George Frideric Handel
Germany, 1705–1759
German-born composer resident in London, who wrote opera seria and then established the English oratorio. Messiah and the Water Music brought him wide public recognition in his lifetime.
MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced George Frideric Handel and 3 artists George Frideric Handel influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced George Frideric Handel?
- Arcangelo Corelli — In Rome (1707–08) Handel worked with Corelli, who led the orchestra in his oratorios — Handel's Op. 6 concerti grossi honour the Corellian model.
- Henry Purcell — Purcell's English church and ceremonial style was the tradition Handel inherited and extended when he settled in London.
Which artists did George Frideric Handel influence?
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Mozart re-orchestrated Messiah and three other Handel oratorios — 'Handel understands effect better than any of us.'
- Ludwig van Beethoven — Beethoven called Handel 'the greatest composer that ever lived' and received the complete edition of his works on his deathbed.
- Felix Mendelssohn — Mendelssohn edited Handel's oratorios and modelled his own Elijah and St Paul directly on the Handelian oratorio.