George Frederic Handel

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George Frederic Handel was one of the greatest composers to ever live. While this may seem like a very bold statement, it can be supported up by the monumental accomplishments achieved by Handel during his lifetime. Along with being a musical genius, Handel was also one of the greatest composers of the baroque era. Handel never gave up his dream of becoming a world class musician, even though his father wanted him to become a lawyer. The operas and oratorios Handel created are still some of the greatest ever made, and his creativeness and speed is unmatched even today. In order to fully understand Handel and all the great musical pieces he created it’s essential that we know his history, accomplishments, and works.

George Frederic Handel was born in Halle, Germany in 1685 to Georg and Dorothea Handel. (cite Handel) His Father, a barber-surgeon, was very vocal in wanting his son to pursue a career as a lawyer. Nevertheless, George Handel never gave up his dreams of becoming a musician. When he was seven, Handel performed before the duke at Weissenfels and became the student of Friedrich Wilhelm Zacchow, who was a composer and organist at the Liebfrauenkirche in Germany. (Handel cite) Zacchow taught Handel how to play a variety of instruments, including the violin, organ, and oboe. He also taught Handel many compositions for these instruments and many other instruments like it. When Handel was eighteen, he attended the University of Halle to appease his father, who persisted that his son becomes a lawyer. However, before Handel was able to finish his education at the University of Halle, he left to fulfill is lifelong dream as a musician. He composed a mass quantity of pieces from 1696 to 1701.

In 1704, Handel be...

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...so much. Handel’s influences on future generations are also very great. Future generation will continue to recognize Handel as one of the greatest composers and musicians who ever lived.

In summary, Handel was one of the greatest composers to ever live. Although George Frederic Handel was mostly known for his oratorio The Messiah, he is also one of the paramount composers of the baroque era. Even though his father wanted him to become a lawyer, Handel never gave up his dream of becoming a world class musician. His creativeness and speed is unmatched even today. The operas and oratorios Handel created are still some of the greatest ever made. His contrasting textures and beautiful melodies make his music some of the most technical and beautiful music ever created.

Works Cited

Dowley, Tim. "Weimar and Cothen." Bach. Secaucus, NJ: Chartwell, 1990. 42. Print.

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