. Further performances: London: 15 and 22 March 1745; 20 and 25 March 1747; 28 February 1755 and 9 March 1757.

25 May: Letter to Lorenz Christoph Mizler. Only one sentence of Handel's letter, probably written in French, has survived and that in a translation by Mizler: Handel could not accept a doctorate (of music in Oxford) "because of pressure of work".

9 July: Letter to Charles Jennens. Handel was waiting for Jennens' new oratorio text for "Belsazar".

19 July: Letter to Charles Jennens. First look at the first act of "Belsazar" that Handel had sent; agreement over the lengthening of this act and with Jennens' intention to keep the other two shorter. Agreement to Jennens' suggested alterations (unknown to us) for the "Messiah".

19 July – 21 August: Composition of the musical drama "Hercules" (HWV 60). Handel finished the first act on 30 July, the second on 11 August and the third on 17 August. The correct completion date given in the signed score is lost due to the trimming of the volume. (cf., inter alia, Dean p. 429)

21 August: Letter to Charles Jennens. Thanking him for the text for the second act of "Belsazar".

August/ September: Handel started composition on the oratorio "Belshazzar" (HWV 61). The first act was finished on 3 September and finalised on 15 September, the second act was finished on 10 September.

13 September: Letter to Charles Jennens. Praising the Belshazzar text that Handel had enriched with "especial ideas".

2 October: Letter to Charles Jennens. Thanking him for the third act of the Belshazzar text. High praise for the complete text, misgivings about its length. Considering its scope Handel had cut down the music and indeed it could be shortened even more. Gives notice about the planned cast of the oratorio.
Handel subscribes to the "Twelve English Songs with their Symphonies. The Words by Shakespeare, and other Celebrated Poet" by Thomas Chilcot and " Six Concertos for the Organ or Harpsichord with instrumental Parts" by William Felton.

1745

5 January: First performance of the oratorio "Hercules" (HWV 60) in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. Repeat: 12 January 1745. Further performances: London: 24 February and 1 March 1749; 21 February 1752. – Salisbury: 6 October 1756.

January: Sometime after 5 January Handel stayed in Exton in Rutland at the country seat of Lord Gainsborough, from where Handel is supposed to have made his way to Scarborough. For the return trip he again planned a stay in Exton but could not have been met there before 23 January. Thereafter he probably stayed in St. Gile's House, Wimborne, the country seat of the Countess of Shaftsbury in Dorset. (cf. Matthews, p. 264 f.  Had Handel been on his way to Scarborough on 12 January then the repeat of "Hercules" on 12 January took place without him.)

27 March: First performance of "Belshazzar" (HWV 61) in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket. Repeats 29 March and 23 April 1745. Further performances: London: 22 and 27 February 1751 and 22 February 1758.

9 June: Private performance of John Milton's "Comus" with music by Handel (HWV 44).

July: During King George II's stay in Hanover, in the middle of the month, the Pretender, Charles Stuart, lands in Scotland, with the aid of the French. From here he had planned to take over England. (cf. 14 November)

31 August: Composition of the duet "Ahi nelle sorzi umane" (HWV 179). Apparently Handel's last Italian chamber duet.

September/October: In September and perhaps in October, Handel visits the Harris' a family that had befriended him in Salisbury. At the end of August he was still in London, to where he returned on 20 October at the latest. (cf. Deutsch, p. 622,624.) He must also have left London for some time in June of this year. (cf. Matthews, p. 265).

14 November: At the end of a performance of the comedy "The Relapse, or Virtue in Danger" by John Vanbrugh in the theatre in Drury Lane Thomas Lowe sang Handel's "Song made for the Gentlemen Volunteers for the city of London" ("Stand round, my brave boys"; HWV 22818). It was published the following day by John Simpson. (cf. June)
Handel was the first and only recipient of an honorary membership of the Society of Musicology in Leipzig founded in 1738 by Lorenz Christoph Mizler.

1746

14 February: First performance of "Occasional Oratorio" (HWV 62) in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats 19 and 26 February 1746 (end of the concert season). Further performances: London: 6, 11 and 13 March 1747.

25 March: Handel and Gluck together produce a concert "For the Benefit and Increase of a fund establish'd for the Support of Decay'd Musicians, or their Families" in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket, with compositions from "Samson", "Alssandro" and "Alexander's Feast" as well as Gluck's opera "La Caduta die Giganti" that was first performed in London on 7 January. Gluck stayed in London from late autumn 1745 to the end of April 1746.

