Graham Pont
‘During the latter part of Handel’s life, when a boy, I used to perform on the German flute in London, at his oratorios. About the year 1753, in the Lent season, a minor canon, from the cathedral of Gloucester, offered his service to Mr Handel to sing. His offer was accepted, and he was employed in the choruses. Not satisfied with this department, he requested leave to sing a solo air, that his voice might appear to more advantage. This request was also granted; but he executed his solo so little to the satisfaction of the audience, that he was, to his great mortification. violently hissed. When the performance was over, by way of consolation, Handel made him the following speech: “I am sorry, very sorry for you indeed, my dear sir! but go you back to your church in de country! God will forgive you for your bad singing; dese wicked people in London dey will not forgive you.”’
This anecdote comes from The History and Antiquities of Doncaster and its Vicinity, with Anecdotes of Eminent Men (1) which was published by the author, Edward Miller, at Doncaster in 1804. Miller was overlooked by O.E. Deutsch in Handel: a Documentary Biography (London, 1955) but has an interesting biography in Wikipedia. Of working-class origins, he took up the study of music with Dr Charles Burney and became the organist of St George’s Minster in Doncaster, a post he held for fifty years. In 1771 he published The Institutes of Music, or Easy Instructions for the Harpsichord which Wikipedia claims went through sixteen editions (2). In 1786 he was awarded a Doctorate in Music by Cambridge University. In 1787 Miller published his Treatise of Thorough Bass and Composition and in 1801 The Psalms of Watts and Wesley. One of his pupils was the blind organist Frances Linley (c.1770-1800).
Notes
(1) I thank Dr Jennifer Nevile for supplying photocopies from The History and Antiquities of Doncaster and for drawing my attention to Miller’s recollections of the Staniforth brother and sister.
(2) The figure of sixteen editions is not confirmed by COPAC or WORLDCAT.