Contents
George Frideric Handel
Composing Messiah, Water Music and music for British royal occasions.
Water Music · Zadok the Priest
- Born
- 5 March 1685
- Birthplace
- Halle, Germany
- Died
- 14 April 1759
More people
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was a German-born British composer who built a London career in Italian opera before achieving enduring success with English-language oratorios.
Early life
Halle training
Studied organ and composition with Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow while his father wanted him to pursue law.
Learning abroad
Worked in Hamburg’s opera world and then travelled to Italy, developing his command of vocal writing.
Career
- 1706–1710
Italian apprenticeship
Composed operas, cantatas and sacred music during a formative stay in Italy.
- 1712
London base
Settled in London and developed a career writing and producing Italian opera.
- 1740s
Oratorio audiences
Increasingly concentrated on English choral dramas performed in concert rather than staged as operas.
Selected work
Water Music
Orchestral suites associated with a royal excursion on the River Thames.
Zadok the Priest
A coronation anthem written for George II that became part of later British coronations.
Messiah
An oratorio drawing on biblical texts, first performed in Dublin.
Beyond work
British citizenship
Became a naturalised British subject in 1727 after making London his home.
Foundling Hospital
Supported the London children’s charity through performances of Messiah and other contributions.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Handel’s charitable performances — Foundling Museum ↗Photo: Attributed to Balthasar Denner. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
