Sing Unto God (also known as theAnthem for the Wedding ofFrederick, Prince of Wales andPrincess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha) (HWV 263), is ananthem composed byGeorge Frideric Handel. It was performed for the royal wedding on 27 April 1736 at the Chapel Royal inSt James's Palace, London withFrancesca Cuzzoni-Sandoni,Carlo Broschi "Farinelli", andFrancesco Bernardi "Senesino". The text was adapted from verses ofPsalms 68, 106 and 128.[1]
The wedding of the twenty-nine-year-old heir to the throne, Frederick Prince of Wales to the seventeen-year-old Princess of Saxe-Gotha, who had arrived in England only two days earlier, was celebrated with great pomp. The press reported on the rehearsal of Handel's anthem:
Yesterday there was a Practice of a fine Anthem compos'd by Mr. Handel, to be performed at the Nuptials of the Prince of Wales, at Mr Gates's,Master of the Boys belonging to the Chapel Royal, St. James's; the Vocal Parts were perform'd by Mess. Row, Gates, Lee, Abbot, Beard, the Gentlemen of the Chapel, and the Boys. The Instrumental Parts by twenty of His Majesty's Band of Musick, and the same number of performers from Mr. Handel's opera.[2]
The words of the anthem were published in the newspapers. The only comment on the music from someone who was present at the wedding that is known is from the diary of the Earl of Egmont: "Over the altar was placed the organ, and a gallery made for the musicians. An anthem composed for the occasion by Mr. Hendel was wretchedly sung..."[2]
(Alto Soloist, Full Chorus, Orchestra includingtimpani and solo trumpeter)
(Soprano soloist, orchestra)
(Bass soloist,obbligato cello and orchestra)
(Fugal chorus with orchestra)
(Tenor soloist,recitative withcontinuo instruments)
(Tenor soloist, full chorus, orchestra includingtimpani and solo trumpeter)
Gillian Fisher (soprano),James Bowman (countertenor),John Mark Ainsley(tenor), Michael George (bass), New College Choir Oxford,The King's Consort,Robert King (conductor).Hyperion Records CDA66315. Released 1989.
Includes "Sing Unto God" HWV 263: Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
