German-born English composer George F. Handel excelled in sacred music especially oratorios and operas. He is best known for oratorio Messiah.
George Frideric Handel was a Baroque English composer and violinist of German origin. He is famous for oratorio "Messiah," anthem "Zadok the Priest," and "Water Music Suite" & "Music for the Royal Fireworks." He was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann.
Handel received wide acclaim during his lifetime and is best known for Messiah, the summation of his life’s work composed in a single burst of inspiration but including some elements from earlier works.
Early Life
Handel was born in Halle on February 23, 1685, the son of a barber-surgeon. His father wanted him to pursue law instead of music, but eventually he gave in by at least allowing his son to study under Zachau, the local organist at St. Michael's Church. When Handel's father died in 1703, he abandoned the study of law and became a violinist at Keiser's Opera House in Hamburg. He completed the opera Almira (started by Keiser) and Nero.
The Italian Connection
When he visited Italy (706 to 1710), he was inspired by these travels through meetings with Archangelo Corelli and Alessandro Scarlatti that he was able to write a number of oratorios and operas to Italian styles of composition. His first opera Almira was performed in Hamburg. In 1710, he was appointed Kapellmeister to the Elector of Hanover Court.
England Forever, Handel's Best Years
He settled in England in 1710, and was appointed Kapellmesiter to the elector of Hanover (the future George I of England). In London, he performed the opera Rinaldo with huge success that he decided to move to England altogether, and composed the operas Il pastor fido, Sila and Amadigi using the same style.
Handel established his popularity further with such works as the Water Music Suite (1717) written for George I. The king gave him a life pension of six hundred pounds. The following year, he became musical director to the Duke of Chandos, as well as director of the Royal Academy of Music at the King's. He wrote operas, solo sonatas, and suites for the harpsichord specifically for the Royal Academy of Music until the theatre closed in 1728.
He became a British subject in 1726. The following year, George II was crowned to the sound of four of Handel's anthems including Zadok the Priest, which has been traditionally played at British coronations.
Handel's choral works include the masterpiece English oratorio Messiah which was well received on its first performance in Dublin (1742) and the later oratorios Samson, (1743) Belshazzar, (1745) Judas Maccabaeus, (1747) and Jephtha (1752). His other works include the pastoral Acis and Galatea (1718) and a set of variations for harpsichord that were later nicknamed ‘The Harmonious Blacksmith.’
Last Years
His last major public success came in 1749 with the suite for wind instruments, to accompany the Music for the Royal Fireworks in Green Park. In 1751 he became totally blind and died on April 14, 1759. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Handel's Major Works:
- Instrumental Water Music 1717
- Pastoral Opera Acis and Galatea 1718
- Harpsichord Suite No.5
- Opera Giulio Cesare (Julius Cesar) 1720
- Coronation Anthem, Zadok the Priest 1727
- Opera Berenice including the famous 'Minuet' 1737
- Opera Serse (Xerxes), including 'Largo' 1738
- Oratorio Israel in Egypt 1739
- Oratorio Saul 1739
- 12 Instrumental Concerti Grossi 1740
- Oratorio Messiah 1741
- Opera Semele1744
- Oratorio Solomon including 'Arrival of the Queen of Sheba' 1749
- Instrumental Music for the Royal Fireworks 1749
Sources:
The Encyclopedia of Music by Max Wade-Matthew and Wendy thompson (2004)
The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, edited by Stanley Sadie (2000)
The Oxford Companion to Music, edited by Alison Latham (2002)
