Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (HWV 74) is a
secular cantata composed by George Frideric Handel to a
libretto by Ambrose Philips, of which the first line,
"Eternal source of light divine", provides an
alternative title for the work. It was probably
composed during January 1713 for a performance on 6
February 1713 (which did not occur). Other catalogues
of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG
xlviA; and HHA i/6.
The cantata celebrates Queen Anne's birthday, and the
accompl...(+)
Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (HWV 74) is a
secular cantata composed by George Frideric Handel to a
libretto by Ambrose Philips, of which the first line,
"Eternal source of light divine", provides an
alternative title for the work. It was probably
composed during January 1713 for a performance on 6
February 1713 (which did not occur). Other catalogues
of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG
xlviA; and HHA i/6.
The cantata celebrates Queen Anne's birthday, and the
accomplishment of the Treaty of Utrecht (negotiated by
the Tory ministry of Anne in 1712) to end the War of
the Spanish Succession.
Although originally written for Chorus and Keyboard, I
created this arrangement for Concert (Pedal) Harp,
English Horn & French Horn.