Georg Friedrich Händel(George Frideric Handel)

Created by Tyler BradyMUSC 1010

George Frideric Handel1685-1759

Introduction

• George Frideric Handel was born on February 23rd, 1685.• He died on April 14, 1759 in London, England• Handel was one of the composers in the

Baroque Era.• His most famous piece is the “Messiah.”

Family

• Handel was named after his father, George Handel.• His father was a barber-surgeon.

• His mother was George Handel’s second wife, named Dorothea Taust. • She was the daughter of the pastor of Giebichenstein.

• His father was 63 when Handel was born.

Growing up

•Handel was interested in music from a young age. His father, however, wanted him to study law and didn’t let him have an instrument. •He somehow got a small clavichord and played secretly in the attic. •His mother was in favor of his pursuit of music.

Another Seed Planted

• Before Handel was ten years old, he went to the Duke’s Court in Weissenfels. • There he played the organ .• The Duke was very impressed with Handel and

convinced Handel’s father to let him study music, as long as he also studied law.

• He met a famous organist there named Friedrich Willhelm Zachow. Zachow became his personal teacher.

Early Experiences• By the time he was ten years old, he could

compose for the organ, oboe and violin!• In the next several years after that, he composed

some church music, but unfortunately, it wasn’t given much attention and isn’t around any more. • Handel went to Halle University.• While attending there, he got the position of organist at

the Calvinist Cathedral, which lasted 1 year.

Halle University

This was a school that Handel attended.

On to Hamburg

• When Handel was 18 years old he moved to Hamburg, Germany and played harpsichord for the Hamburg Opera’s Goosemarket Theater. • This was the only Opera besides the royal courts in

Germany at the time.

• He made extra money during this time by teaching private violin lessons.

Hamburg, GermanyThis is modern day

Hamburg, one of the places that Handel

lived.

First Opera

• Handel wrote his first opera in 1704. It was called Almira.• This opera was very successful.

• Handel was able to find several opportunities to perform in operas because he was so talented at playing the organ.

A Change of Scenery

• In 1706, Handel decided to move to Italy.• He learned a lot about putting music and words

together. • There, he wrote two more big operas: Rodrigo

and Agrippina• He met most of the famous Italian musicians

while there.

Another Move

• Handel decided to try his hand at music in London next, and so he moved there. • He met with the manager of the King’s Theatre

there and was given permission to write and opera for the theater. • It only took him two weeks to write one; he called it

Rinaldo.• This opera gave him great success. He got a lot of

recognition from it.

Royalty

•For the next few years, Handel wrote and performed for English Royalty. •To name a couple, he performed for Queen Anne and King George I.

Handel’s Water Music

• By request of King George I, Handel composed a special arrangement that is known as Handel’s Water Music. • It was performed on the River Thames in 1717 as part of

a big boat party for the King.• It consisted of 3 specially written pieces. • There were 50 instruments playing. • The King liked it so much, he had it played three times.

The River Thames

This is a picture of the River Thames,

where Handel’s Water Music was

performed.

The Royal Fireworks

• Another work that Handel composed for royalty is called Royal Fireworks. • It is made up of five movements. • It was composed for a festival that celebrated the

end of the War of the Austrian Succession. • There was a fireworks display after the performance.

The Royal Academy of Music

•He founded the Royal Academy of Music in 1720. • This was a place where Italian Opera was

performed.• He wrote, produced and directed operas

there. • Unfortunately, eventually the Royal

Academy failed and Handel moved to a different kind of music.

Oratorios

• After leaving the opera, Handel took a liking to composing Oratorios. • One reason for that was that they were much

cheaper; there was no expensive costumes and no fancy singers to pay.

• His most famous oratorio is Messiah, which is still very popular today.

The End

• Handel was an incredible composer. • It is said, “He wrote more than pretty well any other

composer in history.”1

• “Beethoven, we know, regarded Handel as the greatest composer. He said, “He is the master of us all.””1

• George Frideric Handel died April 14, 1759, and was buried at Westminster Abbey.

1 BYUtv, "Handel's Messiah"

Westminster Abbey

This is the gravestone/statue

of Handel at Westminster Abbey

References Cited:• Photo 1: BBC News 2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/george-frideric-handel-16851759-148450

• "George Handel." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 8 Feb. 2015.

•  ”George Frideric Handel (Profile)” Aaron Green, 2015 . Web. 8 Feb. 2015.

• “Handel's Water Music & Music For The Royal Fireworks @ BBC Proms 2012.” Youtube, 2015. Web. 8 Feb. 2015.

References Cited:

• “Music for the Royal Fireworks | work by Handel.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 2015. Web. 8 Feb. 2015.

• (BOOK) “The New Grove Handel.” Dean, Winton, and Anthony Hicks, 1982 Print. 8 Feb. 2015.

• Photo 2: "Halle University." Old Book Illustrations. Web. 8 Feb. 2015. http://www.oldbookillustrations.com/pages/halle-university.php?lng=en

References Cited:• Photo 3: "Handel's Flood Of Melodies: 'Water Music'" Handel's Flood Of

Melodies: 'Water Music'  Web. 8 Feb. 2015. http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/103025861/handel-s-flood-of-melodies-water-music

• Photo 4: "George Frederic Handel." Westminster Abbey ». Web. 8 Feb. 2015. http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/george-frederic-handel

• "Handel's Messiah." BYUtv. N.p., n.d. Web. 8Feb. 2015.http://www.byutv.org/watch/c981eb70-3199-4d1f-8a65-8fa6b70d6946/handels-messiah-handels-messiah