Enlightenment · Europe · Culture

1749

Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks

April 27, 1749

To celebrate the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, Handel composed an overture for wind band, played in London's Green Park before thousands. A wooden pavilion designed for the fireworks caught fire and burned down. The king loved the music; the architect wept. Handel quietly added strings and sold the piece to concert halls across Europe.

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In context

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Before and after in Europe

Before: October 18, 1748: Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
After: July 28, 1750: Death of Johann Sebastian Bach

Before and after in Culture

Before: July 1, 1748: La Mettrie's L'Homme Machine
After: July 28, 1750: Death of Johann Sebastian Bach

Era

Enlightenment (1651–1800), one of 696 events from that era on Saeculum.

Sources

Wikipedia: Music for the Royal Fireworks