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Lot 110

NELSON (HORATIO)
The Burial Service, Chant, Evening Service, Dirge, & Anthems, Appointed to be Perform'd at the Funeral of Lord Viscount Nelson, Duke of Bronti, at St. Pauls Cathedral, on the 9th of January 1806. Composed by Dr. Croft, Heny. Purcell, Esqr. Dr. Greene, Thos. Attwood Esqr. & George Frederick Handel Esqr., Clementi & Co. [December 1805 or early January 1806]

15 June 2016, 14:00 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £5,250 inc. premium

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NELSON (HORATIO)

The Burial Service, Chant, Evening Service, Dirge, & Anthems, Appointed to be Perform'd at the Funeral of Lord Viscount Nelson, Duke of Bronti, at St. Pauls Cathedral, on the 9th of January 1806. Composed by Dr. Croft, Heny. Purcell, Esqr. Dr. Greene, Thos. Attwood Esqr. & George Frederick Handel Esqr., engraved title and 40pp. of music, preceded by printed 'Ceremonial of the Public Funeral of the late Vice-Admiral Horatio Viscount Nelson', 4 pp., some dampstaining and soiling, a few repairs without loss to printed leaves, engraved title and p.11/12 (just affecting 2 letters), modern half leather preserving original marbled boards, folio, Clementi & Co. [December 1805 or early January 1806]

Footnotes

Extremely scarce copy of the score of Nelson's funeral music, complete with the printed 'Ceremonial' which is sometimes missing. Only one copy appears to have been offered at auction, in 1973, none surfacing in the bicentenary year sales.

"Nelson's was one of the last full heraldic state funerals to be held in Britain... The music was selected by John Page, one of the Vicars Choral at St. Paul's..." The score begins with "William Croft's lovely funeral sentences, originally sung as the body was carried up the nave by twelve seamen... The Anthem is Maurice Greene's lovely 'Lord, let me know mine end'... As the coffin was carried out of the chancel, Attwood played his newly composed grand Dirge; this is a fine, evocative piece. This is followed by Purcell's lovely 'Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts', which is beautifully sung by the choir. The final anthem is an adaptation of a Handel chorus, 'His body is buried in peace'" (Robert Hugill, sleeve notes to the 1999 recording with The Choir of Portsmouth Cathedral under David Price).

Additional information

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