George Friedrich Handel 16851759

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George Friedrich Handel 16851759

• The Man The Music!

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Who was Handel?

• Born in Halle, Germany, Handel was one of
  the greatest masters of baroque music, most
  widely celebrated for his majestic oratorio The
  Messiah. Of German descent, he was originally
  named George Friedrich Handel.

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George F. Handel's opera Rodelinda
George F. Handels opera Guilio Cesare
George F. Handels opera Tamerlano
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The Man and his works!

• In 1710 Handel became musical director to the
  elector of Hanover but obtained leave to visit
  England in 1711, when his Rinaldo was produced in
  London.
• He returned to England in 1712 and took up
  permanent residence there. His employer, the
  elector, became George I of England in 1714. It
  was for the king that Handel composed his
  celebrated orchestral Water Music (1717).

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Water Music?
The huge crowds for both the Water Music and
Fireworks performances are significant. Public
concerts would arise only in the late 18th
century. Before then, performances of opera,
concerti and all the other secular Baroque works
were strictly for royalty and their entourages.
The general public had no access aside from
trickle-down versions by musicians, and many
would pass their entire lives without ever
hearing a skilled artist perform great music. An
opportunity to witness a brand new work by
England's most famous composer was unique and not
to be missed! Well aware of this, Handel seized
the opportunity not only to delight his
unaccustomed fans, but, more important, to
educate them. Both the Water Music and Royal
Fireworks brought his audience a crash course in
the art they had missed.
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The Oratorio
Lliterally 'oratory', a building for prayer (a
chapel), from the Latin, oratio, 'prayer').
Originally, the name was given to the building
itself where such works were performed, the term
was, from about 1640, applied exclusively to a
musical work, performed without costume or stage
settings, using a religious text, using an
orchestra, choir and solo singers.

• in Handel's Messiah was presented in Dublin,
  Ireland 1742. An essentially contemplative work,
  it stands apart from the rest of his 32
  oratorios.
• Handels Messiah is one of the composers most
  favored works. It has enjoyed popularity from the
  composers day up until the present, where it is
  a Christmas favorite. But when was the piece
  written? How was it first received?

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The Messiah is taken from the old and new
testaments of the Christian Bible. It details the
life and death of Christ in three parts, birth,
death and resurrection. Each of these parts
consists of recitatives and arias following one
another.
Handel's "Messiah" is a great work for orchestra,
chorus and soloists. The text is taken from the
Bible and forms a dramatic commentary on the
whole prophecy and fulfillment of the redemption
of man. It is in three parts Part I
The prophecy and coming of the Messiah.
Part II The redemption of mankind through
the sacrifice of Jesus. Part III
Thanksgiving for the ultimate defeat of death
through faith in the kingdom of God.
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History of the The Messiah The Messiah was
written under difficult circumstances for the
composer. It is rumored that this piece was
composed while he was in the Tower of London,
imprisoned for debt. This is actually not true,
though he was in debt at the time of composition.
Handel was suffering from a stoke, however, which
paralyzed the left side of his face, causing his
intense pain and embarrassment. His left hand had
trouble writing,
Handel composed the Messiah in a total of 22
days, for a premiere in Dublin, where he had been
invited to perform a series of concerts, despite
his illness.
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It contains chorus melodies interspersed with
solos or arias for soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
All of the pieces contain the clear-cut melodies
which alternate between soaring notes and pomp
and circumstances for the nobility. Brass plays a
prominent role in the orchestra, which has a
sonorous quality unmatched in almost any other
oratorio.
listening of several pieces within the Messiah,
for an overview of the piece. How Beautiful are
the Feet, Their Sound Has Gone Out, And He
Shall Purify and the Hallelujah Chorus are
memorable pieces that will bring a flavor of the
rest of the work.
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Millions of people have been able to believe
that.  The first audience to hear the composition
-- in Dublin in 1742 --gave it the greatest
ovation in the city's history.  Weeks later,
London heard it for the first time, and again it
was a triumph.  The King was so impressed during
the Hallelujah Chorus that he rose to his feet --
a custom that still prevails.
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Handel died before seeing his most famous work
The Messiah reach the immense popularity that
it has achieved in modern times.
Handel's sight became impaired in 1751, and by
1753 he was totally blind, but he continued to
conduct performances of his works on occasion. He
is buried in Westminster Abbey. Handel's musical
style exemplifies the vigor and grandeur of the
late German baroque and at the same time has
English and Italian qualities of directness,
clarity, and charm. He strongly influenced
English composers for a century after his death,
and, following a period of relative neglect, he
has again come to be recognized as one of music's
great figures.
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George Friedrich Handel16851759
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Information you need to know!

• Born in Halle, Germany, Handel was one of the
  greatest masters of baroque music,
• After studying law he joined the opera orchestra
• His employer, the elector, became George I of
  England in 1714.
• Handel's Messiah was presented in Dublin, Ireland
• Handels Messiah is one of the composers most
  favored works.
• The Messiah is taken from the old and new
  testaments of the Christian Bible.
• Handel's "Messiah" is a great work for orchestra,
  chorus and soloists.
• Part I The prophecy and coming of the Messiah.
• Part II The redemption of mankind through the
  sacrifice of Jesus.
• Part III TheThanksgiving for the ultimate defeat
  of death through faith in the kingdom of God.
• Handel composed the Messiah in a total of 22 days
• It contains chorus melodies interspersed with
  solos or arias for soprano, alto, tenor and bass
  with soaring notes and pomp and circumstances for
  the nobility.
• The King was so impressed during the Hallelujah
  Chorus that he rose to his feet
• Handel's sight became impaired in 1751, and by
  1753 he was totally blind,
• Handel's musical style exemplifies the vigor and
  grandeur of the late German baroque and at the
  same time has English and Italian qualities of
  directness, clarity, and charm

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Important Works of Handel

• Rodelinda (opera)
• Guilio Cesare (opera)
• Tamerlano (opera)
• Water Music for the Royal Fireworks (orchestra)
• The Messiah (oratorio)
• And He Shall Feed His Flock
• For Unto Us A Child Is Born
• And The Glory of The Lord
• And He Shall Purify
• Hallelujah Chorus

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George F. Handel Links.

• http//www.classicalarchives.com/handel.html
• http//americanhandelsociety.org/
• http//www.handelhouse.org/
• http//gfhandel.org/