... . Most famous among these was his telling of the life of Jesus, his "Messiah" (1792), and the "Hallelujah Chorus" from this work is arguably the most recognizable piece of western classical music. "Messiah" is by far the best known of all English oratorios. It's three parts deal with the birth, passion and resurrection of Christ, using dialect derived from the book ... . Some of his other oratorios include "Israel in Egypt", "Judas Maccabaeus", "Samson", "Milton", and "Soloman". The Old Testament provided the basis for most of them, but he sometimes experimented, using classical mythology...

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... of French opera. His job was to oversee the entire show, which included writing the music, conducting, and training the King's chorus. His operas were often based on themes from mythology. The main hero was often portrayed by Louis himself. Louis' first role was in Cassandre in 1651. Jean Baptiste Lully introduced the French Overture, of contrasting fast and slow tempos ... the lead in the Ballet de la Nuit (1653). From the clarity, balance, proportion, and studied technique of the French ballet masters of the seventeenth century, came the basis of classical dance. In 1700 choreographer...

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• Grade Level: High School