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George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Handel, 1726–1728 | |
| Born | Georg Friedrich Händel 5 March [O.S. 23 February] 1685 |
| Died | 14 April 1759 (aged 74) Westminster, Middlesex, England |
| Burial place | Westminster Abbey |
| Works | List of compositions |
| Signature | |
 | |
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (/ˈhændəl/ HAN-dəl;[a] baptised Georg Fried[e]rich Händel,[b] German: [ˈɡeːɔʁk ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈhɛndl̩] ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759)[3][c] was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training in Halle and worked as a composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London in 1712, where he spent the bulk of his career and became a naturalised British subject in 1727.[5] He was strongly influenced both by the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition and by composers of the Italian Baroque. In turn, Handel's music forms one of the peaks of the "high baroque" style, bringing Italian opera to its highest development, creating the genres of English oratorio and organ concerto, and introducing a new style into English church music. He is consistently recognized as one of the greatest composers of his age.[6][7]
Handel started three commercial opera companies to supply the English nobility with Italian opera. In 1737, he had a physical breakdown, changed direction creatively, addressed the middle class and made a transition to English choral works. After his success with Messiah (1742), he never composed an Italian opera again. His orchestral Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks remain steadfastly popular.[8] One of his four coronation anthems, Zadok the Priest, has been performed at every British coronation since 1727. He died a respected and rich man in 1759, aged 74, and was given a state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
Interest in Handel's music has grown since the mid-20th century. The musicologist Winton Dean wrote that "Handel was not only a great composer; he was a dramatic genius of the first order."[9] His music was admired by Classical-era composers, especially Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.
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- ^ "Händel-Haus in Halle an der Saale – Handschriftliche Dokumente". Archived from the original on 19 May 2013.
- ^ Hogwood 1984, p. 1.
- ^ Hicks 1998, p. 614.
- ^ George Frederic Handel. Archived 29 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Westminster Abbey.
- ^ "British Citizen by Act of Parliament: George Frideric Handel". Parliament.uk. 14 April 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ Burrows 2007
- ^ Hicks 2013
- ^ Buelow 2004, p. 476.
- ^ Dean 1969, p. 19.
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