Life and Important Facts about Composer George Frideric Handel from our Know the Great Composers and Classical Musicians Series.
About George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-born English composer of the late Baroque era, who is famous for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental music. He wrote some of the most well-known pieces of classical music, such as Messiah, Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks. He was also a dramatic genius who brought Italian opera to its highest development and created the genre of English oratorio. In this blog post, we will explore his early life, some fun facts, his important achievements, and what we can learn from him and his music.
Handel was born on February 23, 1685, in Halle, Germany, to a barber-surgeon father and a pastor’s daughter. He showed a great talent for music from an early age, but his father wanted him to study law instead. He secretly learned to play the harpsichord and the organ, and eventually convinced his father to let him pursue music. He became a pupil of Friedrich W. Zachow, a composer and organist in Halle, who taught him the basics of keyboard performance and composition.
Handel left Halle in 1703 and moved to Hamburg, where he joined the opera orchestra as a violinist and harpsichordist. He also composed his first opera, Almira, which was premiered in Hamburg in 1705. He then traveled to Italy in 1706, where he met many influential musicians and composers, such as Arcangelo Corelli and Alessandro Scarlatti. He composed several operas, cantatas, and oratorios in Italy, and developed his style of combining German polyphony with Italian melody and drama.
Portrait of Händel by James Thornhill, c. 1720
In 1710, Handel became the kapellmeister (music director) of the Elector of Hanover, who later became King George I of Great Britain. Handel moved to London in 1712, where he settled for the rest of his life. He started his own opera company and composed many successful operas for the London stage, such as Rinaldo (1711), Giulio Cesare (1724), and Rodelinda (1725). He also wrote instrumental music for various occasions, such as Water Music (1717) for a royal barge trip on the Thames River, and Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749) for a celebration of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
However, Handel faced many challenges and difficulties in his career. He had to compete with rival opera companies and deal with fickle audiences and singers. He also suffered from financial losses, lawsuits, plagiarism accusations, and health problems. In 1737, he had a stroke that paralyzed his right arm and affected his eyesight. He recovered from this setback, but changed his direction creatively. He focused more on composing oratorios in English rather than operas in Italian. Oratorios are large-scale musical works based on biblical stories or religious themes, performed by soloists, chorus, and orchestra without costumes or scenery.
Handel’s most famous oratorio is Messiah (1741), which tells the story of Jesus Christ from his birth to his resurrection. It contains many memorable choruses and arias, such as “For unto us a child is born”, “Hallelujah”, and “I know that my redeemer liveth”. Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742 as a charity concert for prisoners’ debt relief. It was well received by the public and critics alike. Handel later performed it many times in London and other cities. It became one of the most popular pieces of music in history and is still performed every year around Christmas and Easter.
Handel composed more than 40 oratorios in total, including Israel in Egypt (1739), Samson (1743), Judas Maccabaeus (1747), Solomon (1749), Theodora (1750), Jephtha (1752), and The Triumph of Time and Truth (1757). He also wrote many anthems for the coronation of British monarchs, such as Zadok the Priest (1727), which has been used at every coronation since then. He also wrote many other vocal works, such as odes , cantatas , duets , trios , songs , hymns , psalms , motets , masses , Te Deums , litanies , anthems , serenatas , elegies , epigrams , eclogues , madrigals , catches , rounds , canons , glees , ballads , sonnets , epistles , elegies , epitaphs , prologues , and epilogues .
Handel also composed many instrumental works, such as concertos , sonatas , suites , fugues , preludes , overtures , sinfonias , fantasias , variations , passacaglias , chaconnes , sarabandes , gigues , minuets , gavottes , bourrées , hornpipes , allemandes , courantes , corantos , air s, marches , and dances . He wrote for various instruments, such as organ, harpsichord, piano, violin, viola, cello, flute, recorder, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, horn, trombone, timpani, and harp. He also wrote for various combinations of instruments, such as solo, duo, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, septet, octet, nonet, decet, undecet, duodecet, chamber orchestra, string orchestra, wind orchestra, and full orchestra.
Handel died on April 14, 1759, in London. He was 74 years old. He was buried in Westminster Abbey with full honors. His funeral was attended by more than 3,000 people. His tomb has a statue of him holding a score of Messiah. He left behind a legacy of more than 600 compositions and a reputation as one of the greatest composers of all time.
Handel (centre) and King George I on the River Thames, 17 July 1717, by Edouard Hamman (1819–88)
What can we learn from Handel and his music? Here are some possible lessons:
- Handel was a versatile and prolific composer who mastered many genres and styles of music. He was not afraid to experiment and innovate. He also adapted to changing tastes and circumstances. We can learn from his creativity and flexibility.
- Handel was a hard-working and dedicated composer who overcame many obstacles and challenges in his career. He did not give up on his passion and vision. He also used his music for charitable and noble causes. We can learn from his perseverance and generosity.
- Handel was a cosmopolitan and multicultural composer who traveled to different countries and learned from different cultures and traditions. He also influenced and inspired many other composers and musicians across Europe. We can learn from his openness and influence.
What can students learn from Handel and his music? Here are some possible benefits:
- Studying Handel’s music can help students develop their musical skills and knowledge. They can learn about the history and theory of music, the elements and forms of music, the techniques and expressions of music, and the appreciation and analysis of music.
- Studying Handel’s music can also help students develop their general skills and knowledge. They can learn about the history and culture of the Baroque era, the geography and politics of Europe, the religion and philosophy of Christianity, the language and literature of English and Italian, and the art and science of the 18th century.
- Studying Handel’s music can also help students develop their personal skills and values. They can learn about the importance of creativity and flexibility, perseverance and generosity, openness and influence. They can also learn about the joy and beauty of music.
Handel composed more than forty opera series over a period of more than thirty years. The musicologist Winton Dean wrote that “Handel was not only a great composer; he was a dramatic genius of the first order.” His music was admired by Classical-era composers, especially Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.
In conclusion, George Frideric Handel was a remarkable composer who left a lasting impact on the world of music. His life and works are worth exploring and learning from. I hope this blog post has sparked your interest in Handel and his music.
Images: From Public Domain
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