HANDEL, GEORGE FREDERICK

Sd sl Anglo-Ger. composer; 0. alle; showed musical precocity from earliest childhood; first teacher—Zachau, organist; app. organist at Schlo and Domkirche, and studied law at Univ. of Halle, 1695; joined opera orchestra, Hamburg, 1708; visited Italy, 1709, where he became friend of Scarlattis and Oorelli; app. capellmeister, Hanover, 1710. HH. twice visited Hngland, 1711-15; offended Elector of Hanover, but on latter’s acce ion as George I. became reconciled by writing Water Music in King’s honor; director of music to Duke of Chandos, 1718; directed Ital. Opera for Royal Academy of Music, London, 1720, which eventually failed; settled in England, becoming naturalised, 1726;. lost eyesight towards end of life. Among > best works are: Operas—- Almira, Ner 1705; Daphne, Florinda, 1708; Latin Psalms— Dizit Dominus and Laudate Pueri; oratorios—Concerto in F, 1715; Pa ion Oratorio, 1716. To Eng. period belong over forty operas no longer per performed, and his greatest oratorios— Chandos Anthems, 1718-20; Saul, Israel in Egypt, 1738; Samson, Me iah, 1741; Joseph, 1743; Judas Maccaboeus, 1746; Joshua, 1747; Sephiha, 1751.