George Frideric Handel
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Handel - one of the most famous baroque composers
If you ask someone to give you a name of a baroque composer he or she will most likely answer with "Johann Sebastian Bach" or "Handel".
If you ask me whom I do prefer, I can only say "I love them both". Whenever I feel a bit down, I listen to the Music for the Royal Fireworks or the Water Music, and I am more or less feeling better instantly.
The Messiah and especially the Halleluja deeply moves me because of its jubilant force.
I also added a part of one of Handel's famous Concerti grossi; the Concerto grosso op 6, no 6. I did this because it is typical piece of baroque orchestral music and - not to forget - it is a wonderful piece of music to listen to!
Enjoy!
Some Information about George Frideric Handel
Handel - the Cosmopolitan
George Frideric Handel (German: Georg Friedrich Händel) was born in 1685 and died in 1759.
He was a German-English Baroque composer, who is famous for his operas, oratorios, and concerti grossi. His life and music may justly be described as "cosmopolitan":
He was born in Germany in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. He wanted to pursue a musical career, but his father was against that and wanted him to study law. After his father's death he enrolled in law but abandoned it, became an organist and began to compose.
1706 he moved to Italy and got in contact with Italien baroque music. 1710 he moved to England and later on became a british subject. He spent most of his life time in England.
In April 1737, at age 52, Handel suffered a stroke. He fully recovered from it, and it is said, that he wrote the Messiah in order to thank God for his recovery.
When he died in London at the age of 74 more than three thousand mourners attended his funeral, which was given full state honours. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
He was a German-English Baroque composer, who is famous for his operas, oratorios, and concerti grossi. His life and music may justly be described as "cosmopolitan":
He was born in Germany in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. He wanted to pursue a musical career, but his father was against that and wanted him to study law. After his father's death he enrolled in law but abandoned it, became an organist and began to compose.
1706 he moved to Italy and got in contact with Italien baroque music. 1710 he moved to England and later on became a british subject. He spent most of his life time in England.
In April 1737, at age 52, Handel suffered a stroke. He fully recovered from it, and it is said, that he wrote the Messiah in order to thank God for his recovery.
When he died in London at the age of 74 more than three thousand mourners attended his funeral, which was given full state honours. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Water Music
George Frideric Handel composed the Water Music in 1717. It is a collection of orchestral movements, often considered as three suites. It premiered in the summer on July 17, 1717 when King George I requested a concert on the River Thames. The concert was performed by 50 musicians playing on a barge close to the royal barge from which the King listened with some close friends. George I was said to have loved it so much that he ordered the exhausted musicians to play the suites three times on the trip.
Legend has it that Handel composed Water Music to regain the favour of King George I because he had moved out of London under the reign of King George's predecessor, Queen Anne.
Legend has it that Handel composed Water Music to regain the favour of King George I because he had moved out of London under the reign of King George's predecessor, Queen Anne.
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Concerto grosso Opus 6, No 6
The concerti grossi opus 3 and 6 belong to Handel's most famous works.
The concerto grosso (Italian for big concert(o) is a form of baroque music in which the musical material is passed between a small group of soloists and full orchestra .
The concerto grosso (Italian for big concert(o) is a form of baroque music in which the musical material is passed between a small group of soloists and full orchestra .
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Handel on Amazon
Messiah
Halleluja!
George Frideric Handel composed Messiah in 1741. The oratorio (a concert piece with choir, orchestra and soloists) was premiered in Dublin on 13 April 1742, It is Handel's most famous creation and among the most popular works in Western choral literature. It includes the very well-known chorus, "Hallelujah!".
In Great Britain and in many other countries of the world people stand up when they hear the first notes of this section of the Messiah. This tradition is based on the fact that King George II rose to his feet when he heard the piece for the first time, and so everyone else had to rise, too.
In Great Britain and in many other countries of the world people stand up when they hear the first notes of this section of the Messiah. This tradition is based on the fact that King George II rose to his feet when he heard the piece for the first time, and so everyone else had to rise, too.
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Music for the Royal Fireworks
Music to celebrate peace
George Frideric Handel composed the Music for the Royal Fireworks in 1749 under contract of George II of Great Britain. On 27 April 1749 there were fireworks in London's Green Park in order to celebrate the end of the War of the Austrian Succession and the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. Handel's music was to accompany the fireworks.
It was the crown who insisted on the titel Music for the Royal Fireworks, not Handel who would have preferred the title overture.
It was the crown who insisted on the titel Music for the Royal Fireworks, not Handel who would have preferred the title overture.
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boutiqueshops
May 23, 2010 @ 4:02 pm | delete
- Wonderful, as always!
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a_willow
Feb 2, 2010 @ 2:32 am | delete
- You are one of Fresh Squid December 2009 graduates! Come by and answer few questions to show the way to those who will follow! Wish you many, many more great lenses!
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kimmanleyort
Dec 1, 2009 @ 12:56 pm | delete
- Very interesting lens, Ulla, and I enjoyed listening to the music you selected. 5*
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prosperity66
Dec 1, 2009 @ 3:00 am | delete
- This lens teaches a lot about Handel. Very interesting!
Dom.
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aj2008
Nov 27, 2009 @ 11:23 am | delete
- I saw Handel's Messiah performed at the Royal Festival Hall in London when I was a teenager. An excellent lens and SquidAngel Blessings for you!
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ulla_hennig
I have been living in Berlin since 1981. I work at the University of the Arts as web editor, and in my free time I take photographs and write blog posts.... more »
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