16 April: Victory of William Duke of Cumberland over Charles Stuart's army at Culloden's field.

July: Publication in the "London Magazine" and performances in the gardens of Ranelagh and Vauxhall of Handel's "Song on the Victory obtained over the Rebels by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland" ("From scourging rebellion"; HWV 228 ⁹).

8 and 9 July – 11 August: composition of the oratorio "Judas Maccabaeus" (HWV 63). Handel gives both dates in the signed score for starting the work. He finished the first part on 21 July and completed its score on 22 July, he composed the second act between the 25 and 2 August. He finished the third on 11 August. cf. W. Barclay Squire and W. Dean (p. 471).

1747

1 April: First performance of "Judas Maccabaeus" in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 3, 8, 10, 13 and 15 April 1747. Further performances: London: 26 February, 2 and 4 March and 1, 4 and 7 April 1748; 9, 14, 28 and 30 March 1750; 20 March 1751; 18 and 20 March 1752; 23, 28 and 30 March as well as 7 May 1753; 27 March and 3 April 1754; 12 and 14 March 1755; 26 and 31 March 1756; 25 March 1757; 3 and 8 March 1758; 23 and 28 March 1759. – Bath: 30 April 1755, 20 November 1756. – Bristol: 2 March 1757. – Dublin: 11 February 1748; 22 February 1750; 17 January 1751; 7 February 1752; 20 February 1753. – Gloucester: 12 and 13 September 1754; 14 September 1757. – Oxford: 4 July 1754; 17 March and 2 July 1755; 6 July 1756; 25 April (acts I and II) and 16 May (act III) 1757; 27 March 1758 (part ). – Salisbury: 28 September 1752; 20 September 1753. – Worcester, 30 August 1758.

1 June – 4 July: Composition of the oratorio "Alexander Balus" (HWV 65). Handel finished the second part on 24 January.

19 July – 19 August: Composition of the oratorio "Joshua" (HWV 64). Handel finished the first part on 30 July and the second on 8 August.

14 November: First performance of the pastiche "Lucio Vero" in the King's Theatre in the Haymarket, with songs taken only from Handel's operas. Repeats every Saturday until 26 December 1747 as well as 2 and 9 January and 19 March 1748. Handel subscribes to the "Twelve Sonatas for two Violins with a Bass" by Wiliam Boyce and the "Eight Setts of Lessons for the Harpsichord" by James Nares.

1748

9 March: First performance of the oratorio "Joshua (HWV 64) in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 11, 16 and 18 March 1748. Further performances: London: 14 and 19 February 1752; 22 March 1754; 1755. – Dublin: 31 January 1751; 5 February 1752; 13 February 1753. – Hereford: 12 September 1759. – Oxford: 7 July 1756. – Salisbury 1754.

15 March: Letter to Mrs Francis Brerewood with the information that she could have free entrance to his oratorio performances.

23 March: First performance of the oratorio "Alexander Balus" (HWV 65) in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 25 and 30 March 1748. Further performances: London: 1 and 6 March 1754.

5 May – 13 June: Composition of the Oratorio "Solomon" (HWV 67). Handel finished the first act on 26 May.

11 July – 24 August: Composition of the oratorio "Susanna" (HWV 66). The first act was finished on 21 July and the third on 9 August, finally the second act on 21 August. Then the score was completed.
Handel subscribes to the "Lessons for the Harpsichord, intermix'd with Italian and English songs op. 2" and the "Twelve English and Italian Songs for a German Flute and Thorough Bass op. 3" by Elisabetta de Gambarini, London 1748. (Dean, p. 656; Robert Eitner, Quellenlexikon, Vol. 4, p. 142)

18 October: Signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

1749

10 February: First performance of the oratorio "Susanna" in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 15, 17 and 22 February 1749. Further performances: London: 9 March 1749.

17 March: First performance of the oratorio "Solomon" in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 20 and 22 March 1749. Further performances: London: 2 and 7 March 1749.

27 April: performance of the "Music for the Royal Fireworks" (HWV 351) in London's Green Park to celebrate the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. This treaty of 18 (7) October 1748 ended the war of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748). England's war with Spain, started on 19 October but proclaimed on 23 October was a part of this war. Peace was proclaimed in London on 2 February 1749. 12 000 people are said to have come even to the rehearsal in Vauxhall Gardens on 21 April thereby causing a three hour traffic jam on London bridge during which several men were injured in different clashes.

