Handel’s Music Timeline
Meanwhile, Handel started experimenting with oratorio by the middle 1730’s which he took more seriously. The apex of his creative career was reached shortly after his physical recovery in Aix-la-Chapelle, when he produced his greatest music oratorios: Saul(first performed in London 1739) and Israel in Egypt (London 1739 and revised before their publication in April 1740);Ode for St.Cecilia’s day (London 1739); the set of 12 concerti grossi of 6 composed in four weeks in the autumn of 1739; and the sacred oratorio ‘Messaiah’, first performed in Dublin on April 13 1742. The growing popularity of the latter work firmly established Handel’s interest in oratorio, and during the following decade, all the great oratorios based mainly on heroic episodes of Biblical history were composed. In 1749, Handel’s last and greatest contribution to orchestral music, the music for the Royal Fireworks was first performed to celebrate the peace of Aix-la- Chapelle. He paid his last visit to Germany in 17...