HANDEL.
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.