27 April: Service of Thanksgiving in the Chapel Royal, St. James', in the presence of the King and the Royal family to celebrate the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. Performance of a "Te Deum and anthem" by Handel. Both works had already been performed on 22 April in St. James' Chapel. The so-called "new" Te Deum was probably the earlier Te Deum in D major (HWV 280).  Deutsch (p. 670) considered the "Anthem on the Peace" (HWV 266) to be the "Dettingen Anthems" in a setting with a new text. With the help of a printed text made for the concert in the foundling Hospital on 27 May the "Peace Anthem" can be clearly reconstructed. The music is from the "Messiah", the anthem "I will magnify thee" (HWV 250) and the "Occasional Oratorio" (HWV 62) was adapted by Handel. (cf. Donald J. Burrows).

27 May: Arrangement of a concert with some works in the chapel of the Foundling Hospital. Handel promised the proceeds were to be used for the completion of the chapel. First performance of "Foundling Hospital Anthem" (HWV 268), performance of "The Firework Music" and the "Anthem composed on the Occasion of the Peace". (cf. 21 and 25 April).

28 June – 31 July: composition of the oratorio "Theodora" (HWV 68). Handel finished the first part on 5 July and the second on 11 July.
July: Contract with Dr Jonathan Morse from Barnet concerning the building of the organ for the chapel of the Foundling Hospital donated by Handel.

Mid August: Trip to Bath.

30 September: Return to London. Letter to Charles Jennens. Suggestions and layout design for a planned organ in Jennens' house in Gopsall.

27 December: Handel starts the incidental music to Tobias Smollett's tragedy "Alceste" (HWV 45).

1750

8 January: Handel finishes the music for "Alceste".

31 January: Completion of the composition of the Organ Concerto in G minor, op. 7 No. 5 (HWV 310).

16 March: First performance of the oratorio "Theodora" (HWV 68) in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 21 and 23 March 1750: Further performances: London: 5 March 1755.

9 May: Handel's election as a governor of the Foundling Hospital.

1 June: Handel's will.

15 May: In a performance of the "Messiah" in the chapel of the Foundling Hospital, the audience stand in their places during the Hallelujah Chorus for the first time.

28 June – 5 July: Composition of the musical interlude "The Choice of Hercules" (HWV 69).
During a trip to Germany which probably started soon after 9 August, to see his relations for the last time, Handel suffers an accident between The Hague and Haarlem.

On 9 August Handel buys  150 of annuities, a further purchase of annuities that he had bought on 2 August for  300, perhaps in preparation for this journey. On the 21 August the "General Advertiser" of London reports on Handel's journey and accident but reports that he is out of danger. Details of the trip and accident are not known.

14  December: Letter to George Philipp Telemann. Thanking him for his letter. This had been handed over to Handel by Guiseppe Passerini and his wife shortly before he left The Hague on his return to London. (The letter therefore must be dated late autumn). Thanking him also for forwarding "The new Musical System" (printed in 1752 in Mizler's " New Public Library"). Promising to send valuable decorative plants to Telemann as a present.

1751

1 – 4 January: Composition of the Organ Concerto in B flat major, op. 7 No. 3 (HWV 308).

21 January: Handel starts the oratorio "Jephtha" (HWV 70).

2 February: Handel finishes the first act of "Jephtha".

13 February: First entry in the second act of "Jephtha" hinting at the beginning of his blindness or failing eyesight.

23 February: Second entry in the Jephtha score about the improvement in his eyesight and the continuation of the transcription.

27 February: Handel finishes the second act of "Jephtha".

1 March: First performance of "The Choice of Hercules" (HWV 69) at the conclusion of "Alexander's Feast" (HWV 75) in Covent Garden Theatre. Repeats: 6, 8 and 13 March 1751. Further performances: London: 9 and 14 March 1753 and 14 and 19 February 1755, always as an interlude to "Alexander's Feast". – Oxford: 16 May (together with Act III of "Judas Maccabaeus") and 31 October (together with the "Ode for St. Cecilia's Day") 1757.

13 June: Returns from taking the cure in Cheltenham Wells.

June: Eye treatment by Samuel Sharp.

13 August: Completion of the first act of "Jephtha" ("completion " of the score, cf. 2 February.)

30 August: Completion of "Jephtha".