German composer who emigrated to London, Handel was a prolific and much loved author of well over 100 operas, oratorios, concertos, and other musical pieces, including his most famous work, Messiah (1742). An extremely abbreviated list of a few other major works includes Ode for the Birthday of Queen Anne (1713), Water Music (1717), Acis and Galatea (1718), The Harmonious Blacksmith (1720), Giulio Cesare (1724), Tamerlano (1724), Zadok the Priest (1727), Alcina (1735), Alexander's Feast (1736), Ode for St. Cecilia's Day (1739), Saul (1739), Israel in Egypt (1739), Semele (1743), Hercules (1745), and Fireworks Music (1749).