George Frideric Handel
(1685-1759) Composer

Style Period: Baroque

Born in Halle (Germany), February 23, 1685; died in London, April 14, 1759).

He played the organ, violin and harpsichord. Handel lived and worked in Halle, Hamburg, Hanover, Florence, Rome, Naples, Venice and London. He composed a wide variety of music including concertos, oratorios, cantatas, anthems and operas.

Compositions include

• Operas such as Julius Caesar, Xerxes, Agrippina
• Keyboard Works such as
  • Organ concertos
  • Harpsichord suites
• Choral works
  • Messiah (his most famous work), Israel in Egypt, Judas Maccabaeus
  • Oratorios, Cantatas, Anthems,
• Other Instrumental works
  • Orchestral suites such as Royal Fireworks and Water Music
  • Concerto Grossi
  • Concertos, sonatas

Updated May 11, 2000