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develop irregular form to an extreme. Critics see in it some influence
of the young Stravinsky.
6. Handel, George Frederick (February 23, 1685 – April 14, 1759)
was a German-born Baroque composer who is famous for his operas,
oratorios and concerti grossi. Born as
Georg Friedrich Händel in Halle,
he spent most of his adult life in England, becoming a subject of the
British crown on 22 January 1727. His most famous works are
Messiah,
an oratorio set to texts from the King James Bible,
Water Music and
Music for the Royal Fireworks. Strongly influenced by the techniques
of the great composers of the Italian Baroque and the English composer
Henry Purcell, his music was known to many significant composers who
came after him, including Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Handel was born in Halle in 1685, the same year that both Johann
Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti were born. Handel displayed
considerable musical talent at an early age; by the age of seven he was
a skilful performer on the harpsichord and pipe organ, and at nine he
began to compose music. His first two operas,
Almira and
Nero, were
produced in 1705. Two other early operas,
Daphne and
Florindo, were
produced in 1708.
His
Rodrigo was produced in Florence in 1707, and his
Agrippina
at Venice in 1709.
Agrippina, which ran for an unprecedented
27 performances, showed remarkable maturity and established his
reputation as an opera composer.
In 1710, Handel became
Kapellmeister to George, Elector of Hannover,
who would soon be King George I of Great Britain. He visited Anna
Maria Luisa de’ Medici on his way to London in 1710, where he settled
permanently in 1712, receiving a yearly income of £200 from Queen
Anne.
In 1723, Handel moved into a newly built house in 25 Brook Street,
London, which he rented until his death in 1759, 36 years later. This
house is now the Handel House Museum, a restored Georgian house open
to the public with an events programme of Baroque music.
Handel had a long association with the Royal Opera House at Covent
Garden, where many of his Italian operas were premiered.
Handel’s
Messiah was first performed in New Music Hall in
Fishamble Street, Dublin on 13 April 1742, with 26 boys and five men
from the combined choirs of St. Patrick’s and Christ Church cathedrals
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