Hallelujah amen gf handel biography

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) was a German-British baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. Most music lovers have encountered George Frideric Handel through holiday-time renditions of the Messiah's 'Hallelujah' chorus or his Music for the Royal Fireworks.

Life and Music
Handel was born in the German city of Halle on February 23, 1685.

As a child he studied music with Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, organist at the Liebfrauenkirche, and for a time he seemed destined for a career as a church organist himself.

In 1703 he took a post as violinist in the Hamburg opera orchestra, he fought a duel the following year with the composer Mattheson over the accompaniment to one of Mattheson's operas.

In 1706 Handel returned to Germany to become court composer in Hannover.

English audiences took to his 1711 opera Rinaldo, and several years later Handel moved to England permanently.

He impressed King George early on with