Chandos Anthem No. 9: "O Praise The Lord With One Consent", HWV 254 (c. 1718)
George Freidrich Handel (1685-1759)
Handel wrote the Chandos Anthems for Henry James Brydges, the first Duke of Chandos, who wrote: "Mr. Handle (sic) has made me two new anthems very noble ones & Most think they far exceed the two first. He is at work for 2 more and some Overtures to be plaid before the lesson." The texts are all based on Psalms, and while always preserving the spirit of the text, Handel often combined two verses with a little judicious editing. Having selected the texts, he then composed to suit their mood, much indeed as Bach did in his cantatas.