1679
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Zelenka born in Bohemia (now Czech Republic)
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Jan van Kessel (II) portrait of a Family in a Garden
Historical Timeline: Poet of the Violin
The life and careers of our featured composers and the contemporary events of the time. Timeline provided by Lynne Murray and formatted by staff at the Brandenburg.
1685
Handel
Born in Halle, Germany
Bach
Born in Eisenach, Germany
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Domenico Scarlatti born in Naples, Italy
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Simon Ushakov Last Supper
1697
Handel
Handel's father dies in Halle, Germany
Bach
Orphaned two years earlier; living with his eldest brother Johann Christoph in Ohrdurf
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Leclair born in Lyon, France
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F. Lugi engraving of Jean-Marie Leclair (c. 1741)
1710
Handel
Appointed music director to the Elector of Hannover; makes first visit to London
Bach
Working as organist and chamber musician for the Dukes of Weimar
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Zelenka begins work in Dresden court orchestra; Italian composer Pergolesi born in Jesi, Italy
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Aert de Gelder The Baptism of Christ
1711
Handel
First London opera, Rinaldo performed
Bach
The Duke of Weimar gives him a salary increase
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Christopher Wren paid for completion of St Paul's Cathedral (it had taken 36 years)
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Sir Godfrey Kneller portrait of Sir Christopher Wren
1716
Handel
First performance of Concerto Grosso Op. 3 No. 4 during opera
Bach
Now concertmaster at Weimar
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Zelenka travels to Italy and Vienna
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Adriaen van der Werff The Judgement of Paris
1723
Handel
First performance of opera Ottone
Bach
Appointed cantor of St Thomas, Leipzig
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Zelenka composes Hipocondrie in Prague; Vivaldi composes The Four Seasons in Mantua
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Anonymous portrait of Antonio Vivaldi (c. 1723)
1725
Handel
First performance of opera Rodelinda
Bach
Composes Orchestral Suite No. 4
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Alessandro Scarlatti dies in Naples; Catherine I becomes Empress of Russia
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Sebastiano Ricci Apotheosis of Saint Sebastian
1727
Handel
Composes anthems for the coronation of George II; becomes a British subject
Bach
First performance of St Matthew Passion in Leipzig
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Isaac Newton dies in London
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Balthasar Denner's Portrait of George Frideric Handel
1729
Handel
In Germany but doesn't take up invitation to meet Bach
Bach
Becomes director of Leipzig Collegium Musicum
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Leclair joins Paris Opera orchestra; Benjamin Franklin writes an article advocating the use of paper money
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Andreas Møller probably paints a portrait of the Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria.
1733
Handel
First performance of opera Orlando
Bach
Part of B minor Mass performed in Dresden with Zelenka's help
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Leclair appointed by Louis XV ordinaire de la musique du roi; Elector of Saxony Frederick Augustus I 'The Strong' dies in Warsaw
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William Hoare's portrait of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo
1734
Handel
Opus 3 concerti grossi published
Bach
Celebration in Leipzig of the coronation of Elector Friedrich Augustus II as king of Poland; performance of first part of Christmas Oratorio
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Zelenka appointed principal church composer at Dresden; Scottish outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor dies in Scotland
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Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin The House of Cards
1737
Handel
Suffers paraletick disorder and rheumatism, goes to Aix-la-Chapelle for health-cure
Bach
His 19th child born, Johanna Carolina Bach
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Leclair leaves the service of Louis XV and moves to the Netherlands; Teatro di San Carlo opens in Naples, the oldest working opera house in Europe
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Pompeo Batoni The Triumph of Venice
1745
Handel
Continues season of oratorio concerts including Hercules and Saul
Bach
Arranges Pergolesi's Stabat Mater to a German paraphrase of psalm 51: Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden, BWV 1083
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Leclair's Op. 10 violin concertos published; Zelenka dies in Dresden; First Women's cricket match recorded in Surrey, England
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Elias Gottlob Haussmann's portrait of JS Bach (c. 1746)
1750
Handel
Directs Messiah at the Foundling Hospital, London. Oratorio season includes Theodora and Judas Maccabeus
Bach
Two eye operations; dies on 28 July aged 65
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Westminster Bridge in London officially opened
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Thomas Gainsborough's portrait of Mr and Mrs Andrews
1759
Handel
Dies and is buried in Westminster Abbey; 3000 people attend his funeral
Bach
Wife Anna Magdalena dies in 1760
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
The British Museum opens in London
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Thomas Hudson's portrait of George II
1764
Handel
Handel's close friend Johann Mattheson dies in Hamburg, Germany
Bach
Johann Christian Bach, his youngest son, meets very young Mozart in London
Leclair, Zelenka & Contemporary Events
Leclair found murdered in his garden in Paris; eight-year-old Mozart performs for George III of Great Britain
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Louis Carrogis dit Carmontelle's painting of the Mozart family; Leopold, Wolfgang, Nannerl (c. 1763)
