Mark's Music Circus
presents
Music Events of

Births

• 31 May:   MARIN MARAIS = French viol player and composer = [died: 1728]
• 9 September:   JOHANN CASPAR FERDINAND FISCHER = German composer = [died: 1746]
• 3 November:   GEORG REUTTER = Austrian theorbo player and composer = [died: 1738]


• date unknown:
• JEAN-BAPTISTE MOREAU = French composer = [died: 1733]
• JOHANN PAUL VON WESTHOFF = German violinist and composer = [died: 1705

Timeline of Events

• 2 April: Anglo-Spanish War: King Philip IV of Spain signs a treaty with Charles II of England for the reconquest of England.
• May: First performance of The Siege of Rhodes, Part I, by Sir William Davenant, the first English opera (under the guise of a recitative), in a private theatre at his home, Rutland House, in the City of London. This also includes the innovative use of painted backdrops and the appearance of England's first professional actress, Mrs. Coleman.
• 17 September:
• The Second Protectorate Parliament assembles.
• Miles Sindercombe makes a failed assassination attempt on Oliver Cromwell.
• 19 September: Anglo-Spanish War: Admiral Robert Blake destroys a Spanish treasure fleet near Cádiz.
• 24 October: Quaker James Nayler re-enacts the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem at Bristol, for which he is arrested for blasphemy.


• Also in 1656:
• Resettlement of the Jews in England is permitted.
• The only English fifty shilling coin is minted.
• Adams' Grammar School is founded in Newport, Shropshire by London haberdasher William Adams, a native of the town.


• Ongoing events
• Anglo-Spanish War 1654–1660

Publications

• MICHEL LAMBERT's first compositions are printed by Ballard.

Classical Music

• JOHANN JAKOB FROBERGER
• Libro quarto

Opera

• WILLIAM DAVENANT
• The Siege of Rhodes
• composers included HENRY LAWES and MATTHEW LOCKE