Messiah (HWV 56) is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742, and received its London premiere the following year. After an initially modest public reception, the oratorio gained in popularity, becoming one of the most frequently performed choral works in Western music. Although its structure resembles that of opera, it is not in dramatic form, but a reflection on Jesus Christ as Messiah. Handel begins Part I with prophecies by Isaiah and others, and moves to the annunciation to the shepherds, the only "scene" taken from the Gospels. In Part II he concentrates on the Passion and ends with the Hallelujah Chorus. In Part III he covers the resurrection of the dead and Christ's glorification in heaven. Handel wrote Messiah for modest vocal and instrumental forces; after his death, the work was adapted for performance with much larger orchestras and choirs. Its orchestration was revised and amplified by (among others) Mozart. Since the late 20th century, the trend has been towards authenticity.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(Handel)

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1888:

Led by William McGregor (pictured), ten football clubs met in London for the purpose of founding The Football League, the oldest league competition in world football. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McGregor_(football)

1908:

American diplomat Durham Stevens, an employee of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was assassinated in San Francisco by two Korean immigrants unhappy with his recent support of the increasing Japanese presence in Korea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_Stevens

1940:

Pakistan Movement: During its three-day general session, the Muslim League drafted the Lahore Resolution, calling for greater autonomy in British India. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lahore_Resolution

1983:

The initial proposal to develop the Strategic Defense Initiative, a ground-based and space-based system to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles, was released. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Defense_Initiative

1991:

The Sierra Leone Civil War began when the Revolutionary United Front, with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia, invaded Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow Joseph Saidu Momoh. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_Civil_War

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

escapade: A daring or adventurous act; an undertaking which goes against convention. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/escapade

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I believe that if an individual is not on the path to transcending his society and seeing in what way it furthers or impedes the development of human potential, he cannot enter into intimate contact with his humanity. --Erich Fromm https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Erich_Fromm