Comparing Handel And Bach

Two amazing composers of the Baroque period of music were Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel. Although both produced much well-loved and well-played music, and although both were born in Germany, they were very different people. United by their faith, they still differ in many areas. Their lives, careers, and styles will now be compared, and their similarities and differences brought out.
Both Handel and Bach were Germans, and were both born relatively close to the same time. However, their childhoods were very different. Handel, pushed by his father to be a lawyer, had to fight to learn music. However, he was allowed to study music, and eventually traveled to Hamburg, Italy and then to England, where he spent the rest of his life. Bach, however, a native German his whole life, was
Bach wrote much religious music, although he did write non-sacred works, as well. Although Handel did write religious music, this was not his sole focus, and he produced much music for the royalty and opera. Both, however, composed oratorios, which are works based on religious events, and are similar to an opera, but without acting or costumes. One of Handel’s best known oratorios is The Messiah, and some of Bach’s are The St. Matthew Passion and The St. John Passion. Both also produced instrumental music. Both Handel and Bach were influenced by the Italian style through another composer Arcangelo Corelli. Thus they both had a German and Italian influence in their music. Handel was also influenced by other nationalities, such as English, and possibly French. The techniques used in their music were different. Bach was focused on details in music, and thus his music is very complex. Handel was more focused on the overall impression produced by his music. In addition, he used lots of contrasts in his music. The music of Bach incorporated both unity and diversity. According to Jane Stuart Smith and Betty