George Frideric Handel

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Recommended: influences on Handel’s musical style

One of the Baroque period’s greatest composers, George Frideric Handel, lived an eventful, passionate and successful but sometimes tragic life, following his dreams even when the odds seemed against him. The intricate music of George Handel’s shows his great attention to detail and his critical judgment. This can all be seen though his compositions of operas, oratorios and his other various musical pieces. “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshments of the soul,” (thinkexist.com). His belief that music was the glorification of God constituted the role of Handel’s compositions in the churches of his day.
George Frideric Handel, who is one of the greatest and well known composers of all time, was born on February 23, 1685 and died on April 14, 1759 and his entire lifetime was filled with music and wonder. Although being an English composer and organist Handel was born in Germany. At first he followed his father’s footsteps to study the law but later decided to change his profession to music, but his father stubbornly refused to let him follow his dream and because of this Handel was forced to practice in secret. Soon becoming the pupil of Friedrich Wilhelm Zacchow, Handel was taught composition, the organ, violin and the oboe. In 1703 he joined the Goosemarket Theater as a violinist. After settling in England and becoming a citizen in 1726, Handel’s compositions impressed Queen Anne of England who awarded him with 200 pounds annually, which was raised to 600 by King George soon after. In England, Handel was appointed the composer of music to The Chapel Royal. During the rest of his life in England, Handel completed many more famous compositions including the Messiah. Suffering...

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...demonstrated a critical judgment imperative for master composers (Uxl Encyclopedia of World Biography). During his life, many events occurred that’s collaborated effect resulted in the life of an astronomical composer. Through his operas and oratorios, Handel became a legend as a dramatic composer.

Works Cited

"George Frideric Handel." Baroque Music. Accessed 1/14/14 from [http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxhandel.html]
George Frideric Handel Quotes. Think Exist, 2013. Accessed 1/17/14. [http://thinkexist.com/quotation/whether-i-was-in-my-body-or-out-of-my-body-as-i/347705.html]
Handel, George Frideric." UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Jan. 2014 .
Quotes by George Frideric Handel. Best Music Quotes, 2012. Accessed 1/17/14. [http://bestmusicquotes.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/quotes-by-george-frideric-handel/]

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