George Frideric Handel: the German Born Musical Genius Full of Imperfections, But Gifted - By Cassandra Portee

Many times we think famous composers had/have an easy life, and they are exempted from the burdens and challenges that affect other people.  This is not true, and the composer featured here is a clear example of the challenges he faced, and how he overcame them.

BORN:  February 23, 1685

BIRTH PLACE:  Halle, Germany

DIED:  April 14, 1759, London, United Kingdom

BURIED:  Westminster Abbey, London, United Kingdom

George Frideric Handel was one of the great composers from the Baroque Period.  Handel and two other composers were born the same year---Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti.  His parents were Georg and Dorothea Handel.  His father was 63 years old when he was born.  He served at the court of Saxe-Weissenfelsand the Margraviate of Brandenburg as a barber-surgeon.  He had five children from his first marriage.  His second wife was the daughter of a Lutheran minister.  George was the second child, and he had two younger sisters, and the first child, a boy, was still born.

At a young age he showed an interest and ability in music.  His father was completely against this and he would not allow George to have music lessons.  He stressed to his son he was going to become a lawyer.  His father felt life as a musician had very little prestige.  His reasoning for wanting George to become a lawyer is they were respected, live in a nice house, wear nice clothes, eat in expensive restaurants, and have money to pay their bills.  Composers were destitute, have trouble paying their bills, and live life as a pauper.  His mother was aware of her son’s passion and love for music, and without her husband’s knowledge, snuck a clavichord into the house and hid it in the attic.  Young George practiced only when his father was away from the house.

Between the ages of 7 and 9, he accompanied his father to Weissefels to visit a relative who was in service to Duke Johann Adolf I, as a butler.  While there he made his way to the court organ, and to everyone’s surprise he played the organ magnificently.  The Duke was so impressed with young George’s musical ability that he persuaded his father to find a music teacher for George.  His teacher was Freidrich Wilhelm Zachow who was the church composer for the Lutherans, and he taught Handel about counterpoint, harmony, copying and analyzing music scores.  Handel received lessons on the violin, oboe, (his favorite instrument), organ, and, harpsichord.  At age 12 Handel became the assistant organist.  His father died that same year and this left George free to pursue his dream as a musician.

In 1704 Handel began his operatic career with his first opera Almira.  It had a successful run of 20 performances. He went to Italy in 1706 and met a lot of notable Italian musicians.  He had four happy productive years living in Italy.  It was while he was in Venice, Italy, Handel met several people who were interested in England and he was persuaded to go to London to become a freelance musician.  He met with the King’s Theatre manager who gave him a chance to compose an opera.  He produced the opera Rinaldo in two weeks.  This was the high point of the London opera season in 1710-1711.  He was set for the rest of his life.  The English loved Handel and Handel loved London.  Queen Anne was so impressed with Handel’s music that she paid him an annual salary of two hundred pounds.  George I became king after Queen Anne’s death.  In 1715 Handel provided music for the king and his guests while barges floated down the River Thames.  This music is known as the famous “Water Music”.

In 1719, Handel became the conductor of the orchestra at the Royal Academy of Music, which was the first Italian opera company in London.

Handel became a citizen of England in 1627.  He was appointed composer of music to the Chapel Royal.  He felt the English people appreciated and understood his music.  

Handel began composing oratorios when the Italian style of opera was no longer popular in England.  His most famous oratorio is Messiah.  The king commissioned Handel to write music to celebrate the end of the War of Austrian.  There was a display of fireworks.  This music work became known as the “Fireworks Music”.

Handel was asked to write music for the coronation of King George II on October 11, 1727.  He wrote four anthems, but “Zadok the Priest” is the one that was performed for the coronation.  This music is written for a chamber orchestra and a large choir.  The music is majestic, celebratory and triumphant.  “Zadok the Priest” has been performed for every coronation since 1727.

William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland invited Handel to present a series of charitable concerts in Dublin.  Handel was disappointed about the attitude of the people in London towards his music from the previous year, and he thought it would be a great idea to introduce his work in Dublin, and then in London afterwards. Messiah debuted in Dublin, Ireland on April 13, 1742.

During London’s first performance of Messiah, King George II was so moved by the music that he stood up as soon as the “Hallelujah Chorus”  began.  When the king stood that meant everybody stood up.  This is why people still stand today for the “Hallelujah Chorus”.  (There is a debate as to whether this story is true because it is not fully known if King George II was actually there for the performance).  Also, Messiah was not received warmly in London because people could not believe music with religious/scriptural references from the Bible would be performed in a secular setting at the Covent Garden Theater on March 23, 1743.  

Toward the latter part of his life Handel became blind.  He could no longer compose, but he still played the harpsichord and organ.  He often conducted his oratorios.

On April 6, 1759, while sitting at the organ for a performance of Messiah in London, Handel fell ill.  Eight days later he died on April 14, 1759 at his home at 25 Brook Street in London’s Mayfair district.  He was 74 years old.

Life for Handel was not easy.  There were times he came very close to being arrested and put in debtor’s prison because he could not pay his creditors.  He and another composer, Johann Mattheson, had a terrible quarrel.  Handel was almost killed in a duel  with Matteson’s sword.  Fortunately, the sword struck a button instead of Handel’s chest.  He worked hard to make enough money to pay off his debts.  He made friends easily, but he also had enemies who were jealous of him as a composer, musician, and his talents.  Handel was a large, ungraceful man who was known for his violent temper.  But he also enjoyed a good laugh and could easily be humored quickly.

He was a genius who left the world with great music that is still performed today from musicians and conductors around the world. He wrote 42 operas, 29 oratorios, more than 120 cantatas, duets, and trios.  His repertoire also includes a large number of ecumenical pieces, odes, serenades, and 16 organ concerti.

I wonder what Handel would say if he were alive today to see how much his music is loved and cherished by music lovers around the world.  I would love to sit down with him and just talk and let him know I have admired him as a great composer and person, because I can relate to some of the challenges he faced, and how he inspired me to never give up. If you keep moving forward things will get better, and you become a stronger person.  He did not let challenges hold him back.  Even though he lost his eyesight, he still worked to give music we enjoy today. There was nothing fancy about Handel.  Yes, he probably had his strange behaviors, but he never thought of himself too highly to not work hard and stand firm to face your challenges.  I think another great composer, Beethoven, said it best about Handel:  “Go to him to learn how to achieve great effects, by such simple means.  He is the greatest composer that ever lived.  I would uncover my head and kneel before his tomb."

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Cassandra Portee is an elementary music schoolteacher by day and has been for over 30 years. Her passion is music history and teaching about the lives of the classical composers. She’s also Seele’s copywriter. In her spare time she teaches piano lessons, works in the after school program at her school, volunteers on political campaigns, she’s involved in her church, she mentors young women, and she contributes to her community in planning events. Most weekends you can find her nestled in a bookstore, reading books with the latest seasonal latte.