The Life and Musical Influence of George Frideric Handel

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Recommended: Influences on Handel’s musical style

George Frideric Handel was born musically inclined. As a child he was deprived of musical instruments because his father wanted him to pursue the law profession. However, George was allowed to take music lessons from a local organist, by the name of Friedrich Wilhelm Zachau, after Handel had impressed the Duke when he played the organ at the chapel. In his following years, Handel would travel to many places, accepting many different musical occupations. As Handel traveled, he was introduced to many of his musical influences. He wrote operas, oratorios, anthems, secular cantatas, and also wrote scarred music. Throughout his life, Handel would become famous for his compositions, particularly for his English Oratorios, however the most popular ones today include: “Messiah”, “The Water Music”, and “Royal Fireworks.”

George Frideric Handel made an incredible impact on several other well known musical composers. “He has generally been accorded high esteem by fellow composers, both in his own time and since. Bach apparently stated, “ He is the only person I would wish to see before I die, and the only person I would wish to be, were I not Bach.” Mozart is reputed to have said of him, “Handel understands effect better than any of us. When he chooses, he strikes like a thunder bolt,” and to Beethoven he was “the master of us all…the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head and kneel before his tomb.” (Classic Cat, Legacy)

While he was taking lessons with Zachau at the Halle Cathedral, Handel became his assistant organist. He followed his father’s wish for him to study law, however after his father died, Handel quit his unwanted pursuit of the career, and eventually moved to Hamburg, Germany which was a major music...

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...ion Inc., 2009.

Lynan, Peter. George Frideric Handel Biography - ( 1685 – 1759 ), Halle, Hamburg, and Italy, Hanover and early London years, Opera, Oratorio.

http://arts.jrank.org/pages/3117/George-Frideric-Handel.html

MacKay, Alison. "GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL". Tafelmusik’s music education initiatives. 5/16/2010.

http://www.tafelmusik.org/education/pdfs/Handel.pdf.

Roffel , Wim. "Biography of George Frideric Handel". The Classic Cat. 5/16/2010 http://www.classiccat.net/handel_gf/biography.htm

Sherrane, Robert. “The Baroque Age: George Frideric Handel.” Music History 102. Accessed: 5/18/2010. Date: 2008.

http://www.ipl.org/div/mushist/bar/handel.html

Vickers, David. “Messiah.” gfhandel.org. Received: 5/17/2010.

http://gfhandel.org/messiah.htm

"George Frideric Handel". Solar Haven. 5/16/2010

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