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Young World
THE GREAT ONES
George Frederick Handel
V.K. SUBRAMANIAN
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George Frederick Handel (1685 – 1759 A.D.)was known for his oratorios, his most famous work in this genre is Messiah.
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Illustration: V.K. Subramanian
George Frederick Handel, the great music composer, was born in Germany on February 23, 1685. He came to London in 1710 and became a naturalised British subject and lived in England till his death in 1759.He is considered the greatest English composer of the late Baroque era.
In 1720, he became the first director of the Royal Academy of Music.
Handel is known for his oratorios, which are stories, usually Biblical, set to music. His most famous work in this genre is Messiah, which he composed in 1742.
Handel’s large and varied output also included a lot of chamber music. Handel’s Italian operas are also highly appreciated.
A genius
The obituary published in the journal, Public Advertiser, which is also an acrostic on his name is the best eulogy on his life and work:
He’s gone, the Soul of Harmony is fled!
And warbling Angels hover round him dead,
Never, no, never since the Tide of Time,
Did music know a Genius so sublime!
Each mighty harmonist that’s gone before,
Lessen’d to Mites when we his Works explore.
Handel once sent word to a local tavern ordering dinner for two. When he arrived he asked the landlord to bring the dinner. The landlord said he understood that Handel was expecting company.
“I am the company,” said Handel and duly finished the dinner for two.
This is an extract from the book The Great Ones by V.K.Subramanian, Abhinav Publications, New Delhi
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