george frederic handel

George Frederic Handel
George Frideric Handel was one of the greatest composers of the late
baroque period (1700-1750) and, during his lifetime, perhaps the most
internationally famous of all musicians. Handel was born February 24,
1685, in Halle, Germany, to a family of no musical background. His own
musical talent, however, began to show before his tenth birthday. He
received lessons from a local organist, the only musical instruction he
would ever have. His first job was as church organist in Halle. In 1703
he traveled to Hamburg, Germany. It was here, in 1704, he composed his
first opera, Almira. After achieving great success he soon felt the urge to
move on to Italy, the birthplace of operatic style. He first stopped at
Florence in the fall of 1706. Later on in the spring and summer of 1707
and 1708 he went to Rome, and in the late spring of 1707 he made a trip
to Naples. In Italy Handel composed operas, oratorios, and many secular
cantatas; he ended his Italian trip with the spectacular success of his fifth
opera, Agrippina (1709), in Venice.
Other Composers of George Frideric Handel’s Time
Bach was a German organist and composer of the baroque era, one of the
greatest and most productive geniuses in the history of Western music. In
1756 Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria. One of the greatest
composers in Western music tradition, Mozart began composing at age
five. By the time he was 13, he had written sonatas, operettas, and
symphonies. His works include The Marriage of Figaro , Don Giovanni,
and The Magic Flute. Beethoven was one of the world's greatest
composers was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770, Beethoven began to
lose his hearing in 1802. By 1817 he was totally deaf. Beethoven wrote
classical pieces greater than anyone else of his time like his third
Symphony, Eroica and his Ninth Symphony. The Ninth Symphony,
composed in 1824, begins with “void music” which may have originated
in the silence and gloom of Beethoven's own deafness, but the symphony
then explodes with a wonderful array of sounds. One of the most

beautiful pieces of music ever composed. Arts and Architecture The Taj
Mahal in India was completed in 1648. Built by the Mughal emperor
Shah Jahan in honor of his favorite wife. It combined Indian and Persian
architectural styles characteristic of Mughal architecture. Built by two
Iranian architects, the Taj Mahal is surrounded by four spires and topped
by an 80-ft dome. An oblong reflecting pool enhances its beauty. Events
In 1607 the English established their first colony in America, at
Jamestown, Virginia. Virginia had been named in honor of Queen
Elizabeth, the “Virgin Queen.” Jamestown was named after the King
James.