G F Handel  

    George Frideric Handel was born in Germany in 1685 - the same year and country as JS Bach and the same year as D Scarlatti, two other very famous Baroque composers.  Germany was near the heart of musical culture during this period. 

Handel was keen on music from a young age.  He began lessons at 7 years, but had already developed considerable skill on the keyboard instruments of the time.  He began writing his own music when he was 9. 

Handel’s parents disagreed about allowing him to learn music.  His father, who worked in the Saxony courts, thought there was more security if Handel became a lawyer.  Fortunately, Handel was given a little keyboard instrument by his aunt.  He kept this in the attic and would sneak away from his father to play it whenever he had a chance.

According to his father’s wishes, Handel started studying law at the regional university when he was 17.  However, his father died the next year and Handel left law to work as an organist in a local church and then as violinist and harpsichord player at the opera house in Hamburg.  Hamburg was the main centre for French, German and Italian opera styles.  Handel was inspired to write his first publicly performed operas around this time.

Over the years between 1706 and 1712, Handel lived in Italy and in Germany.  He composed mostly Italian opera, a rather serious style of music.  In 1712, he moved to London – where he was to stay until his death in 1759.  The Italian opera became less popular and Handel started writing more ballads as well as oratorios.  His famous Messiah was the first of the oratorios that he wrote during this later time in London, after 1741, when he changed his preferred musical style.  A famous orchestral work of this time is Music for the Royal Fireworks.

After a stroke that paralysed one arm, Handel could no longer play his instruments for concerts.  Also, quite sadly, Handel lost his sight in 1751 and was unable to compose.  His passion for music continued and he conducted orchestras in London.  He conducted a recital of the Messiah the day before his death. 

Handel had become extremely popular and more than 3 000 people attended his funeral.  He was given state honours and buried at Westminster Abbey, in the poets’ corner.

Handel is most famous for his vocal works (more than 40 operas).  His style ranges from very serious pieces to playful, joyful choruses and anthems.  His melodies cover every emotion and are quite appealing and sometimes powerfully contagious.  He also wrote for orchestra, chamber group and solo instrument (more than 150 works).  He wrote for instruments that were rarely before included in orchestral groups, including the lute, clarinet, trombone, harp and French horn.  He composed 16 keyboard suites, the most famous being The Harmonious Blacksmith.   

 Handel has always been highly respected among musicians, although some of his works were neglected before being revived in the last half of the 1900s, when Baroque music received fresh interest.  Bach is believed to have said, “Handel is the only person I would wish to see before I die, and the only person I would wish to be, were I not Bach" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handel).

Last modified: April 13, 2009