The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-16
THE GREAT MUSICAL COMPOS-
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HANDEL.

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HANDEL.
Handel, the great musical composer, was
born in Halle, Prussan SaXony, Feb. 90,
1885, and died in London April IL, 1859.
His parents were people of high social
rank, his father holding the important po-
sition of privy chamberlain and body sur
geon to Saxon prince. IIandels father
was ambitious that his son should rise still
higher in the social scale, and determined
to educate him in the profession of the
law Nature had, however, intended him
for better things, and at an early age he
was deyotee of the divine art his father
striving by every means in his power to
dissuade him from practicng, and finally
commanded that his music should be given
up Handel was compelled to practice in
secret. AT the age of eleven he was pre-
sentcd to Frederick |. of Prussia, who was
so struck by his wonderful talents that he
desired to send him to Italy to complete
his musical education. This favor, how
ever, was declined and it was not until the
winter of 1907 that we find him in Rome
There his works We're received with the
greatest applause, and his refusal to change
his religion alone prevented his receiving the
highest possible honors for musical artist
AT the age of twcnty-four he went to Lon
don with Goethe |. then elector of Hanover.
In London this eminent man was perse-
,.ntn1 alil.o Ix- hn ppl,;l;t,. lao
les of other composers; bankrupt in health
as well as in fortune, his spirit never failed
him, and he gave himself up entirely TO
composition, so that he was able to pay his
debts to the uttermost farthing While
composing the Oratorio of Jephthah his
eyesight began to fail him, and, although
he submitted to three operations, his sight
never returned; and when the Oratorio
was brought out the grand old man was led
into the orchestra blind. From this his
health failed and he died on the nth anniver
sary of the first appearance of his "Mcs-
siah," seven weeks after completing his
sevcnty-fourth year. Handel was one of
the greatest composers the world ever
knew. Beethoven himself does not hest
tate to call him the greatest composer that
ever lived He was the creator of the dra-
matte oratorio. and reached height in the
" Messiah whercon he stands alone. The
centennial anniversary of his death was
celebrated in London on gigantic scale in
1850.
BEETHOVEN.
1t has been said in reference to mnsic,
while Haydn and Mozart perfected instru-
mental music in form - Beethoven
touched it and made it a living soul.
He was born December 10th, 1777, and
died at Vienna March Goth, 1897 He was
early placed at practice on the harpsichord
and forced unrelentingly to perform his
daily exercises He was the pupil of the
best instructors of his day, and is spoken
of by the papers as boy Of very promis-
ing talent, and playing with great skill and
power, reading well at sight and perform
ing the most difficult compositions. Count
Waldstein discovered the promise of the
boy and became his protector, and he was
sent to Vienna at his expense to study
with Mozart. The death of his mother,
however, interrupted the progress of his
studies, the support of the family, consist
ing of dissipatcd father and two younger
brothers, falling upon him. The next few |
succeeding years were years of great excr-
ton to him. In 1892, his brothers being off |
his care, he again accepted his friends |
kindness and returned to Vienna, which, |
except for occasional journeyings, he never |
left again. He now, in his 22d year, be- |
came skilled as pianofortc performer. In |
this field he had but one rival, whom in |
force, fire and originality of conception he |
far surpassed, He mingled in the best |
society and people of the first rank,
He continued his studies with eminent
and just as he prepared to enter
upon more extended field of labor the |
affective calamity of deafness came upon |
him. which retarded and limited his COM
positions, but gave more depth of senti-
mcnt, feeling and power, which is the lead |
ing characteristic of his music. For seve-
raj years his productions were not up to the |
of his other compositions, because
of domestic and legal difficulties and in
gratitude from one whom he had aided |
and had given all the affection. of his
great heart. He sought retirement in the
solitude of the country, but the place and
society were not congenial and he returned
to Vienna but to sicken and die. On the
evening of March 90, 1927, in the midst of
a sudden storm of rain, hail and lightning
the great composer breathed his last.
In the catalogue of his works there is
hardly any branch of the art he had not
wrought out the instrumental, however,
over the vocal lie with
drew himself in his later years from society
and the public, devoting his great powers
to the elaboration of the stores of musical
knowledge gained in his younger years.
Thus lived and died one who appreciated
the dignity and value of his mission.
HAYDN.
Haydn, unlike Handel, with whom his
name is now SO often associated, was born
Of poor parents, his father being n poor
travelling journeyman. He was the Oldest
IF twenty children, and at an early age dis
played great musical talents. His voice
proved to be one of remarkable power,