George Frideric Handel
Biography
• One of the greatest composers of the late baroque period (16 century)
• Baroque period: It started from Italy and spread out to Europe. Baroque in Portuguese it means irregular but later musician decided to change the meaning of this word and they ended up with meaning “ creative”.
• Born in February 24, 1685
• Halle, Germany
• Playing the violin, harpsichord, oboe and organ by the age of eleven
• He became a pupil of Zachow, the principal organist in Halle because his father wanted him to study.
• Appointed organist of the Calvinist Cathedral but a year later he left for Hamburg.
• Played the violin and harpsichord in the opera house where his Almira was given
• In 1704, he composed his own opera, ‘Almira’, achieved great success
• Once again composed several operas and some ceremonial music for Queen Anne.
• Prince invites Handel to Italy because he was impressed by his music.
• He heard and met composers and performers of some world’s greatest operas, as well as the principal instrumental forms of the concerto and sonata.
• By 1719 Handel had won the support of the king to start the Royal Academy of Music for performances of opera.
• Forced to move to another theater by the Opera of the Nobility, a rival company, in 1734.
• He called as “Great Bear” because of his huge size, awkward walk and gruff manner.
• As in Germany and Italy, Handel absorbed England’s best music and integrated it into his own works.
• In 1713, a commission from Queen Anne helped Handel to sever his ties with Germany and make England his permanent home.
• Handel was well known for his temper and the way he would yell at a performer who did not follow his orders.
• Handel joined another opera house and continued to produce operas and rework his existing material with varying degrees of success.
• Handel regained his success by establishing the English...