Event Comment: Among the Principal Instrumental Performers are
G. Ashley, Leader of the Band;
C. Ashley, Principal Violoncello;
Wm. Parke,
Sarjant,
J. Mahon,
Boyce,
Bridgtower,
Parkinson,
Lavenu,
Taylor,
W. Ware,
Flack,
Dressler,
Gwilliam,
Nicks, [the]
Munros,
I. Sharp,
W. Sharp,
M. Sharp,
J. Sharp,
Archer,
Cobham,
Jackson,
Wood,
Coyle,
Cornish,
Purney,
Leffler,
Woodham,
Piele, [the]
Cantelos,
Skillern,
Beale,
Lloyd,
Franki,
Simpson,
Jenkinson, &c.;
J. Ashley, Organ;
R. Ashley, Double Drums (used at
Westminster Abbey). The Chorusses will be numerous and complete. The whole under the Direction of Ashley. Boxes 6s. Pit 3s. 6d. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of
Brandon at the Office in
Hart-street. The Doors to be opened at 6:00. To begin at 7:00 [same throughout oratorio season]. Books of the Performance (with the imprimatur of
E. Macleish) to be had at the Theatre. [
Sga Galli did not sing in
The Messiah when it was originally performed in
Dublin in 1742, or in
London in 1743, in which year the
cg oratories under
Handel were established.] "I had the curiosity to go, and heard [Sga Galli] sing, 'He was despised and rejected of men' in the Messiah. Of course her voice was cracked and trembling, but it was easy to see her school was good; and it was pleasing to observe the kindness with which she was received, and listened to; and to mark the animation and delight with which she seemed to hear again the music in which she had formerly been a distinguished performer. The poor
old woman had been in the habit of coming to me annually for a trifling present; and she t
old me on that occasion that nothing but the severest distress should have compelled her so to expose herself, which after all did not answer its end, as she was not paid according to her agreement" (
Mount-Edgcumbe, pp. 19-20). [At the rehearsal, 1 Mar.,
I know that my Redeemer liveth sung by
Mme Mara;
Comfort ye my people by
Braham;
But@thou didst not leave by
Miss Poole (
Morning Herald, 2 Mar.).] "The chorusses are not such as would give satisfaction to a musical amateur: in this department we must endeavour to be content with noise and bawling, instead of sense and science:--they are not, however, worse than usual" (
Monthly Visitor, Mar.1797, p. 262)