• Learn More About G. F. Handel

Grade 3, Unit 1, Lesson 6

George Frideric Handel was born in Germany on February 23, 1685 and died in London, England on April 14, 1759. Little George liked music from a very early age, but his father, who was a barber and a surgeon, did not want him to become a musician. In fact, his father made him stop playing music altogether. But, Handel couldn't stop playing. He snuck up in the attic to practice the clavichord, which is an early type of piano.

Handel eventually got his way and became a musician. He became the organist of a church when he was only 17. He studied music in college and eventually became a very successful composer in Germany and Italy. When Handel was about 30 years old, he decided to move to England and he lived there for the rest of his life.

Handel composed many famous pieces. He wrote some pieces for instruments only, but he also wrote operas and other pieces for singers. His most famous composition is a very long piece called the Messiah. Choirs all over the world still sing this piece during the winter holidays-almost 300 years after he composed it.

1. What types of instruments did Handel use in his compositions?
2. Think of a pop song you've heard on the radio. If it is still popular 300 years from now, what year will that be?