Georg Frederic Handel was born on February 23, 1685 (the
same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti). His father, Georg Händel,
was a famous barber-surgeon and served as surgeon to the court of
Saxe-Weissenfels and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Intending a career in
civil law for his son, the elder Handel was alarmed at his son's natural
aptitude for music and consequently forbade him from playing any instruments.
However, according to Handel's first biographer, he was able to obtain a small
clavichord which he kept in hiding and practiced on while the rest of his
family slept. During a trip to Weissenfels, the young Handel attracted the
attention of the Duke with his organ playing. At the Duke's request, Handel's
father allowed his son to take lessons is composition and keyboard technique
from the organist Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow.
In 1702, Handel began studying law at the University of
Halle. However, after a year, he left Halle for Hamburg, accepting a position
as violinist and harpsichordist in the orchestra of the opera house. Handel's
first operas were produced here in Hamburg and he also met prominent musicians
such as Johann Mattheson and Christoph Graupner. In 1706, Handel traveled to
Florence, Italy at the invitation of the Medici family. The Medici's had
successfully transformed Florence into the musical capital of Italy and had a
strong interest in opera. Handel composed several operas during his time in
Italy including Agrippina which ran for an unprecedented 27
performances. While in Italy, Handel also traveled to Rome and composed many
sacred works.
In 1710, Handel accepted the post of Kapellmeister to
George, Elector of Hanover, who would soon become King George I of England. Two
years later, Handel permanently moved to England. Once settled, he continued to
focus mainly on the production of Italian opera. However, the overwhelming
success of John Gay's The Beggar's Opera in 1728 was the death knell of
Italian opera in England. After multiple attempts and losing a considerable
fortune, Handel gave up the production of operas in 1741 and set his focus on
the more popular oratorios.
Handel composed his first oratorio in Italy in 1707 but it
is his later oratorios that he composed in England that he is best known for
today. His first great success at oratorio in England was Alexander's Feast,
composed in 1736, which encouraged him to pursue the genre further. In the
following years came several of his most famous oratorios, including Saul,
Israel in Egypt and Messiah.
On a return voyage from Germany back to London in 1750,
Handel was seriously injured in a carriage accident in the Netherlands and in
1751 a cataract caused his eyesight to fail in one eye. After an unsuccessful
operation, Handel lost his vision. He died eight years later in 1759 at the age
of 74. His funeral was given full state honors and he was buried in Westminster
Abbey.
George Frideric Handel
Biography
Georg Frederic Handel was born on February 23, 1685 (the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti). His father, Georg Händel, was a famous barber-surgeon and served as surgeon to the court of Saxe-Weissenfels and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Intending a career in civil law for his son, the elder Handel was alarmed at his son's natural aptitude for music and consequently forbade him from playing any instruments. However, according to Handel's first biographer, he was able to obtain a small clavichord which he kept in hiding and practiced on while the rest of his family slept. During a trip to Weissenfels, the young Handel attracted the attention of the Duke with his organ playing. At the Duke's request, Handel's father allowed his son to take lessons is composition and keyboard technique from the organist Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow.In 1702, Handel began studying law at the University of Halle. However, after a year, he left Halle for Hamburg, accepting a position as violinist and harpsichordist in the orchestra of the opera house. Handel's first operas were produced here in Hamburg and he also met prominent musicians such as Johann Mattheson and Christoph Graupner. In 1706, Handel traveled to Florence, Italy at the invitation of the Medici family. The Medici's had successfully transformed Florence into the musical capital of Italy and had a strong interest in opera. Handel composed several operas during his time in Italy including Agrippina which ran for an unprecedented 27 performances. While in Italy, Handel also traveled to Rome and composed many sacred works.
In 1710, Handel accepted the post of Kapellmeister to George, Elector of Hanover, who would soon become King George I of England. Two years later, Handel permanently moved to England. Once settled, he continued to focus mainly on the production of Italian opera. However, the overwhelming success of John Gay's The Beggar's Opera in 1728 was the death knell of Italian opera in England. After multiple attempts and losing a considerable fortune, Handel gave up the production of operas in 1741 and set his focus on the more popular oratorios.
Handel composed his first oratorio in Italy in 1707 but it is his later oratorios that he composed in England that he is best known for today. His first great success at oratorio in England was Alexander's Feast, composed in 1736, which encouraged him to pursue the genre further. In the following years came several of his most famous oratorios, including Saul, Israel in Egypt and Messiah.
On a return voyage from Germany back to London in 1750, Handel was seriously injured in a carriage accident in the Netherlands and in 1751 a cataract caused his eyesight to fail in one eye. After an unsuccessful operation, Handel lost his vision. He died eight years later in 1759 at the age of 74. His funeral was given full state honors and he was buried in Westminster Abbey.