Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language sacred oratorio composed in
1741 by George Frideric Handel. Its text was compiled by Charles Jennens
from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It covers
episodes related to the Messiah mostly in verses from the Old Testament
and the Book of Revelation. Handel structured the work in three parts,
each in scenes as in Baroque opera. Part I covers prophecies, the birth
of Jesus and his work, Part II focuses on his Passion, while Part III
deals with the resurrection of the dead. Messiah was first performed in
Dublin on 13 April 1742, with a small orchestra of trumpets, oboes,
strings and continuo. After an initially modest reception, the oratorio
became one of the most frequently performed Western choral works, often
adapted to large orchestras and choirs after Handel's death. Mozart
modified the instrumentation in his arrangement Der Messias to a German
text. The famous "Hallelujah" chorus, concluding Part II, is often
performed individually.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_%28Handel%29>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1829:
The Roman Catholic Relief Act received royal assent, removing
the most substantial restrictions on Catholics in the United Kingdom.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Relief_Act_1829>
1942:
Austrian soldier Anton Schmid was executed for rescuing Jews
from the Ponary massacre in Vilnius.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anton_Schmid>
1956:
The Vietnamese National Army captured Ba Cụt, a military
commander of the religious sect Hòa Hảo, which ran a de facto state
in South Vietnam in opposition to Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba_C%E1%BB%A5t>
2009:
Twenty-three people died in a fire at a homeless hostel
(aftermath pictured) in Kamień Pomorski; it was Poland's deadliest fire
since 1980.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamie%C5%84_Pomorski_homeless_hostel_fire>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
Department of Redundancy Department:
(humorous) A fictitious department that is cited to draw attention to
needless repetition or excessiveness.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Department_of_Redundancy_Department>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Ukraine is now on the front line of the war — global war — of
freedom against tyranny. The war the free world didn't want to admit
existed. It cannot be ignored any longer. Brave Ukrainians are fighting
like hell and dying right now to remind us not to take liberty for
granted. Putin, like every dictator before him, underestimated the free
will of free people. They deserve every weapon, every resource to win
this war. Because they're fighting for us. Not only for the whole and
free Ukraine. ... This is not chess. This is not a battle between
opposite colors, but of opposite values. Freedom, life and love versus
tyranny, death and hatred. This is not chess. But sometimes things are
black and white. Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe. Or
you lose it. This is not chess. There are no draws, no compromises in
our battle with true evil. It's win or lose. And so we must fight. And
so we must win. Slava Ukraini! Glory to Ukraine. Glory to freedom.
--Garry Kasparov
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Garry_Kasparov>