Page from the original score

The Easter Oratorio, BWV 249, is one of three oratorios composed by Johann Sebastian Bach for high holiday services of the Lutheran church in Leipzig. He wrote an autograph score (page pictured) in 1738, but had already composed the music in 1725 for two works: the congratulatory Shepherd Cantata and a church cantata for Easter. The text of the Shepherd Cantata was written by Picander, in his first documented collaboration with Bach. Picander may also have adapted the text for the Easter work, using unusually neither Biblical text nor chorales. Both works are musical dramas involving male and female characters, which, in the cantata, are from the Biblical Easter narratives. The music is structured in eleven movements, and scored for a festive Baroque instrumental ensemble of three trumpets, timpani, a variety of wind instruments, strings and continuo. Bach performed the Easter Oratorio in 1749, the year before his death. (Full article...)

Al-Baitul Amien Mosque

• ... that the "snail mosque" (pictured), designed by a non-Muslim, has been noted as resembling Indonesia's parliamentary complex?
• ... that lobbyist Brian D. Ballard has represented The Trump Organization and the Socialist Party of Albania?
• ... that differing perceptions on identity amongst Assyrians have dominated internal community discourse for several decades?
• ... that Ja'Deion High took time off from his job as a truck driver to represent the United States in flag football?
• ... that Honkai: Star Rail fans prepared vigils for the in-game death of the character Firefly?
• ... that the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, accused striking firefighters of committing arson during a 1978 labor dispute?
• ... that soprano Ingrid Schmithüsen performed a repertoire of more than 4000 art songs in a recital series that she founded in Cologne?
• ... that an Egg railway station was painted pink and orange?
• ... that Pat O'Keeffe tried to recruit a milk-cart driver during World War I by asking "don't you want to serve your King?", only to be answered: "Yus. How many quarts will he want?"?

Artemis II in flight

• NASA launches the lunar flyby mission Artemis II (pictured), the first crewed mission past low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972.
• In Mongolia, Nyam-Osoryn Uchral is sworn in as prime minister following the resignation of Gombojavyn Zandanshatar.
• The Social Democrats, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, remain the largest party after the Danish general election, with no political bloc winning a majority of seats.
• In Italy, voters reject a reform of the judicial system in a constitutional referendum.

April 5: Easter in Western Christianity (2026); Qingming Festival in Greater China (2026); Feast day of Saint Vincent Ferrer (Catholicism)

First edition dust jacket of Carrie

• 1710 – The Statute of Anne, the first legislation in Great Britain providing for copyright regulated by the government and courts, received royal assent and entered into force five days later.
• 1974 – Carrie (pictured), the first novel by American author Stephen King, was published.
• 1983 – In China, the People's Armed Police, primarily responsible for internal security, was founded.
• 2010 – Two bombings in Pakistan killed up to 50 people and injured around 100 others.