New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-11-26
Nempork daily @ibm,te
NEW PUBLICyA TZONS
LIFE OF HANDEL.

THE LIFE OF HANDEL. By VicroR scKoLCHER. limo.
PIP 4e2 Mason Brothers,
Il 10 rarely that such q combination Of artistic
snthu,iasm and literary persistence in applied to
sinele volume a. ID displayed in the composition Of
tAis work. NJ. Schelcher il o Frenchman, probs-
bin Of German descent, and certainly of German
DILIGENCE and endurance. He was forced by the
political troubles OF France to find an asylum in
London, and during his retirement in that city,
sought consolation in listening to the Oratorios Of
Handel, which he had already learned to admire.
upon previous visits to England, and In the society
Of classical amateurs at home. The wish grew up
10 posaess himself Of all the works Of the great
composer from which he had received so much de.
light, and in the prosecution Of this purpose, he
became familiar with the various authors who have
made mention of Handel He was net satisfed
with the contributions to his biography with which
The public have hitherto been content, aud deter
mined 10 make new invos,isation Of tho subject
from original sources. After three years sssiduous
study and labor, he completed the present work,
which, although faulty and inartfcia u the details
Of Ito execution, is rich treasure house Of musios
Information, and siDsularly interesting biography
Of man who was no less remarkable for his per.
sonai characteristics than for his sifsA a. com.
poser and srtist.
Handel was native Of Halle in Germany and
was born Feb. "a, 1856. new style, or 1854, 40
cordirs to the old reckoning in which the year
began in March, fact which has escaped the
notice Of his biograpber, who has page Of dis
QUESTION in regard to the discrepancy Of the dates
% given BY previous writer's. His father was an
honest German surge N, who had determined that
this son Of bis old age should be made lawyer, and
was greatly incenied when he began to give signs of
vocation of widely different character. TAeboy
had scarcely learned to arteulate when he uttered
musical sounds. AZ he grew older, his strons natu
rs taste for music dispsyed itaef decidedly that
his father was unwilling to send him to public
school, lest he should pay more attention to the
samut than to grammar. He kept him away from
every place where he could hear music, forbade him
Tie slightest exercise of his sifs in that line, and
hsnished every Kind of musical instrument from the
house. But the child was too earnestly bent on the
indulgence Of his irrepressbe isstncts not to find
means fer the purpose. He procured clavichord,
the strings Of which were banded with strips OF
lat, in order 70 deaden the sound aud, coneealies
il in the garrett paid steathy visiss to il By night
when the rest Of the family were asleep. Without
any guidance or instruction, he found out tho secret
Of harmonic combinations by permitting bic little
fingers to wander over the hey. board, and BY the
time he was seven years old he discovered that he
hnew how to play on the spipet
His father Was at last induced 10 respect the
genius Of his con BY little incident which occurred
about This time TO open his eyes. While on visit
81 TIE palace Of the resuug Duke. in whoss serv-
lee Handel had brother who va. valet de-shau,-
bre, The boy stole Of 10 the organ in the chapel,
and could not keep his hands from touching the
keys The curiositS Of the Duke was excited to
know Who was playing the organ in tha. style.
The little artist was brought before him. in terri.
bio flight; but the Duke treated him kindly and
soon won bic secret He then represented ~ his
hner that IL was a crime aatilst Humanity TO
ihfe 20 much genius 10 ito birth. The old
Doctor was quite ss,oLished, but took the opin-
non Of the Dale as gospel and promised 70
sne hi' son every necessary fs,ilty. Ga retaru-
ING home, be hep. bic word, aud permitted the
5rops a'piralt 10 take lessons Of the orsanst Of
The cathedral Of Halle. Ths wa. an amateur Of
ihe old school full Of harmony and .uthusia,m and