Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Feb. 3: In 1809, composer Felix Mendelssohn, a devout Lutheran, was born in Hamburg in present-day Germany. His Elijah oratorio is considered second only to Handel's Messiah by many critics.

Today in History for Feb. 1: On this date: In 1516, Desiderius Erasmus dedicated his ``amendment'' of Jerome's Latin (Vulgate) translation of the Bible to Pope Leo X.

Today in History for Jan. 28: On this date: In 814, Charlemagne, the first Holy Roman Emperor, died. In 1547, Henry VIII, who split the church of England from Rome and presided over the founding of the Anglican church, died.

Today in Music History for Feb. 1: In 1896, the opera ``La Boheme,'' by Giacomo Puccini, premiered in Turin, Italy. In 1909, gospel singer George Beverly Shea was born in Ottawa.

Today in History for Feb. 2: On this date: In 1536, the Argentine city of Buenos Aires was founded by Pedro de Mendoza of Spain. In 1556, a devastating earthquake killed an estimated 830,000 people in China.

Today in Music History for Jan. 31: In 1797, composer Franz Schubert was born in Vienna. He died in 1828 at the age of 31. Schubert's reputation grew after his death, to the point where is now considered one of the greatest composers of his era.

Today in Music History for Jan. 30: In 1917, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band recorded ``Darktown Strutters' Ball.'' Some historians consider this to be the earliest commercially made jazz record.

Today in History for Jan. 19: In 570, according to tradition, the Muslim Prophet Muhammad was born. In 1200, Zen Master Dogen, an important figure in Japanese Buddhism, was born. In 1563, the ``Heidelberg Catechism'' was first published in Germany.

Celebrity Birthdays for Jan. 19: Actress Tippi Hedren is 94. Former PBS newsman Robert MacNeil is 93. Movie director Richard Lester is 92. Country singer Stu Phillips is 91. Former CTV News anchor Lloyd Robertson is 90.

Today in Music History for Jan. 19: In 1853, ``Il Trovatore'' by Giuseppe Verdi, the foremost Italian composer of opera, premiered in Rome.