ings the tidings of the death of Saul and Jonathan. It is followed
by that magnificent dirge, the "Dead March," whose simple yet solemn and
majestic strains are familiar to every one. The trumpets and trombones
with their sonorous pomp and the wailing oboes and clarinets make an
instrumental pageant which is the very apotheosis of grief. The effect of
the march is all the more remarkable when it is considered that, in
contradistinction to all other dirges, it is written in the major key.
The chorus, "Mourn, Israel, mourn thy Beauty lost," and the three arias
of lament sung by David, which follow, are all characterized by feelings
of the deepest gloom. A short chorus ("Eagles were not so swift as they")
follows, and then David gives voice to his lament over Jonathan in an
aria of exquisite tenderness ("In sweetest Harmony they lived"), at the
close of which he joins with the chorus in an obligato of sorrowful
grandeur ("O fatal Day, how low the Mighty lie!"). In an exultant strain
Abner bids the "Men of Judah weep no more," and the animated martial
chorus, "Gird on thy Sword, thou Man of Might," closes this great
dramatic oratorio.

Samson.

The oratorio of "Samson" was written in 1741, and begun immediately after
the completion of "The Messiah," which was finished September 14 of that
year. The last chorus was dated October 29; but in the following year
Handel added to it "Let the bright Seraphim" and the chorus, "Let their
celestial Concerts." The text was compiled by Newburgh Hamilton from
Milton's "Samson Agonistes," "Hymn on the Nativity," and "Lines on a
Solemn Musick." The oratorio was first sung at Covent Garden, Feb. 18,
1743, the principal parts being assigned as follows: Samson, Mr.
Beard;[4] Manoah, Mr. Savage; Micah, Mrs. Cibber; Delilah, Mrs. Clive.
The aria, "Let the bright Seraphim," was sung by Signora Avolio, for whom
it was written, and the trumpet obligato was played by Valentine Snow, a
virtuoso of that period. The performance of "Samson" was thus announced
in the London "Daily Advertiser" of Feb. 17, 1743:--

"By subscription. At the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, to-morrow, the
18th inst., will be performed a new oratorio, called _Sampson_. Tickets
will be delivered to subscribers (on paying their subscription money)
at Mr. Handel's house in Brooke Street, Hanover Square. Attendance will
be given from nine o'clock in the morning till three in the