George Frideric Handel Biography
(German-British Composer Known for His Works: ‘Water Music’ and ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’)
Birthday: February 23, 1685 (Pisces)
Born In: Halle (Saale), Germany
George Frideric Handel was a well-known German-British baroque composer, famed for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Although born in Halle, Germany to German parents, he spent the greater part of his working life in London, and later on took British citizenship. Initially kept away from musical instruments by his father, who wanted him to go into legal profession, George Frideric Handel learned to play keyboard instruments secretly. Later, he had formal lessons from Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, then a church organist at Halle, on the suggestion of Johann Adolf I, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, whose words his father could not disobey. Even as a student, he began to take up his master’s duties and started composing church music. Later he moved to Hamburg and then to Italy before being appointed a Kapellmeister at Hanover. But within a year he visited London, where his ‘Rinaldo’, an Italian opera especially composed for London, was received with great enthusiasm. Very soon, he received royal patronage and thereafter, except for a short sojourn at Hanover, he remained at London, continuing to produce operas and oratorios all most till the end of his life.