From its earliest years , Handel and Haydn participated in music festivals and civic celebrations to commemorate significant historical events . For the visit of President James Monroe in 1817 , the H+H orchestra performed a march composed for the occasion by their concertmaster , followed by almost two dozen arias and choruses . In 1826 , H+H joined the services in Faneuil Hall marking the deaths of President Adams and Jefferson . In 1830 it helped mark the 200th anniversary of the founding of Boston , and it gave a concert in 1833 to help raise funds for the completion of the Bunker Hill Monument . President John Tyler attended an 1843 concert , and the Society helped commemorate the death of Daniel Webster in 1852 . That same year it participated in the opening of the Boston Music Hall , which later became the first home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra . The next year it presented the Boston Premiere of Beethoven 's Ninth Symphony . Its 600-member chorus participated in Boston 's memorial service for Abraham Lincoln , singing " Mourn , ye afflicted people " from Handel 's '' Judas Maccabaeus '' and " Cast thy burden upon the Lord " from Mendelssohn 's '' Elijah '' . It marked the centennial of Beethoven 's birth by performing selections from his Ninth Symphony in 1870 . When Boston paid tribute to Admiral George Dewey upon his return from the Spanish – American War in 1899 , 280 H+H singers greeted his arrival at City Hall with " See the Conquering Hero Comes " from '' Judas Maccabaeus '' . It performed for Grand Duke Alexis of Russia and Queen Elizabeth II . In addition , the Society held benefit concerts for the Union Army , victims of the Chicago fire of 1871 , and Russian Jewish refugees displaced by the 1882 May Laws
Chicago fire of 1871
Great Chicago Fire
Handel and Haydn Society