Today in Music History for Aug. 22:

In 1741, George Frederic Handel began composing "The Messiah." He finished the work on Sept. 14.

In 1831, William Cummings, a leading English musicologist, was born. In 1855, he adapted a theme from Mendelssohn’s "Festgesang," which afterward became the melody of the Christmas carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."

In 1862, French composer Claude Debussy was born.

In 1906, the Victor Talking Machine Company received a patent for its Victrola phonograph. The Victrola was the first phonograph designed to be a fine piece of furniture, as well as a means for reproducing music. The mahogany cabinet hid the flared horn, the turntable and the tone arm from sight. Despite the then-unheard-of price of $200, Victor could not keep up with orders for the Victrol

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