The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-11-25

The Great Musician and his influences

The following abstract of Prof. Ilig-
ley's Friday afternoon address before |
the High school is by ono of the young
est pupils in the school:
Handel was born in Halle, Saxony, |
Feb. %, 1885. The rulers in England |
during his life werc King James, Will |
liam and Mary Queen Anne and George
of Hanover. Some of the leading men
in this country at that time were Denja-
min Franklin, George Washington and
John Hancock.
Hapdel's father was military SUR
geon and military surgeon in those
days was expected TO be good barber.
This was not very high position, but
his father managed to get considerable
money by this occupation.
His father was DESTROYS that he should
become q lawyer, and was greatly dis
pleased 10 find that bis son had a thirst
for music.
Handel had an aunt on that side of
the house from which he had inherited
this musical talent who helped him
: smuggle an old dumb spinnet up into
, his fathers garnet. This was called
dumb spinnet because the noise was
mufiled. Handel practced on this hour
after hour up in the garnet and the tone
, was so low that his father did not hear
it.
He went to school all this time and
pursued his studies so attcntively that
S his father supposed that he had given
r up all hopes of ever becoming music
ian. Some time after this he went to
= court with his father at SaXe-Weissen-
Il fels, and in those days at such places
: they always had music by band.
o Young Handel did not take any interest
in the court but was perfectly captivated
with the music which he heard, and
II made the acquaintance of one of the
d musicians, who gave him permission
"a to play on the organ which was in The
chapel One day as the boy was playing
's Oh the organ the Duke happened to
e come in and was greatly surprised at
e the skill of the young lad. The Duke
If inquired who the boy was and sent for
his father. When the father had come
! the Duke told him that the boy ought
II to take music lessons and have u chance
a to become musician, and he offered
\. TO furnish money to send the boy tc
Italy. The father refused TO accept the
u money, but told the Duke that the boy
should take music lessons. The boy
was sent back to Halle and commenced
w ICssOnS vi <<NIhuh, thO VI -t'hiS
of at Halle.
10 His teacher al Halle made Him writ,
/, =, an anthem every week, which was suns
III in the church Sundays. Sometime
it. when Zachua could not play the organ
at on Sunday in the church, Handel tool
q. his place. After he had taken lesson
y of Zachua about five years he told Han
I'll del that he could teach him no more
to He then went to Berlin to study tn
Sc operate school, but he did not rcmai
~ here long, although it was good plac
~ to study music.
al When he was about II or IS year
sh old his father died, but although nearl
do deprived of means il did not lessen hi
70 ambition in the least. lie then went t
Hamburg and played on the violin j
III an opera. His playing was not const
@ cred good by any one, and he was N
Ter liked very well. One day the direct
,,o was sick and the members of the opeI
-" were asked that some one take his plac,
'eu and Handel came forward and perform
on cd this duty so well that he was pre-
M NOTED to the office. About this tim
~, he composed some music that attracte
ny good deal of attention. lie acted
me this Office for some time and then wei
* to Italy and remained there about tw
oa- years. While he was in Italy he W;
:. called "The Saxon"
h- lie attended a carnival at Venice, an
st, in these carnivals it was the custom
al. wear masks and dress in all manner
IFS styles. While he was at one of the
49, carnivals he played on the spinnct al
w they were all amazed and inquired wi
py he was, after they had heard him pla
10 An Italian who had heard him plt
re before, stood up behind him and sal
at was either that Saxon or the devil
'ur lie became acquainted with Geore
csc of Hanover, who gave him a posi,ic
cr. as chapel-master with salary of S15
ore While he was with George of LA
over he became acquainted with sou
rc' English gentlemen who invited him
ect England. lie went to England aft
m he had been with George OF Hanov
h,o about year and half. When
went he only expected to be gone
oi short time, but he liked the country al
. climate so well that he staid there. |
was there daring the reign of QueC
eau Anne, and when she died George
use Hanover was made King. Handel W
IAN afraid to meet him because he Ia
.an treated King George unkindly by I'll
ick ming off to England. Not long aft
'ct, George was made King an excnrsic
SIN on the Thames was planned by II
not King and the nobility, and one of IIa
<, del's friends hearing of this told hi
ian that now was his time to restore Il
IAN lost friendship of King George. Ha
TO del therefore composed about twent
ing five pieces of music and drilled a ella
vas to perform them. On the appoin,e
iys night Handel and his musicians sale
up behind the boat in which the Kin
cas- and nobility were, and commence
u rendering the beautiful music, the r.
airs suit of which was that Handel W,
,ch again restored TO favor. The mus
lie composed by Handel is to this day ca
III ~ led the water music. lie was emplo,
ms ed in England as a musciian by Il
Dat nobility for five or six years. He wa
IAN employed bE'bne of the Dukes for fot
IN or five years. About this time he con
IVY posed some music which was nevC
es' printed until fifteen or twenty yea
It, ago. Handel never spoke the Engli,
language well, for being German |
always had brogue. Handel was
very attentive reader OF the Bible ar
it is said that ne was as well acquaintC
Id with it as any minister. Some tin
yill after this he was asked bV some men