Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (HWV 74) is a secular cantata composed by George Frideric Handel to a libretto by Ambrose Philips, of which the first line, "Eternal source of light divine", provides an alternative title for the work. It was probably composed during January 1713 for a performance on 6 February 1713, although there is no record of the performance having actually taken place. Other catalogues of Handel's music have referred to the work as HG xlvi A; and HHA i/6. Overview The cantata celebrates Queen Anne's birthday, and the accomplishment of the Treaty of Utrecht (negotiated by the Tory ministry of Anne in 1712) to end the War of the Spanish Succession. It is scored for 3 solo voices, choir and chamber orchestra. Queen Anne was said by the Duke of Manchester to be "too careless or too busy to listen to her own band, and had no thought of hearing and paying new players however great their genius or vast their skill." Nevertheless, and whether or not she ever heard this ode for her birthday, she granted Handel a "pension" (subsidy for living expenses) of two hundred pounds a year, for life. Structure Each of the seven stanzas of the ode concludes with the following words sung by the chorus: The day that gave great Anna birth, Who fix'd a lasting peace on Earth. (Alto solo with solo trumpet over sustained strings) Eternal source of light divine With double warmth thy beams display And with distinguish'd glory shine To add a lustre to this day. (Alto solo, then chorus with orchestra) The day that gave great Anna birth Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth. (Soprano solo, then chorus with orchestra) Let all the winged race with joy Their wonted homage sweetly pay Whilst towr'ing in the azure sky They celebrate this happy day. The day that gave great Anna birth Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth. (Alto solo, then alto and soprano solo with chorus and orchestra) Let flocks and herds their fear forget Lions and wolves refuse their prey And all in friendly consort meet Made glad by this propitious day. The day that gave great Anna birth Who fix'd a lasting peace on earth. (Bass and alto duet, then chorus with orchestra. The ground bass of this movement with octave leaps was reused by Handel in his "Concerto a due cori".)