Similarities Between Handel And Beethoven

George Frederic Handel and Ludwig van Beethoven are arguably two of the most influential composers of their time. Handel, of the Baroque era, primarily focused on Italian operas, composing over forty of them. However, he did have other major works such as English oratorios, other vocal music, orchestral suites and keyboard and chamber music. Beethoven, of the Classical or Age of Enlightenment era concentrated predominantly on orchestral music. His other compositions include concertos, chamber music and choral music. George Frederic Handel was born on February 23, 1685, to Georg and Dorothea Handel, in Halle, Germany. He developed a love for music at an early age, but it was not supported by his father, a surgeon-barber, who yearned for him

They loved it so much, they even funded it. However, he was much too independent to be under the demands of any patron, so he moved on to try his luck in London. Italian opera took London by storm; King George I even asked Handel to compose “Water Music” for an aquatic fate on the River Thames. The King enjoyed “Water Music” so much that he requested it be played three times. Aristocracy decided to open The Royal Music Academy. Handel was the obvious choice, filling in the roles of director, actor, agent and conductor for the Academy. His operas focused on emotion rather than virtuosity, which was unusual for the time. Handel was nicknamed “The Big Bear” after he threatened to throw Francesca Cuzzoni, a famous opera singer, out the window for her refusal to sing one of his

One of these masterpieces included Fidelio, his one and only opera. In 1815, however, his life unraveled. Following the death of his brother, his work slowed down tremendously, and he endured court battles in order to adopt his nephew. By 1819, Beethoven stopped performing publically, but began writing pieces for “the future”, rather than himself. He died on March 26, 1827, in Vienna, Austria. He left behind timeless compositions, and also changed the view of classical music entirely. Beethoven is considerably the world’s greatest composer to date. In assessing the lives of Handel and Beethoven, both had a difficult childhood. Handel’s father didn’t support his passion for music and forbade him from learning it until his latter teen years. Beethoven had to provide for his family, and was under extreme pressure to compete with young Mozart’s talent. Handel and Beethoven both are notorious composers that had a substantial impact during their time, as well as today. Their works have a sense of everlastingness in which their spirits live