Handel’s Messiah – Background Information for Set Work
Handel’s Messiah – Background information for set work
George Frederic Handel, considered one of the greatest composers of the baroque period, he was born in Halle, Germany on February. 23, 1685. He died in London on April. 14, 1759, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Handel is best known for his English Oratorios, particularly the Messiah. Handel was distinguished for his musical ability from his earliest years, was sent to Berlin to study when he was 14, began his musical career as a performer at Hamburg in 1703 and produced his first opera in 1704. He spent six years in Italy and cam, on invitation, to England in 1710, where he lived for almost 50 years. In England Handel continued to compose in the Italian style, but also absorbed the characteristics of English music, especially English coral music.
Henry Purcell was a classical composer and musicians and was one of the leading musicians of the Baroque Period. Henry Purcell was born in London September. 12 1659 and died in 1695. Henrys father was a gentleman of the chapel-royal, and sang at the coronation of King Charles II of England. Purcell was often considered England's finest native composer, Purcell combined a great gift for lyrical melody with harmonic invention and mastery of counterpoint. He sang in the choir of the Chapel Royal until 1673 and became organist there in 1682. In 1677 he was appointed composer for the king's band, and from 1679 until his death he was organist at Westminster Abbey.
Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice, Italy, on March 4, 1678 and died July 26, 1741, Vienna, Austria. Vivaldi had a great influence on the Baroque Period, Vivaldi was very productive in vocal and instrumental music, sacred and secular (nonreligious). According to the latest research, he composed over seven hundred pieces—ranging from sonatas (instrumental compositions usually with three or four movements) and operas (musical dramas consisting of vocal and instrumental pieces) to concertos (musical
George Frederic Handel, considered one of the greatest composers of the baroque period, he was born in Halle, Germany on February. 23, 1685. He died in London on April. 14, 1759, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Handel is best known for his English Oratorios, particularly the Messiah. Handel was distinguished for his musical ability from his earliest years, was sent to Berlin to study when he was 14, began his musical career as a performer at Hamburg in 1703 and produced his first opera in 1704. He spent six years in Italy and cam, on invitation, to England in 1710, where he lived for almost 50 years. In England Handel continued to compose in the Italian style, but also absorbed the characteristics of English music, especially English coral music.
Henry Purcell was a classical composer and musicians and was one of the leading musicians of the Baroque Period. Henry Purcell was born in London September. 12 1659 and died in 1695. Henrys father was a gentleman of the chapel-royal, and sang at the coronation of King Charles II of England. Purcell was often considered England's finest native composer, Purcell combined a great gift for lyrical melody with harmonic invention and mastery of counterpoint. He sang in the choir of the Chapel Royal until 1673 and became organist there in 1682. In 1677 he was appointed composer for the king's band, and from 1679 until his death he was organist at Westminster Abbey.
Antonio Vivaldi was born in Venice, Italy, on March 4, 1678 and died July 26, 1741, Vienna, Austria. Vivaldi had a great influence on the Baroque Period, Vivaldi was very productive in vocal and instrumental music, sacred and secular (nonreligious). According to the latest research, he composed over seven hundred pieces—ranging from sonatas (instrumental compositions usually with three or four movements) and operas (musical dramas consisting of vocal and instrumental pieces) to concertos (musical