Note 143 — Chapter XIV · HANDEL AND THE ORATORIO

John Christopher Pepusch (b. Berlin, 1667; d. London, 1752) was not only an able, practical musician, but an authority in theory and musical history. He went to England in 1700 and joined the orchestra of the Drury Lane Theatre, where he became subsequently accompanist and composer. In that capacity he compiled ‘English’ operas from Italian arias. As founder of the ‘Academy of Ancient Music’ he made a serious effort toward the revival of sixteenth century music (Purcell, etc.). He was Handel’s predecessor as organist to the Duke of Chandos and as such composed services, anthems, cantatas, etc. After writing a number of English operas for the Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields Theatre (‘Venus and Adonis,’ ‘Death of Dido,’ etc.), he arranged and produced the famous ‘Beggar’s Opera’ (a ballad-opera by Gay), which attained tremendous popularity and created a serious competition to the Italian operas of Handel.