George Frideric Handel (German: Georg Friedrich Händel); (23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-born, British baroque composer famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Born in a family indifferent to music, Handel received critical training in Halle, Hamburg and Italy before settling in London (1712), and became a naturalized British subject in 1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great composers of the Italian Baroque and the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition.

Handel Messiah

  • And the Glory of the Lord
  • And He Shall Purify
  • Oh Thou that Tellest Good Tiding to Zion
  • For Unto Us a Child is Born
  • Glory to God
  • His Yoke is Easy, and His Burden is Light
  • Behold the Lamb of God
  • Surely He hath Borne our Griefs
  • And with His Stripes we are Healed
  • All we Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
  • He Trusted in God that He would Deliver Him
  • Lift up your Head, O ye Gates
  • Let all the Angels of God Worship Him
  • The Lord Gave the Word
  • Break forth into joy (How beautiful are the feet, version II)
  • Their Sound is Gone out into all Lands
  • Let us Break their Bonds Asunder
  • Hallelujah!
  • Since by Man came Death
  • But Thanks be to God
  • Worthy is the Lamb
  • Blessing and honour
  • Amen

George Frideric Handel (German: Georg Friedrich Händel); (23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-born, British baroque composer famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Born in a family indifferent to music, Handel received critical training in Halle, Hamburg and Italy before settling in London (1712), and became a naturalized British subject in 1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great composers of the Italian Baroque and the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition.
Within fifteen years, Handel had started three commercial opera companies to supply the English nobility with Italian opera. Musicologist Winton Dean writes that his operas show that “Handel was not only a great composer; he was a dramatic genius of the first order.” As Alexander’s Feast (1736) was well received, Handel made a transition to English choral works. After his success with Messiah (1742) he never performed an Italian opera again. It has been said that the passion of Handel’s oratorios is an ethical one, and that they are hallowed not by liturgical dignity but by moral ideals of humanity. Almost blind, and having lived in England for nearly fifty years, he died in 1759, a respected and rich man. His funeral was given full state honours, and he was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era, with works such as Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and Messiah remaining popular. One of his four Coronation Anthems, Zadok the Priest (1727), composed for the coronation of George II of Great Britain, has been performed at every subsequent British coronation, traditionally during the sovereign’s anointing. Handel composed more than forty operas in over thirty years, and since the late 1960s, with the revival of baroque music and historically informed musical performance, interest in Handel’s operas has grown.
(Source: Wikipedia)