Composer Profile 2
George Frederic Handel

Born the same year as JS Bach, Handel took a quite different path in his life. While Bach was relatively settled, living most of his life in German, Handel travelled around a fair bit, doing a spell in Italy, before eventually settling successfully in England.

Handel wrote vast numbers of operas and oratorios. Many are very famous, especially ‘The Messiah’, while others await a modern recording. However, he is probably most famous for his regal-sounding music, particularly the immensely popular ‘Water Music’ and ‘Fireworks Music’ Suites.

Here is a collection of some of Handel’s better-known moments:

1. Concerto Grosso in C major “Alexanders Feast”, HWV 318 – 1. Allegro
2. Concerto Grosso, op.6, no. 6 in g minor, HWV 324 – 3. Musette: Larghetto
3. Concerto no. 6 for Harp, Organ, strings and two Flutes in B flat major, op.4, no. 6, HWV 294 – 1. Air
4. Coronation Anthem – The King Shall Rejoice, HWV 260
5. Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63 – ‘See, The Conquering Hero Comes’ / ‘Sound an Alarm’
6. Keyboard Suite No.5 in E major, HWV 430 – 4. Air con variazioni (Andantino), “The Harmonious Blacksmith”
7. The Messiah, HWV 56 – ‘For unto us a child is born’
8. Rinaldo, HWV 7 ‘ –Laschia ch'io pianga’
9. Samson, HWV 57 ‘ –Let the Bright Serafin’
10. Solomon, HWV 67 – Arrival of the Queen of Sheba