Composer Biography: G.F. Handel
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Beethoven so admired Handel's work that he wrote it out so as to get the "feeling of its intricacies" and "to unravel its complexities". Handel exerted considerable influence on Beethoven at various stages of his career. With this transcription of Handel's vocal fugue "And With His Stripes" from The Messiah, Beethoven sought to learn from the older composers fuguel techniques. Many of Beethoven's fugues are strongly influenced by Handel, with their long, sectional themes and their occasional unconventional procedures. Below is Beethoven's manuscript of a portion of Handel's Messiah.
Born: Feb. 23, 1685 in Halle Saxony
Died: April 14, 1759 in London
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George Frederich Handel
George Frideric Handel was born in Halle an der Saale,Saxony-Anhalt on February 23, 1685. His father was described as a "well-off" burgess. His mother was a Lutheran pastor's daughter. Handel left home at the age of 18, heading for Hamburg where he composed his first opera in 1704. He stayed in Italyy from 1706 to 1710 where he achieved great success as a composer. In 1710 he assumed, for a short time, the post of court kapellmeister to the Elector of Hanover. He moved to London in 1712 and made England his permanate home. In this country he enjoyed recognition and admiration, but he also had to cope with numerous hindrances and come to terms with failures and ailing health. Towards the end of his life, England accepted him as her national composer. He died, unmarried, in London on 14 April 1759 and was buried in Westminster Abbey; masses of Londoners attended his funeral ceremony.
Handel's Death mask, 1759
Handel, the hero of baroque music, bequeathed to mankind a singular artistic heritage. We know altogether 612 compositions by him. Many of his 42 operas and 26 oratorios are among the most valuable examples that have been created in European music. In his works Handel was striving for an impressive synthesis of various national styles. Besides the consummate mastery of composition and striking dramatic content, his music is noted for inward pathos and ravishing optimism. George Frideric Handel not only entertained the audiences, he also educated them according to the principles of the Enlightenment.
Manuscipt of Messiah
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