Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-05-08
Handel.

Tread by Mrs. John Rogers before the Mozart
Club
Poets are born, not made" So are
humorists. IT the mind cannot be
trained to measured thought, neither
can it conceive, nor the ear distinguish
the beauties of harmony, if not natural
ly endowed. No one has reached dis
tinction in music, either as composer
or performer, i'll whom the power was
not Unborn.
Master of the masters in the tart di-
vine" was Handel, of Halle. He was
born on the Goth of February, 1885. His
father was Chamberlain, and surgeon
of Saxon prince. He did not there
fore have difficulties of circumstances to
contend with, as many do, and which
often check the aspirations of genius.
He had, however, IN his early years, pa
rental opposition. His father had Sc
lected the law as profession for his
son, but the genius of Handel could not
yield to anything so dull. His father
declared he should not study music, but
the boy at night, when his father, per-
haps, was sleeping, found opportunity
to practice upon the clavichord, soft
toned instrument with muff1ed strings.
In this private practice, the young
genius of harmonics expanded and cul-
tivated his powers. When about eight
or nine years old, he went with his
father to SAKE, Weissenfels, when rel
alive of his, with more music in his
soul than Handel's father, spoke of his
ability to the musical chapel. He was
taken to the organ loft on Sunday, and
asked to play voluntary. The Duke
of SaxOny was present, and was so en-
raptured with the music, that he in
quired about the boy. Seeing his talent
he did what he could to abate the faith
er's prejudice against the study of
music. When eleven years old, a friend
of his fathers took him to Berlin. Here
he was presented to Frederick I, of
Prussia, who was so impressed with
his talent that he offered to take charge
of his musical education and send him
to Italy. His father declined this royal
favor. Handel, however, had fine op-
portunities during his stay in Berlin for
musical culture. Helistened to high
er standard of music than he had oppor-
tunity to do in Halle, and came in con-
tact with some eminent composers.
Soon after he returned to Halle his
father died. There was no change,
hOUauar nnodo in tho hOv,C oOurco of
education. He pursued his studies and
matuculated at the university OF his
native city in 1902. BY this time his at
tainments as musical performer on the
violin and organ were extraordinary.
He was also able to write music with as
much ease as he wrote his native Ian
guage. At the age of eighteen his
mother allowed him to make this art his
profession. In Hanover and Hamburg,
under the instruction of abb Steffani,
an Italian, and Reinhardt Keiser, a
| German, he advanced rapidly as COM
poser and performer. He soon occupied
the place of his instructor, Steffani, in
Hanover. He distinguished himself as
a second violinist in the orchestra here
during the opera season.
His first competition CSitinn of note was an
oratorio on the Passion" His second
| the opera 'Almira," composed the
same year. About this time, he had a
sword duel with composer in the or
chestra, in which he probably escaped
death by his opponents sword striking
a large metallic button on his coat.
Shortly after this he visited Rome
He had already written several pieces
for the stage. His Italian opera, Rod.
rigo,n was written at Florence, and was
received with great applause. His
whole career was one of triumphal sue.
cess. At the age of twenty-five he was
famous in the musical world. He went
to England, at this age, and had ca
reer of success. "Rinaldo" and the
famous water Music" are among the
pieces composed there. He was ap
pointed music director to the Duke OF
Chandas, which he accepted. Here ht
composed his "Chandas Anthems anG
wrote the Oratorio of Esther" While
Handel achieved great success as ar
operate composer, it was in the line Of
sacred oratorlo that he was without {
rival. His "Israel in Egypt '.Sam
som" and Judas Maccabeus'' are une
qualed by any composer; but his ''Ora
torio of the Messiah is his masteI
piece.
The last strains of earthly music tha
fell upon the ear of Handel were thu
strains of his own Messiah
| To know that he gathered around hi.
Messiah" his grandest conceptions o.
harmony, and the mighty plectrum q
his genius struck out those notes q
joy, is to believe that he now joins il
the great oratorio before the throne.
Handel died in the 74th year of hi,
age. His body hes In Westministe
Abbey, conspicuous in the poets cor
ner of that edIhce. This is but brle
and imperfect sketch of him whom
Beethoven called the greatest compose
that ever lived.
same of on; exchanges are congratu
lating Henry Ward Beecher beca;ssss.Hs u q
did not live to see his son arrested fol