GEORGE FREDERICK, one of the greatest of musical composers and musi cians, though a native of Germany, spent so large a portion of his life in England, where he composed his greatest works, that Britain may almost claim him as her own. He was born at Halle, Upper Saxony, Feb. 23, 1685. He manifested in infancy an extraordinary passion for music, and at the age of seven, having accompanied his father on a visit to the duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, he found his way to an organ, where he was heard by the duke, who remonstrated with his father against further opposition to a genius of so decided a character. He was now placed under a music-teacher, Zaehan, where he remained until he was 13, composing every week cantatas for the church-service, and learning all instruments, especially the organ. In 169S lie was sent to Berlin, where the elector of Brandenburg was so impressed with his talents, that he wished to send hlin to Italy. As his father would not accept this offer, he returned to Halle, whence, on the death of his father, he went to Hamburg in 1703. Here he played a violin in the orchestra of the opera. He was soon its director, and composed his first opera, Almira, which was rapidly followed by Nero and Florinda. His violent temper involved him in a quarrel with a brother-composer, which resulted in a duel; the sword of his adversary was stopped by a button or a music score. He next visited Italy. In Florence, he composed Rodrigo, 1707. Ills Agrippina, composed in Venice, had a run of thirty nights. At Rome, he was received at cardinal Ottoboni's, where he heard Corelli, and beat him with his own violin, for not playing to suit him in his 11 T•ionfo del Tempo. In 1710 he returned to Germany, where he was appointed chapel-master to the elector of Hanover, afterwards George I. At the close of the same year he went to England, where he was patronized by queen Anne and the nobility, lie composed Rinaldo, Pastor Theseus, and in 1715, Amadis da Gaula, in which Nicolini and Valentini first sung in England. In 1718 he undertook the direction of the duke of Chandos's chapel at Cannons, where he wrote Aeis and Galatea, Esther, the first English oratorio, and numerous concertos, anthems, fugues, etc. A royal academy of music
for the cultivation of the opera, was formed in 1720, and, after some competition, was placed under Handel's management. This undertaking, and other opera speculations, in which Handel was engaged, proved very unsuccessful. Handal lost £10,000, and was compelled to retire to Aix-la-Chapelle on account of his health. The oratorio Deborah was composed in 1733, and was followed by Alexander's Feast, Said. Israel in Egypt, and (1740) L'Allegro e Penseroso. In the end of 1741 he to Dublin, where his Messiah; composed in that year, was produced for charitable purposes. He remained in Dublin about nine months, and received a generous support. From this time suc cess attended all his undertakings. On his return to London, he composed his Samson; and the Messiah was performed for the benefit of the foundling hospital. It was repeated annually for the same purpose, and from 1749 to 1777 brought to that charity £10,300. Handel became blind, but he still composed, and played on the organ, being led to his seat, and forward to receive the plaudits of the audience. He assisted at the performance of one of his oratorios on April 6, and he died as he wished, on Good Friday, April 13, 1759, "in hopes," he said, "of meeting his good God, his sweet Lord and Savior, on the day of his resurrection." Among his works, which are in the queen's library, are 50 operas-8 German, 26 Italian, 16 English; 20 oratorios, a great quantity of church-music, cantatas, songs, and instrumental pieces. He was a wonderful musician, and his compositions are often full of grandeur and sublimity. His operas are seldom performed, but his oratorios hold the same place in music that in the English drama is accorded to the plays of Shakespeare; and the Handel festivals, lasting several days, are the grandest musical exhibitions of our times. See Chrysan der's Georg Friedrich Handel (1858-67).