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VIDEO DESCRIPTION
Featuring a fast flowing stream in Autumn to
one of Handel's most popular works. Also available in High Definition
PRODUCTION CREDIT:
This LandscapeHD production was made by LandscapeHD featuring film material from
HDenvironments.com
based in California, synchronised by LandscapeHD to music performed by
The Almeida Baroque Ensemble.
COMPOSER BIOGRAPHY:
An internationally known German composer and keyboard
virtuoso, George Handel has written more than 40 Italian operas, chamber music,
church music, oratorios and instrumental music. His versatility in composing has
led to a career full of accomplishments, including writing Italian operas and
English oratorios.
George Handel was born in Halle to a distinguished barber who wanted his son to
become a lawyer. By the age of 12, George Handel had already mastered several
instruments. He was the assistant organist at the Halle Cathedral, becoming the
main organist at the age of 17. His teacher, Friedrich Willhelm Zachau, greatly
encouraged George Handel's musical genius. Despite encouragement from his
teacher, George Handel enrolled at the University of Halle to study law. After a
year he dropped out to study music and orchestration in Hamburg.
Once in Hamburg, George Handel became a violinist in a theater orchestra. During
this time he taught himself how to write opera. He composed his first opera,
Almira, in 1704. After achieving success and writing three more operas he moved
on to Italy in an attempt to learn more about opera composition. From Italy he
traveled to Rome and Naples all the while composing. In 1709 he finished his
sixth opera, Agrippina, in Venice.
In 1710 he then moved to London. The first opera he composed while in London was
Rinaldo, in which he achieved great success. The Duke of Chandos, after seeing
the opera, gave George Handel permission to compose an oratorio titled "Esther
and the 11 Chandos anthems for choir and string orchestra." It was this
accomplishment that won him the approval of the king and permission to open the
Royal Academy of Music. Some of George Handel's best operas were performed there
including Radamisto, Giulio Cesare, Tamerlano and Rodelinda. The Academy
collapsed in 1728. George Handel attempted to open another company but that too
collapsed in the 1730s. George Handel suffered a stroke in 1737 and was forced
to retire while recovering.
After recovering from his stroke, George Handel resumed composing. In 1741, he
composed his last opera Deidamia. His most memorable work, Messiah, was also
composed at this time. It was first performed in Dublin and earned immediate
success. When the king of England saw the performance and stood at the end,
everyone else also stood. This has become a tradition at a Messiah performance,
that everyone stands at the end for the Hallelujah chorus. English dramatic
oratorios, concertos and instrumental music were George Handel's main
compositions in the late 40s. He composed about two oratorios a year including
Samson in 1743 and Solomon in 1749. In 1751, he eyesight began to fail and his
composing decreased.
One of the greatest composers of the Baroque period, George Handel composed
during the time of J.S. Bach, Henry Purcell, George Philip Telemann and Antonio
Vivaldi. Despite his numerous operas, concertos, oratorios and dramas, George
Handel's greatest accomplishment as a composer was the invention of the dramatic
oratorio genre.
The last performance George Handel attended was his own Messiah. He died in
London in 1759. Even his funeral was a grand accomplishment. More than 3,000
mourners were present for the funeral of the famous composer. He was buried at
Westminster Abbey and received full state honors.
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