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The Worlds of Gilbert and Sullivan

To start MusicSmiles 'Royal Celebrations' here is our arrangement of the Air from Handel's Water Music. A superb piece from this English (German?) (Italian?) genius who enriched the world of music more than he ever dreamed of, and certainly greatly influenced our Arthur Sullivan.

George Frideric Handel, was born Georg Friederich Händel in 1685, in Halle, Germany. He was an exact contemporary of that other great German composer of the Baroque period, Johann Sebastian Bach (but that's another story). This brilliant composer, keyboard player, and organist, Frideric Handel, became a naturalised Englishman from 1726.

His father was a barber-surgeon who hated the thought of Frideric becoming a musician. However, Georg Frideric was reluctantly allowed to study the organ under Zachau. So, he studied Law at Halle University, and became a full-time musician when his father died. He joined the opera house orchestra playing 2nd violin and studied composition under Reinhard Keiser.

One day the orchestra conductor lost interest in the libretto for the new opera and Handel stepped in as first substitute. He composed the music for Almira (his first opera). Its success quickly led to three others. He then went to Italy, where he was treated as a rising star. So much so he was 'poached' back to Germany. 

Soon this popular composer and organist was head-hunted yet again, this time to England. He was asked to write another opera Rinaldo, which attracted him so much that he decided to stay in Britain. Despite many ups and downs in his career he remained, and died in London, England in 1759. There is much more to learn about this man, who so influenced Arthur Sullivan (and all other composers who followed him). Perhaps another time . . .

But in the meantime we hope you enjoy your trip down the Thames in Royal company with George Frideric. This surely conjures up images for your pen, musical instrument, or canvas . . .

Next to visit A King of Old . . .

( Click number to view statistics > > >). Scribe thanks all our  223,547 MusicSmiles visitors up to beginning of September, 2010. 

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