Circa: 1659 - 1695

Place of Birth: Halle, Saxony (now part of Germany)

Period: Late Baroque

Influences: Italian Opera

Best Known Works: Messiah, Water Music.

Did You Know?

In 1727 Handel wrote four anthems for the coronation of the English monarch King Geordge II. One of them, Zadok the Priest, has been sung at the coronation of every British monarch since.

Facts.

Although Handel was born in Germany, he spent a great ammount of time in Italy learning the Italian style of opera. He spent most of his mature years living in England, but writing opera the Italian way.

Handel's first real job was as a court conductor in Hanover, where he was asked to write the opera Rinaldo for performance in London. He soon realised the possibilities to develop his career in England were much greater than those in Hanover, so he moved to England permanently. Italian opera was extremely popular at the time, and Handel was very good at writing it. The Italians themselves had once declared him a genius, and it wasn't long before his talents drew the attention of Queen Anne. So impressed was she with his work that she gave him an annual pension of £200 for life. This was a good sum of money at the time, but not quite as good as the £600 a year King George was to allow him some years later.

The popularity of Italian opera began to decline in the 1730's. Handel saw this coming and through opera was his great love, he knew that if he was to continue to be a success he would have to change. Reluctantly he began concentrating on dramatic oratorios. Though he didn't want to write these pieces, again he found that he was very good at it. So in fact, the most famous oratirio ever writter was his Messiah, a piece of music which made him world famous.

Handel did not revolutionise music as other great composers have, but instead took established forms of music to new heights of achievement, and made the supermely beautiful.

KEY WORDS

Opera - Drama set to music

Oratorios - A religious story set to music