George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (/ ˈhændəl / HAN-dəl; [a] baptised Georg Fried[e]rich Händel, [b] German: [ˈɡeːɔʁk ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈhɛndl̩] ⓘ; 5 March [O.S. 23 February] 1685 – 14 April 1759) [3][c] was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Handel spent his early life in ...
George Frideric Handel, German-born English composer of the late Baroque era, noted particularly for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental compositions. He wrote the most famous of all oratorios, Messiah, and is also known for such occasional pieces as Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks.
George Frideric Handel Protrait Attributed to Balthasar Denner (Public Domain) George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was a composer of baroque music who was born in Germany but became an English citizen. His most famous works include his Messiah, Water Music, baroque Italian operas, and English oratorios. A hugely successful composer in his own lifetime, his last years were blighted by blindness ...
George Frideric Handel—the most successful composer of the early 18th century, lauded by Beethoven in 1823 as “the greatest that ever lived”—remains a favorite today through the popularity of pieces such as Messiah, the Water Music, and many others. Unlike the other great German composer born in 1685, Johann Sebastian Bach, who pursued his career in the towns and courts of north ...
And with like sounds as tune the rolling spheres, So tunes the mind, that ev’ry sense has ears. When jaundice jealousy, and carking care, Or tyrant pride, or homicide despair, The soul as on a rack in torture keep, Those monsters Handel’s music lulls to sleep. an anonymous poem in The Gentleman's Magazine (May 1740)