Role

:

Composer Performer

Country

:

Germany

Birth

:

February 23, 1685 in Halle, Germany

Death

:

April 14, 1759 in London, England

Period

:

Baroque

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

George Frederick Handel was a German-born composer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era. He was born on February 23, 1685, in Halle, Germany, to a family of musicians. His father, Georg Händel, was a barber-surgeon who played the cello, while his mother, Dorothea Taust, was the daughter of a Lutheran pastor who sang in the choir. Handel showed an early talent for music and began playing the harpsichord and organ at a young age. He received his first music lessons from his father and later studied with Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, the organist at the Halle Cathedral. Zachow taught Handel composition, counterpoint, and keyboard technique, and he also introduced him to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. In 1702, Handel enrolled at the University of Halle to study law, but he continued to pursue his musical interests. He played the violin and harpsichord in the university orchestra and composed music for the student theatrical productions. In 1703, Handel left the university and took a position as a violinist and harpsichordist in the orchestra of the Hamburg Opera. Handel spent the next few years in Hamburg, where he composed his first operas and became known as a virtuoso keyboard player. In 1706, he traveled to Italy, where he studied the music of Italian composers such as Alessandro Scarlatti and Arcangelo Corelli. He also composed a number of Italian operas, including Rodrigo and Agrippina, which were well-received by audiences in Venice and Rome. In 1710, Handel was appointed Kapellmeister to the Elector of Hanover, who would later become King George I of England. Handel traveled to London with the Elector and remained in England for the rest of his life. He quickly established himself as a leading composer of opera and oratorio, and his works were performed to great acclaim in London's theaters and concert halls. Handel's most famous works include his operas, such as Giulio Cesare, Rinaldo, and Alcina, and his oratorios, such as Messiah, Israel in Egypt, and Judas Maccabaeus. His music is characterized by its grandeur, emotional intensity, and technical virtuosity. Handel was a master of counterpoint, and his music is known for its intricate harmonies and complex textures. Handel's music was also influenced by his religious faith. He was a devout Christian and composed a number of works based on biblical themes, including his oratorios. Messiah, which was first performed in Dublin in 1742, is perhaps his most famous work and is still performed regularly today. The oratorio tells the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and features such famous choruses as "Hallelujah" and "For unto us a child is born." Handel's music was also influenced by his love of Italian opera. He was one of the first composers to introduce Italian opera to England, and his operas were known for their beautiful melodies, dramatic plots, and elaborate stage productions. Handel's operas were also notable for their use of the da capo aria, a musical form in which the singer repeats the first section of the aria with embellishments. Handel's music was hugely popular during his lifetime, and he was widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of his time. He was also a successful businessman and entrepreneur, and he managed his own music publishing company and opera company. Handel died on April 14, 1759, in London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

More....