George Handel Composing 1
One of the greatest composers of Bible Anthems was born on this day. George Frederick Handel was born on February 23, 1685. He died on April 14, 1759. He was born in Germany and settled in England in 1712.
His father was a physician and wanted his son to study law, so grudgingly permitted his son to get musical instruction. His father converted from the Jewish faith to Lutheranism. At 17, Handel had mastered the harpsichord and organ, violin, oboe, as well as composition elements.4
His other biblical works include Esther (1732), Israel in Egypt (1938), Samson, Saul (1738), Solomon (1748), Jephthah, Belshazzar, Joshua, Judas Maccabaeus (1740), and 325 others.6
He wrote the music that is used with Joy to the World. Click here to go to the hymn story.
His Judas Maccabaeus is occasionally performed during Israel’s Hanukkah celebration.7
Handel's Signature
Handel’s career was very inconsistent. He would be highly2 successful one minute, only to suffer disastrous losses the next. In England, by 1741, it was sure that he was heading to debtor’s prison. He worked long and hard to overcome his losses and pay his debts, but was simply unable to keep up. On April 8, he decided at only 56 he would be forced to retire from public life. He gave what he considered was his farewell concert. He was terribly discouraged and at the lowest point of his life.8
Handel House in London (1723-1759) now his museum3
Two things changed his life at this point. First, a rich friend, Thomas Jennings, assembled a sequence of Bible verses that would tell the story of redemption,9 written only using Scripture. A charity also commissioned him for a fund raising concert. On August 22, in his little house, he set to work composing. He was so absorbed in the work, he rarely stopped to eat and rarely getting up. In six days, Part I was finished. In nine days, Part II was done. Part III was done in just six days. It took another two days to complete the orchestrations. In all, 260 pages of manuscript were filled in a remarkable 24 days!10
He never left his house during the work on the composition. He titled the monumental work simply, Messiah. A friend stopped by to visit him during the work, and found him sobbing uncontrollably. Handel could only quote Paul later when asked to describe his work: “Whether I was in the body or out of my body, when I wrote it, I know not.”11
The benefit concert was held on April 13, 1742, and it raised enough money to free 142 men from debtor’s prison. A year later, Handel used it in London, and although the Church of England was still publicly at odds with him, the King attended. When they got to the 'Hallelujah chorus,' the King stood, establishing the habit that has lasted for over two centuries. Later when Haydn heard the chorus, he wept like a child and said, “He is the master of us all!”12
Soon afterward, Handel’s fortunes began to change. He remained popular until the day of His death, and his work, written at the lowest point in his life, has remained firmly entrenched and very popular.
By 1752 he was blind and stopped composing, although he continued to direct performances to the end of his life.13
Sources
1Howard Serwer, Paul Traver, J. Merrill Knapp. The American Handel Society, 2002. http://www.AmericanHandelSociety.htm
2Les Robarts. www.GFHandel.org
3Handel House Trust, Ltd. www.Handel House Museum–Home Page.htm
4Douglas, J.D., P.W. Comfort, & D. Mitchell. Who's Who in Christian History. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1997, c1992.
5Lagass, E.P., & Columbia University. The Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th ed. New York; Detroit: Columbia University Press; Sold and distributed by Gale Group, 2000.
6Kurian, G.T. Nelson's New Christian Dictionary. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Pubs., 2001
7Scott, B. The Feasts of Israel. Bellmawr, New Jersey: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc., 1997. Page 4.
8Kavanaugh, P. The Spiritual Lives of Great Composers. Nashville: Sparrow Press, 1992. Page 5.
9Lang, J. S. 1,001 Things You Always Wanted to Know About the Bible (but Never Thought to Ask). electronic ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, c1999. Pages 409-410.
10Kavanaugh
11Kavanaugh
12Kavanaugh, page 6
13Kurian, G.T. Nelson's New Christian Dictionary: The Authoritative Resource on the Christian World. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Pubs., 2001.
