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Handel join the orchestra after getting his law degree.

Handel George Frideric

Handel, George Frideric (1685-1759), a German-born composer, produced his greatest works in Italy and England.

Handel's father arranged his musical education, but wanted him to be a lawyer. After his father's death, Handel obeyed his father's wish and completed his degree in law. But he abandoned law in 1703 to join the orchestra of the Opera House at Hamburg. By 1704, two of his operas, Almira and Nero, had been successfully performed. At the Opera House, Handel quarreled with Mattheson, another young musician. They fought a duel, which ended when Mattheson's sword broke against one of Handel's waistcoat buttons. Italy being the center of musical activity at this time, Handel went to live there in 1706 to perfect his art. He was a great success and made the Italian style of opera and oratorio (a religious work for singers and orchestra) his own. His opera Agrippina in Venice (1709) won the admiration of the Italian composer Scarlatti.

Handel returned to Germany triumphant and secured the post of music director to the Court of Elector George of Hanover in 1710.

In 1712, he decided to live in London permanently. The Elector was crowned George I of England in 1714 and he supported Handel with his patronage. Handel introduced the English style of oratorio, which reached its greatest height in Messiah (1742), and provided London with glorious operas and keyboard music of a mixed Italian/German style, flavored with English directness.

In 1751 his eyes began to trouble him and two years later he was blind. At his death, he was the greatest composer the English had known since Purcell, and they were not to know another for 150 years.