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2 unusual facts about John Worgan


John Worgan

Martin Madan, in a satirical song upon Joah Bates, issued anonymously, and set to music by Samuel Wesley, entitled ‘The Organ laid open, &c.,’ placed him as a player upon an equality with Handel: "Let Handel or Worgan go thresh at the organ".

His compositions, now forgotten, include two oratorios: ‘Hannah’ (King's Theatre, Haymarket, 3 April 1 764) and ‘Manasseh’ (Lock Hospital Chapel, 30 April 1766); ‘We will rejoice in Thy salvation,’ a thanksgiving anthem for victories (29 Nov. 1759); many songs for Vauxhall Gardens, of which thirteen books (at least) were published; psalm tunes, glees, organ music, and sonatas and other pieces for the harpsichord.



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