Resurrection

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London, early 18th century wasn’t what you would think.
It looks good from afar.
The fire of 1666 had destroyed most of the city and the result was
a mass of people, overcrowded and uncared for the most part.
Children, if they survived, were victims. Only half survived ‘til the age of two.
Unmarried women were forced to give up their babies. The bodies of infants
could be found in trash heaps and floating in the Thames.
Some women chose other options.
Public executions were the most popular form of mass
entertainment. Some became public holidays.
 THE BLOODY CODE

Children as young as eight were executed as well, many for

crimes like pickpocketing, housebreaking, and pilfering.
The aristocracy suffered naught.
Aristocrats formed the ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC
company to maintain a constant supply of entertainment.
George Frideric Handel was a key composer and
contributor. His career started in Germany, then
to Venice, and after befriending Queen Anne,
survived her, her son George I, and now served
George II.
They also shared a mistress (unbeknownst to the King).
Thomas Coram, new to London after spending
most of his life in the Americas, was appalled
at the sight of infants dying in the streets.
Coram, because of his contributions to the
Empire, approached King George, who showed
no interest.
Out in the streets, Coram saved a pickpocket
child from perhaps hanging.
The king’s estranged son, hatefully, started a
rival opera company and threatened Handel’s
future.

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The theatre of the king was empty.

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Handel had become afflicted with a palsy that affected his
hand and rendered him unable to perform. He may have
blamed his profligate past.
Through curious circumstances, Coram met Handel
and was able to suggest a cure that the physicians
couldn’t. Handel was taken to a spa in Germany and
despite his fear of the nuns, eventually was cured.
A crucifix with a gnarled hand that was identical to
Handel’s became a key part of his recovery.

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Coram had begun a foundling hospital for neglected children
and needed help. He was again rejected by the king.
A friend, Charles Jennens, shows
Handel a libretto based on the Bible.

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Handel reads Jennen’s libretto and sees that he’s already
begun to repeat past mistakes. He throws his present
work out the window and begins to write the music for
Messiah. His passion is overwhelming and he finishes
in an astonishing few weeks.
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The king welcomed the piece but expressed his doubts
about the libretto and the Bible. Handel reassured him
by noting King James’ contribution to history by his
translation of the Bible.

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However, the king’s bishop forbade Handel from
performing MESSIAH in a secular setting.

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Handel visits Coram and sees what he’s doing. It shames
him a bit.

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Handel sees and hears the urchin working with a blind choir.
The urchin has become an accomplished musician and Handel
sits and they play a duet. Handel begins to play sections of
MESSIAH. The urchin is overwhelmed and joins. The music
floats through the space.
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We’ll have the concert here!
Handel couldn’t use his normal contingent of musicians because
of the bishop (and King’s) order, so he went into the Vauxhall
Gardens. The Gardens were a place of entertainment, free of
social codes. As part of the various entertainments there were
musicians of every kind, so Handel walked about, recruiting
them for his concert.
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One discovery was a female cellist, unheard of at the time,
trained in Italy and superior to any of the men (to their chagrin).

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The only publicity for the concert is the word on the streets.
However, the King and his entourage attends amidst the rabble,
and rises during the work, overwhelmed by the poignance and
beauty. He then supports Coram’s vision and the Foundling
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Hospital endures to this day. 31
…as does THE MESSIAH.

FUNK | 32