George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (baptised as Georg Friedrich Händel; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-born British composer from the Baroque period.
He is well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Originally hailing from Eastern Germany, Handel received his training in Halle and worked as a composer in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London in 1712, where he spent the bulk of his career and became a naturalised British subject in 1727. He was strongly influenced both by the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition and by composers of the Italian Baroque. In turn, Handel's music forms one of the peaks of the "high baroque" style, bringing Italian opera to its highest development, creating the genres of English oratorio and organ concerto, and introducing a new style into English church music. He is one of the three iconic and recognized baroque composers, along with Bach and Vivaldi.
His music appeared in Season 2 of Little Einsteins.
Music Appearances in Trailers[]
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba[]
Music Appearances in Episodes[]
Water Music Suite No. 1[]
Music Appearances in Books[]
Music for the Royal Fireworks[]
Water Music Suite No. 2[]
Music Appearances in Games[]
Concerto Grosso[]
Sheet Music[]
Water Music Suite No. 1 in F Major, HWV 348[]
Trivia[]
- After his success with Messiah (1742), he never composed an Italian opera again.
- One of his four coronation anthems, Zadok the Priest, has been performed at every British coronation since 1727.
- When he died in 1759, he was given a state funeral at Westminster Abbey.
- Due to his influence, his music was admired by Classical-era composers, especially Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.