Oratorio credited with writing the first English language oratorio, "Esther". Handel's imitators included the Italian Lidarti who was employed by the Amsterdam Jewish community to compose a Hebrew version of "Esther". Britain continued to look to Germany for its composers of oratorio. The Birmingham Festival commissioned various oratorios including Felix Mendelssohn's "Elijah" in 1846, later performed in German as "Elias". German composer Georg Vierling is noted for modernizing the secular oratorio form. John Stainer's "The Crucifixion" (1887) became the stereotypical battlehorse of massed amateur choral societies. Edward Elgar tried to revive the genre around the turn of century with the composition
Elijah Hall Elijah Hall Elijah Hall (December 8, 1742 – June 22, 1830) was an officer in the Continental Navy. Hall, born in Raynham, Massachusetts, was appointed Lieutenant in the Continental Navy on June 14, 1777, to serve in the frigate "Ranger" under John Paul Jones. "Ranger" sailed for France on November 1, 1777, taking two prizes en route, then put to sea from Brest on April 10, 1778, to cruise in the Irish Sea. Hall took part in the capture of several vessels, the landing at St. Mary's Isle April 23, and the capture of HMS "Drake" next day. Hall commanded