Handel was born in Germany the same year as Bach. His father hoped he would be a lawyer, but Handel had such great musical talent that his father consented to let him study music. He studied organ, harpsichord, violin and oboe. By the time he was eleven, he was composing his own sonatas and church services.

Handel traveled to Italy to learn about opera and to study the music of Vivaldi and Corelli. After three years in Italy, Handel decided to travel to England. While Handel was in England, Queen Ann died. There was no English heir to the throne, so the English people had to look for a cousin in Germany to be the next king. George I was that king. He did not speak English, but Handel spoke English and German and had worked for George I when he lived in Germany. Handel was pleased to serve King George again in England.

King George loved Handel's music and asked him to compose special music for a royal water pageant down the Thames River in London. The king's party enjoyed the festivities on the royal barge while Handel and his orchestra played the Water Music from a barge that floated nearby. We will learn the theme for Alla Hornpipe from the Water Music.

Handel wrote many operas and oratorios. The Messiah is his most famous oratorio. He composed it in just twenty-three days. Solo singers, chorus and orchestra tell the story of Christ. All the words in the Messiah are taken from the Bible. We will learn themes for the Hallelujah Chorus and He Shall Feed His Flocks from The Messiah.

The Music for the Royal Fireworks was written for King George II to celebrate the peace treaty that ended the War of the Austrian Succession. There were feasts and balls, and there was to be a huge celebration in London with great fireworks and great music. Great music they had, but the fireworks display was much greater than planned. The scaffold for the fireworks caught on fire, everyone panicked, and nobody heard the rest of the music. The Royal Fireworks Music is one of Handel's best-loved works and has been heard many times since that ill-fated day. (We think King George's pants caught on fire!)

The Harmonious Blacksmith was written for the harpsichord. It was composed for Anne and Caroline, the granddaughters of King George II. They were Handel's pupils.