Wednesday, April 7, 1824. Premier of Missa Solemnis

 Beethoven's Missa Solemnis premiered in St. Petersburg.

Last prior edition:

Tuesday, March 30, 1824. Tariffs and Resettlement.

1820s, 1824, American System, James Monroe, Native Americans, Taxes

Good Friday, April 7, 1724. Bach's St. John's Passion played for the first time.

It was performed at St. Nikolai Church in Leipzig.

Last prior edition:

Saturday, March 25, 1724 Bach's newly written piece played in Leipzig.

1720s, 1724, Christianity, Classical Music, Germany, Martin Luther, Music, Protestant, Religious Music

Saturday, March 25, 1724 Bach's newly written piece played in Leipzig.

The City of Leipzig had an ordinance forbidding the playing of Music during Lent, but made an exception on this day in 1724 so that two newly written Bach pieces could be played in the Lutheran city.  The pieces celebrated the Annunciation of Mary, which was one of the three Marian holidays that Luther, who somehow felt he could run around determining what remained on the liturgical calendar and what did not, retained.

Last prior:

February 19, 1724. Amalthéa Aristotelico-Scoticos

1720s, 1724, Catholic, Malta, The written word

Saturday, October 20, 1973. The Saturday Night Massacre, Sydney Opera House, and Arab Oil Embargo.

Watergate prosecutor Archibald Cox was dismissed by the Administration, and attorney General Elliot L. Richardson and deputy attorney General William B. Ruckelshaus resigned.  Cox was dismissed by Robert Bork, who later became an unsuccessful Supreme Court nominee, but who nonetheless was influential in the philosophy of the current Supreme Court.

The Sydney Opera House was inaugurated and opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

Saudi Arabia and Algeria halted petroleum exports to the U.S., the embargo now becoming a full-blown disaster.

September 21, 1943. The Massacre of the Acqui Division.

The German Army, starting on this day, and running through September 26, murdered 5,000 Italian soldiers on the Greek Island of Cephalonia.

Proceeding the disaster had been a period of indecision by the Italians on whether to resist the Germans or not.  The Allies were reluctant to allow the Italians to use aircraft that were in the area, and therefore the Italians did not have air cover.  Ultimately, the Italian soldiers did resist and an unsuccessful battle broke out.  On September 18 that "because of the perfidious and treacherous behavior on Cephalonia, no prisoners are to be taken."  A group of Bavarian soldiers objected and were threatened with summary execution.

The Red Army captured Demidov.

Sarah Sundin notes:

Today in World War II History—September 21, 1943: 80 Years Ago—Sept. 21, 1943: In the Solomon Islands, US secures Arundel and Wana Wana. Soviets cross the Dnieper River south of Kiev, Ukraine.

Kate Smith appeared for a continuous 18 hours on the CBS Radio Network, starting at 8:00 a.m. in a bond drive.  85,000,000 listeners tuned in and $39,000,000 was raised.

Sunday, March 28, 1943. 8th Army takes Mareth

Today in World War II History—March 28, 1943: Montgomery’s British Eighth Army takes Mareth, Tunisia. Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff dies in Beverly Hills, CA, of melanoma, age 69, a new US citizen.

From Sarah Sundin's blog.  

The Afrika Korps was clearly coming to an end.  The 8th Army also took Tougane and Matmata.

The Caterina Costa exploded in Naples' harbor, killing 600 or more people and injuring 1,179 or more.

A fire had broken out on the vessel, but government approval could not be obtained to fight it or tow the vessel to sea.

USS Iowa.