The Handel and Haydn On-Line Performance Archival Database with a public Search Page

The Handel and Haydn Society On-Line Archival Search Page is part of an Database driven ASP.NET Web Application that allows the Handel and Haydn Society to archive all their performances, performers and music directors from December 1815 to the present day.  The Search Page is a "Window" into their Archives that the Society has made public.

The entire database is Web Enabled with seven different Web Forms which allows the Handel and Haydn Society to completely administer all aspects of their archive through any web browser. The technology used is Microsoft's ASP.NET, and AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript with XML for the Search Page) the C#  programming language and  SQL Server 2000 and heavy reliance on ADO.NET.

The entire application was conceived, designed and programmed by Stephen C. Baker, software developer. It is currently offered as a service to all Musical Organizations for a nominal monthly fee. If you would like more information on the On-Line Performance Database or simply comment on it,


Links to the On-Line Performance Archival Database and Search Page
  • Search the Handel and Haydn Database <<New Concerts and Performances added each day.  >>> Now from 1815 to 2007 !!! (We are busy filling in gaps in the database.)<<<   Do use the Help pages, they do Help :-)
  • Updating the Database   Using the .NET's ADO SqlDataAdapter's Update Method. An example and short tutorial.
  • A Walkthrough: Adding Beethoven's 9 Symphonies in 20 Seconds while typing in only one data field, the date.
  • Researcher Pages (Special Permission from H&H) << Not Implemented Yet

Recent Activity - Updated 4/3/2007
  • 3/1/2007 Design/Enhancement: Started the transition from .NET  1.1 to Microsoft's .NET 2.0 Framework.  The biggest problem: Finding enough Time
  • 1/15/2007 Enhancement: Added Tabed Layout to the Search Page - Greatly enhances its appearance and ease of use.
  • 10/10/2006 Design/Enhancement: Added Photographs and Biographies for performers to the Search Results.
  • 10/10/2006 Design/Enhancement: Added Popup blocking detection so users can be informed that biographies with photos will be unavailable.
  • 3/15/2006 LAUNCH DATE!
  • 1/22/2006 Design/Enhacement: Added Session Logging
  • 12/5/2005 Performance Enhancement: Incorporating AJAX Technology into the Search Page.
  • 10/26/2005 Bug Fix:  Fixed problem Date Selector was not working for a single date.
  • 1/20/2005 Application Finished!
  • 10/20/2005 Bug Fix:  Fixed problem where the user could have only one concert on a given day.
  • 8/31/2005 Design/Enhancement:  Altered the query to return only performances when a user searches on performers. Before the results contained the full concerts, including performances the queried performer was not in.
  • 8/30/2005 Design:  Limited open ended searches on the Search Page to a maximum of 200 results. The DataBinding with the DataList was taking far too long.
  • 8/30/2005 Design:  Reworked all UI pages so that they match the Handel and Haydn Web Site. This means the Handel and Haydn Sociery On-Line Performance Database is getting close to release. Handel and Haydn have added records from 1815 to 1950.
  • 8/20/2005 FUN:  Added random images via .NET's Ad Rotator to the Search Page.
  • 8/14/2005 Enhancement:  Enhanced the Help pages for the Search Page.
  • 8/4/2005 Enhancement:  Added Free Text Seach for Composer and Compositions to the Search Page.
  • 7/21/2005 Enhancement:  Improved the Error Handling of the Main Entry Form.  Now all exceptions show up in an alert Box
  • 7/3/2004 Enhancement: Using more client side JavaScript, now all help pages appear in a Popup Window
  • 6/26/2005 Enhancement: Added exciting Walkthrough,  "Adding Beethoven's 9 Symphonies (in 20 seconds) {while typing only one entry!!} 
  • 6/26/2005 Enhancement: In Main Entry Form - Now all text boxes and dropdown listboxes are enabled when the user is re-editing a new composition.
  • 6/26/2005 Bug Fix: In Main Entry Form - Fixed bug where user could not re-edit a new composition that was in the DataGrid
  • 5/17/2005 Enhancement: Added Clickable Site Map using an Html Image Map to all pages.
  • 5/10/2005 Enhancement: Added Printer Friendly Popup window to the Search Page.
  • Beta on April 15, 2005 !!!!  
  • 2/4/2005 Design Goal: Started work on the Search page. Finished the Date Fields.
  • 2/1/2005 Design Goal: Once the Main Form is finished, the Administration Page will be streamlined.
  • 2/1/2005 Design Changes: Completely re-wrote the Main Entry Form. The old one had too many things going on in the background (the code-behind page) that is was becomming impossible to work with. The new form, though more feature rich, is more streamlined.
  • 5/19/2004 Bug Fix: Fixed annoying bug with Street and City dropdown lists bringing up the incorrect State and Country
  • 5/18/04 Design Goal: Finished major work on the Performance Form. It is now ready for adding, updateing and deleting performances and performers. Added a few filters to the form so that administrators can filter by Row State, Concert Hall or Date.
  • 5/15/04 Design Goal: Added the ability to insert, update and delete composition selections and excerpts to the Composition Page.
  • 5/15/04 Bug Fix: Fixed the Stored Procedure that updated the Composition table to allow the updating of the LocationID Column.
  • 5/14/04 Design Goal: Added a Row State filter, users can now filter by all modified rows, only new rows , only modified rows, etc.
  • 5/14/04 Bug Fix: Fixed bug where the 'Cancel Edit' button was clearing all controls from the form.
  • 5/13/04 Design Goal: Added Filter functionality to Composition, Person and Concert Hall pages. Users can now filter on composition type, composer and excerpts.
  • 5/12/04 Bug Fix: Fixed problem in C# code where a location would not default to the value "none" if the location was not in the US and a street address was included.
  • 5/11/04 Bug Fix: Fixed bug in Stored Procedure for inserting Concert Hall Data. The Concert Hall Name would not be included if any of the parameters was a NULL.
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