New charity partner for Messiah from Scratch ®
2 March 2025
A new charity partner for Messiah from Scratch is announced today as we move into our sixth decade. From 2025 onwards, funds raised at the annual Messiah from Scratch® will benefit The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain. Founded in 1738, more than 200 eminent musicians of the day, including Handel, signed its declaration of trust.
Arne, Boyce and Greene were also signatories, and ‘The Fund for Decay’d Musicians’ benefited from an age of increasing philanthropy. In 1780, it was renamed The Society of Musicians and received royal patronage from George III in 1790. In 1785 the King attended a performance of Messiah in aid of the Fund, and suggested an annual performance of the work for the Fund’s benefit. This tradition continued for almost 50 years.
Yearly performances of Messiah also supported the Foundling Hospital, with Handel conducting or attending until his death in 1759. These concerts not only raised huge sums for the charity, but also established Messiah in the public affections. In a codicil to his Will, dated 1757, Handel bequeathed a copy of the score to the Hospital. This enabled the charity to continue the benefit concerts which continued until the mid-18th century. The manuscripts then lay gathering dust until Henry Davan Wetton, appointed organist in 1892, rediscovered them. In 1894, he wrote to The Musical Times as follows: ‘Since my appointment . . . I have turned out and rearranged several old cupboards, and among the parcels . . . was the valuable one containing the complete parts (vocal and instrumental) of “The Messiah”. This I untied in Dr Mann’s presence, and at his request.’ Restored to a place of honour, the manuscripts are now on display in the Foundling Museum, alongside Handel’s original will.
Since 1978, performances by The Really Big Chorus have raised funds for charities across the world. With the RSM as our new charity partner for Messiah from Scratch, we are proud to support the professional musicians who bring us such joy.
