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Georg Friedrich Handel was one of the most accomplished composers of his time. Born in Halle, Germany in 1685, he was the son
of a wealthy barber who wanted his son to become a lawyer. However, he
displayed such musical aptitude with the harpsichord, organ, oboe,
counterpoint and fugue, he became an assistant with Friedrich Zachav,
organist of the cathedral of Halle. However, Handel entered the
University of Halle, but quickly withdrew, and left for the University
of Hamburg, to study music.
In 1706, Handel journeyed to Italy to further enhance his music.
While there, he was greatly influenced by Alessandro Scarlatti and
Arcangelo Corelli. Then in 1710, Handel was appointed "Kapellmeister,"
or Musical Director, to the Elector of Hanover, and received a
commission to write an opera for London. Italian opera was all the rage
in London, and Handel’s soon became a quick success. However, Handel
greatly longed for being in England, and returned in 1712. London
provided a generous audience for Handel, and from 1712 to 1741 he
produced thirty-six operas. In 1713, Te Deum and a Jubilate was
performed by Handel at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, to celebrate the
Peace of Utrecht. Queen Anne also granted Handel a handsome lifetime
pension of two hundred pounds per year. Including Water Music, for
George I, which was first performed in 1715 on the Thames at London.
While most of Handel’s operas were based on either historical,
mythological, or legendary subjects, Serse, was one of his rare
endeavors into comedy. Handel’s operas were all sung in Italian, and
adhere to the musical conventions of the day. There is little use of
choruses or large ensembles, since one of the main objectives of this
genre, called ‘opera seria,’ is the demonstration of vocal ability by
individual singers. Also, for 18th century audiences, the main
attraction in Handel’s operas lay in the incredible feats of the
‘castrati,’ male singers whose soprano voices had been surgically
preserved from childhood. These artists combined the soprano voices of
women and the lung power of men, producing singers whose vocal feats
became legendary.
In England, Handel tried to start opera companies on a number of
occasions, but these attempts to become a music executive failed
miserably. On account the gradual decline in popularity of Italian
opera in England, Handel turned to writing oratorios, which became the
preferred taste. These works, sung in English, take their texts from
the Bible. Handel’s most famous oratorio, his best-known work in any
genre, is Messiah, written in 1742. In addition to operas and
oratorios, he wrote passions, secular choral pieces, anthems, cantatas,
chamber sonatas, harpsichord suites, concerti, and orchestral pieces.
Beyond composition, Handel was the first the real businessman in the
world of music. He had a hand in organizing opera companies, obtaining
financial support, and finding singers. He was also in constant demand
at parties where he entertained guests with his lusty personality and
exceptional abilities the keyboard. Of all composers, Handel was
probably the most esteemed and appreciated in his own time. He rose to
a position of the highest eminence in the musical world. His oratorios
were the toast of the country, and of the continent as well. Toward the
end of his life, Handel was plagued by ill health. From 1753, he was
totally blind, though this did not stop his activities altogether. He
died in 1759, and was buried with full state honors in Westminster
Abbey.
Bibliography
BMG Music. "Classics World Biography: George Frederich Handel." 1997:Online.
Internet. October 4 1998. Available WWW: http:://classicalmus.com/composers/handel.html
Brimhall, John. My Favorite Classics. Miami Beach, FL.: Chas. H. Hansen Music Corp., 1969.
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