Page No S111
Yes, these pages are intended for poetry but I wish to bring to your attention the prose of
GEORGE HORSMAN
A writer of short stories, George lives in Chester and has self-published two volumes of stories.
This one is from his Chester
Stories, a compilation of stories from the history of Chester.
| Contrary Winds
Towards the close of 1741 the composer, George Frederick Handel, stayed some days at Chester on his way to Dublin - a stay which occasioned the first performance of some of the choruses from his new oratorio, Messiah. 'Herr Prescott,' said our distinguished visitor when I answered his knock at my door, 'the news from Parkgate is still of adverse winds. So must I delay sailing to Ireland some more days. Therefore have we time some more choruses from my oratorio to sing. You will call together the singers again, yes?' And so we assembled. All our usual choir members were there, arriving early at the place chosen, a room in the inn where Handel was staying - the Golden Falcon in Northgate Street. Having now had some days to study the music we felt better placed to avoid mistakes than at our first gathering. None of us could forget how, on that occasion, Handel had flown into one of his legendary rages when Mr Janson, a local printer and good bass singer, had proved unequal to the task of reading the score.' 'You are a scoundrel!' the composer had shouted, after swearing in several languages. 'You have told me you can sing music at sight!' 'Yes, and so I can,' replied Mr Janson, 'but not at first sight.' The eddy of laughter that had stirred at this reply, and the prompt fading of Handel's anger, had still not removed the fear that we felt while awaiting our formidable conductor's arrival.
©George Horsman |