Birth

 

Georg Friedrich Händel was born in 1685 in Halle, Germany to Georg (an eminent barber-surgeon) and Dorothea (a domestic engineer).  According to Händel's first biographer, John Mainwaring, Händel "had discovered such a strong propensity to music, that his father, who always intended him for the study of the Civil Law, had reason to be alarmed. He strictly forbade him to meddle with any musical instrument but Händel found means to get a little clavichord privately convey'd to a room at the top of the house. To this room he constantly stole when the family was asleep".  At an early age Händel became a skilful performer on the harpsichord and pipe organ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During His Lifetime

 

Händel was the person in charge of music for Prince George, Elector of Hanover of Germany.  This ‘George’ became George I, King of England, which meant Händel became the offical composer for the King.  Händel spent most of his professional life in England composing music for the royal family.  Because of this, he is better known as George Frederick Handel.

 

Several things happened during Handel's lifetime that you might have heard about before today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death

 

Handel died at his home in 1759 at age 74. More than 3,000 mourners attended his funeral, which was given full state honors, before being buried in Westminster Abbey.

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

Type of Music

 

Handel was a composer during the Baroque Period and is best known for his oratorios.  An oratorio is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists very similar to an opera, just without the acting.  Below is a YouTube video that describes Handel's life and music in more detail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most Famous Music

 

Handel's most famous piece of music is the Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah, which is commonly performed during the Christmas season.  Fun Fact: It is traditional to stand up when the Hallelujah Chorus is being sung/played. Supposedly, the first time this was performed, King George I was so moved when he heard it that he stood up - and if the King stood up, this meant everyone else had to too!  This tradition continues to be observed during performances.

 

 

 

 

Music in Pop Culture

 

Handel's music has been used several times in popular culture, such as flash mobs.  Click Handel's pop art portrait to see video examples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

 

Listening

 

The video below is great example of Handel's most famous music, Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah.