![]() When King George I died, Handel wrote the anthems for the coronation of the new king. In 1727, Handel officially applied for and became a British subject and adopted England as his new country. When he visited England he decided to stay. He established the Royal Academy of Music, an Italian opera company, and traveled all over seeking out the singers he wished to have as part of his company. George wrote operas and oratorios plus music for instruments and ensembles. ![]() In 1717 one of his most famous pieces of music, the Water Music, was performed at a royal party which took place on a barge floating down the Thames River. Handel was so favored in England that the queen gave him a royal pension to be paid each year. It was a fantastic success and assured Handel of the finest reputation in England. Handel entered the musical scene in England and produced his first opera, Rinaldo, at the Queen’s Theater on February 24, 1711. As he grew older, Handel became an outstanding organist and often traveled all over Europe sharing his musical talents. Later he moved to Hamburg where he was employed in the Opera House first as a violinist and later as harpsichordist. This did not last long, and George took his first position as organist of Halle Cathedral. In 1702, when George was 17, he entered the University of Halle as a law student. 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. He learned how to compose, and how to play violin and oboe as well as organ and harpsichord. George began to study with the organist of St. When the Duke heard his talent, he commanded Handel’s father to see to it that George had the best possible training in music. While there, George had an opportunity to play the great organ. In 1693, he took George with him to visit the court. George’s father was the appointed barber-surgeon to the court of Saxe Weissinfels. 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 aunt gave him a spinet (an early harpsichordthat had a single keyboard and only one string for each note) for his 7th birthday. He wanted George to become a lawyer, but George was captured by the sound of music. George’s father had definite plans for his son. ![]() George Frideric Handel was the son of a barber-surgeon.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |