ComposersComposer of the Month
George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel was the son of a barber-surgeon. George's father had definite plans for his son. He wanted George to become a lawyer, but George was captured by the sound of music. George's aunt gave him a spinet (an early harpsichord that had a single keyboard and only one string for each note) for his 7th birthday. George and his aunt placed the spinet in the attic and whenever George had a chance he would go to the attic to play. George's father was the appointed barber-surgeon to the court of Saxe Weissinfels. In 1693, he took George with him to visit the court. While there George had an opportunity to play the great organ and when the Duke heard him he commanded Handel's father to see to it that George had the best possible training in music for he could hear George's talent. George began to study with the organist of St. Michel's in Halle. He learned how to compose, how to play violin and oboe as well as organ and harpsichord. Because his teacher had such a large music library George was able to become familiar with the French and Italian national styles of music as well. Near the end of his life, George became blind but still continued to perform on the organ and continued to compose music by dictating it to a friend who wrote it down. On April 6 1759 George conducted a performance of Messiah, was taken ill and returned home. He died on April 14, 1759, was given a state funeral, and was buried in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abby in London, England. Over 3000 people attended his funeral. |