George Frederick Handel, unquestionably the greatest master of music
the world has ever known, was born at Halle, in Upper Saxony, on the
24th of February, 1684. Scarcely could he speak, before he articulated
musical sounds; and his father, a physician, then upwards of sixty,
having destined him for the law, grieved at the child’s propensity
to music, banished from his house all musical instruments. But the
immortal spark of genius, which Heaven had kindled in the infant’s
bosom, was not to be extinguished by the caprice of a mistaken parent.
The child contrived to get a little clavichord into a garret; where,
applying himself after the family retired to rest, he soon found means
to produce both melody and harmony.
Before he was seven, the Duke of Weisenfels accidentally discovering
his genius, prevailed on the father to cherish his inclination. He was
accordingly placed with Zackan, organist of Halle Cathedral; and, for
three years, from the age of nine, composed a new church-service every
week.
In 1698, he went to Berlin; but, losing his father, he thought he could
best support his aged mother, by repairing to Hamburgh, where he soon
attracted general notice. Yet this wonderful musician was a stripling
of fourteen! At this premature age, he composed Almeria, his first
opera.
Having quitted Hamburgh, he travelled six years in Italy, where he
gave a new display of his wonderful ability, and was pensioned by the
Elector of Hanover, afterwards George I.
In 1710, he came to London, where his opera of Rinaldo was admired,
like his preceding miracles, and the necessity of his departure became
the subject of general regret.
In 1712, he again visited England: but, seduced by the favour and
fortune that overwhelmed him, he forgot to return; and when, on the
death of Queen Anne, the Elector was called to the throne, he was
afraid to appear at court, till an ingenious stratagem restored him to
favour.
Queen Anne’s pension of £200, was now doubted by George I., and the
nobility having formed an Academy of Music, under his direction, it
flourished ten years, when a quarrel between him and Senesino dissolved
the institution, and brought on a contest which ruined his fortune and
his health. Restored by the baths of Aix la Chapelle, he determined
to chuse sacred subjects for the future exercise of his genius.
This resolution produced those noble compositions, his truly divine
Oratorios; which were performed at Covent Garden till his death, in
1759. He was buried in Westminster Abbey with suitable pomp; where his
genius has been since commemorated with little less than divine honours.