February 23: Birthday of George Frideric Handel (1685)
Prayer Idea
Pray for those who compose music to inspire their listeners to think about good things.
History Note
George Frideric Handel was born on February 23, 1685, in Halle, Brandenburg (now part of Germany). He studied musical performance and composition as a child and began a career as a musician. From about 1600 to 1750, many composers, including Handel, produced what is today known as Baroque music.
After working in Germany and Italy, Handel eventually settled in England. He created a variety of musical compositions, such as:
operas - dramatic productions told entirely through music and singing
cantatas - music intended to be sung (in contrast with sonatas, which are only played with instruments)
oratorios - musical productions including soloists, a chorus, and an orchestra with lyrics often based on passages of Scripture
occasional pieces - music composed for a specific event, such as a coronation or funeral
Handel composed the music for his most famous work, Messiah, in 1741. His friend Charles Jennens had chosen lyrics drawn from Old Testament passages about the coming Messiah and New Testament passages about the life of Christ and the kingdom of God. Messiah is regularly performed around the world, and the Hallelujah Chorus still brings audiences to their feet with its stirring words and music.
Handel died in 1759 and was buried in Poets’ Corner at Westminster Abbey.
This 19th-century painting by Belgian artist Edouard Jean Conrad Hamman depicts George Handel with King George I of England at the debut of Handel’s Water Music in 1717.
Learn More
This video looks at the spiritual impact of Messiah.
Learn more about Handel and listen to examples of his music at Homeschool History.
