A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Occasional Oratorio, The

OCCASIONAL ORATORIO, THE. A work of Handel, probably intended to celebrate the failure of the Jacobite rising of 1745. It consists of an overture and three parts, among which are 'O liberty,' afterwards transferred to 'Judas Maccabeus,' some of the choruses from 'Israel in Egypt' and a Coronation Anthem, introduced into Part III. The words of Part I. are in great part taken from Milton's Psalms, and many numbers appear to be written by Dr. Morell. (See pref. to the work in the Händelgesellschaft edition.) It was performed at Covent Garden on Feb. 14, 19, and 26, 1746. (Rockstro's Life of Handel.)

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