The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-12-28
9tG0raptap.
For the Massachusetts Spy. |
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH :
OF GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL

BIOGdU4PHICo4L SKE1CH
OF GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL.
As soon as man has attained great celeb
rity, all his previous actions, and the little Incl
dents OF his life are stamped with Importance,
and become objects Of curiosity and inrestiga-
ton. From the zenith of fame lustre is
reflected, displaying muAifarious and ertra-
ordinary adventures and deeds, which, before,
were thos5ht common and insignificant II
delights US to bring back from forgetfulness
juvenile exploits, and encircIe them with glory
Ito know and relate the varied fortune and
the chequered scenes ofintantle days and ripper
years, and scrutinize all, till, in imagination.
the impress of WONDERFUL, glaringy APP
pears. 1t is DOT sufficient and satisfactory to
know the acorhs of the great and the eminent,
but there is an unconquerabe desire 10 be &C
qua:nted with their annals from their birth to
their death. And if the mighty genius, now
entombed, was of our profession and sen;i-
ments, and is endeared to us by numerous aud
inestimable intellectual productions, our eager
ness 10 know his history is greatly enhanced.
We wish to be carried back, and to be his
side companions through all hia journey of life.
What disciple Of Apollo has not wished he had
lived with Purcell and Arnold, and Handel.
aud Morgan, and Lockhart, and Burney, and
had been enchanted with those lofty notes
and melting strains, that could " dra7y iron
tears dOwn Plut0's cheek :" From this group OF
departed excellence, | shall take il for granted,
that brief biography Of the ever memorable
and dear George F. Handel will not be I'M
pleasing to the Amateurs Of Music.
This iilustrious prodigy is the paragon Of
excellence. He stands in Music the greatest
among the great. In giving sketch of this
interesting character, shall do little more
than make compilation, and this must be
an abidgement. | shall con6ne myself chiefly
to his character as a scientific and practical
Musician.
George Frederic Handel, the greatest mu-
steal composer of his time, and, in some par
ticulars, of any time or country in Europe,
was born at Halle, in the Duchy Of Magde-
burgh, and circle Of lower Saxony, on the
Oath February, 1884. His father was an emf
nent surgeon and physician Of the same place,
and upwards Of 60 years of age, when this
son, the ssne of a second marriage, was born !;
and in his early childhood he discovered such
passion for music, as could not be subdued
by the commands of his father, who. intended
him for the profession of the law. lie had
made considerable progress in this art by
stealth before he was allowed a master; but
at seven years old, his father finding it impos-
sible to fix his attention 10 any thing but music,
for which he seemed endowed by nature with
very uncommon propensties and faculties, he
placed him under Zackaw, Organist Of the
Cathedral Church Of Halle a man Of consider
able abilities in his profession, and proud of his
pupil. By the time he was nine years old, our
young musician was not only able to officiate
on the organ for his master, but began TO
study composition, and at this early period OF
his life, he is said to have composed a Ssrrice,
or, as il is called in Germany, Spiritual Can
fatd, every week, for voices and instruments,
during three years successfully. Handel con-
tiuued his apprenticeship under his first master,
Zackaw, in his native city, till he was four
teen years of age, and then went to Berlin,
where operas were in fourishing state, at
the Court of the Elector of Brandenburgh,
afterwards King of Prussia, who had then in
his service not only many singers of emnence
from Italy, but Buononcin and Attilio Arosti TO
compose. In this city Handel distinguished
himself for wonderful performer, and gave
birth TO the most sanguine expectations of fu-
ture greatness. In the summer of 1903 Han
del went to Hamburgh, erich in genius and
good disposition" He here became acquaint-
ed with one Mattheson, pompous and vain
man, and who thought his own musical COM
positions always superior. In 1904 this
N1dltUcSOu ullu WGIS pSllOIulluS To-
gether an opera, composed by the former, when
violent quarrel ensued, and, going out of the
opera-house, Mattheson gave Handel blow
in the face; upon which both Immediately
drew their swords, and duel followed, in
the market place, before the door of the opera
house. Luckily, the sword of Mattheson was
broke against metal button on Handles coat,
which put an end to the rencontre, aud a
speedy reconciliatio took place, and they
soon became greater friends than ever. Dur
ing his residence at Hamburger, Handel i'm
proved his own style greatly BY his constant
attendance TO the opera, and was even more
powerful upon the organ, in extempore
fuges and counterpart, than the famous Kuk-
nau Of Leipsic, who was at this time regarded
as prodigy. Handel, having acquired, by his
operas at Hamburger, sum sufficient to enable
him to visit Italy, set out for that seat Of the
Muses., a journey after which every man Of gen.
Jus 80 ardently pants. He staid some time at
Florence, where he composed the opera of
Rodrigo. From this city he went to Venice,
where, in 1909, he produced his Agrippina,
which is said by his biographcr to have been
received with reclamation, and to have run
thirty nights. The next place he visited was
Rome, where he had an opportunity othcaring
compositions and performers of the first class.
He afterwards went TO Naples and there COM
posed his Acis and Galatea, in Italian. In