GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1740)

Born Feb. 23 1685 Halle, Saxony, Germany.

German by birth, English by adoption, one of the greatest composers of the late Baroque era, noted particularly for his operas, oratorios and instrumental compositions.

Handel studied in Halle and in Hamburg where he wrote his first operas . Almira his first opera was performed in 1705. In Italy he wrote operas and cantatas from 1707 to 1709 and his music was received with acclaim.

He became director of music at the Hanoverian court in 1710 but in the same year left for London where in 1711 his opera Rinaldo had a great success ad did Il pastor fido and Teseo.

Handel settled in England although he still visited Germany from time to time.

As director of music to the Duke of Chandos from 1718 he composed 12 Chandos Anthems and a setting of John Gay´s Acis and Galatea.

By 1741 when opera went into decline in London, Handel had composed about 40 such works. In that year he composed Messiah (first performed 1742) which became the best known of his orators a form that he made the most popular in England. It was followed by Samson (1743), Joseph and His Brethren (1744) and Belsshazzar (1745) as well as other biblical and secular oratorios.

He also wrote occasional pieces such as the Music for the Royal Fireworks (1749).

In his last years he was much revered in England and throughout Europe as a great composer.