George Frideric Handel1685-1759

For High School Music History

Tiffany James

Born in Germany on February 23, 1685

Non-musical family

Father did not believe that music was a suitable career for his son

Allowed him to study music because of natural talents

Took lessons with Fredrich Wilhelm Zachow

Studied the organ, harpsichord, violin and oboe

Learned counterpoint and contemporary composition

Enrolled in the University of Halle in 1702, at the age of 17

Cathedral organist at the Calvinist Cathedral

Lost interest and wanted to pursue opera composition

Moved to Hamburg, the center of German opera

Played violin in the Hamburg opera house

Absorbed Italian operatic style from playing in the orchestra

“Almira”, his first opera was premiered at the Hamburg opera house in 1705

Completed his second opera, “Nero” within the same year

Left Hamburg in 1706

Moved to Italy, staying in the main opera cities

Met many important composers, Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti, Corelli, Caldara and Steffani

Composed Latin motets, an oratorio, Italian cantatas and operas in Italy

His compositional style was almost fully developed by the time he left Italy

Returned to Germany at the age of 25 to become music director at the electoral court of Hanover

Took an almost immediate leave to visit London

Gained success in London with his opera “Rinaldo”

Four more of his operas premiered in London between 1712 and 1716

Royal Academy of Music In 1718 a group of wealthy men

organized a company to present operas to the London public

Handel, Giovanni Bononcini and Filippo Amadei were the appointed composers

The company was very popular between 1720 and 1728

Handel was very active in writing, producing and directing his operas for the Royal Academy of Music

His operas included: “Radamisto”, “Ottone”, “Giulio Cesare”, “Rodelinda” and “Admeto”

The public grew tired of Italian opera and the Academy began to have financial difficulties

Oratorios (opera-like compositions set on a religious subject) were becoming increasingly popular in London

So….Handel began composing oratorios after the failure of the Royal Academy of Music

Handel became a master of oratorios very quickly

He composed an oratorio, “Saul”, which was performed 6 times in 1739

His greatest achievements in this genre include “Israel in Egypt”, “Messiah”, “Judas” “Maccabaeus” and “Jeptha”

In Dublin, the year 1742, Handel and John Rich leased a theater to present oratorios every year during lent

Handel’s oratorios were immensely popular during this time due to the innovations he made on the form

He composed 26 oratorios throughout his career

He lost eyesight due to cataracts

Dictated his last works, conducted oratorios and perfomed on the organ

1759-Collapsed in the theater while conducting the Messiah and died some days later

International compositions, incorporating German, French and Italian styles

Most important composer of Baroque operas and oratorios

Internationally renown during his lifetime