Handel, George Frederick

Handel, George Frederick (1685-1759), German-born composer.

By the time he was eleven, George Frederick Handel could play the harpsichord, the oboe and the violin.

At seventeen he was organist at the cathedral in his home town of Halle in Germany and one year later he was working in the opera house at Hamburg.

After a visit to Italy, Handel began writing operas. One of his operas, Rinaldo, was a great success in London and Handel decided to settle in England.

Later he became an English citizen. He wrote in all about forty-two operas. He also wrote many other forms of music including twenty oratorios. The best-known of his oratorios is the Messiah. This was first performed in London in 1743.

At the Hallelujah Chorus, King George II was so impressed that he stood up and the rest of the audience copied his action. As a result, it became a custom for the audience to stand during this part of the work.

Two other pieces of music by Handel often heard today are The Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks.

When he was an old man Handel went blind, but he continued to conduct performances of his music and also to compose.

He is buried in Westminster Abbey.

See W. S. Rockstro The Life Of George Frederick Handel