The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-11-08
George Frederick Handel.

One of the greatest of all musicians
was born at Halle, Lower Saxony, in
Germany. The correct date of his birth
is February a3, 1886. but it is often in
correctly given as 1854. Though born in
Germany, the scene of his labor was
England Schoelcher says: Il would OBJ
serve that the life of Handel can only
be written, and his works studied, in
England. There only. is he well and
widely known; there only is he sung and
PLAYED, and venerated as he deserves to
be-"
His musical talent manifested itself
very early. He sang as soon as he could
speak. His father and surgeon viewed
with alarm these early manifestations OF
what he considered low instincts. Mus
ic. said he, lis an elegant art and a
fine amusement; yet, If considered as
an occupation, it has little dignity, for
it has for its subject nothing better than
mere pleasure and entertainment" Ev-
cry musical instrument was banished
from the house, and the child was not
allowed to attend any place of amuse-
ment or even the public school, for fear
he should learn the rudiments of music
But when Nature has dedicated one
of her subjects to music, human cum
ming cannot thwart her. The .attempt
to crush the musical instincts of the
child, only served to intensity them, and
the child managed to conceal a dumb
spinet (piana) in the attic and there he
would practice after the rest of the
family were asleep. Without other guild
ance than Nature, at the age of seven,
he found himself to be a remarkable
player.
The father first learned of his sons
accomplishment when on visit to the
reigning Duke of ESTABLISHMENTS.
Young Handel accompanied him, and
being unable to resist the temptation of
trying the Dukes chapel organ, he was
overheard and brought trembling before
his father and the Duke, who was en-
raptured with the boys playing, and
not only pronounced him genius, but
went on to extol the art of music. Mus
ic thus dignifed by praise from so lofty
a parsonage as the Duke influenced
Handel's father to give his consent TO
his studying with Zackau, the organist
of the Cathedral of Halle.
Zackau carefully grounded him in
general principles and then together
they analysed the works of all nations,
schools and styles, Zackau treating the
boy as an equal Handel, in the mean
time, learned the harpschord, the vio-
lin, the organ and what he preferred to
all. the hautboy. At length Zackau con-
fessed that his pupil knew more than
he did, and advised that he should be
sent to Berlin; so at the age of eleven
der Attilio and Bounoncini. The hom-
age which he received here convinced
him of his superior genius; but this
knowledge, instead of initiating him with
pride, only made him more thirsty for
musical requirements.
He was soon recalled to Halle, where
he remained studying alone until 1903
when he went to Hamburg. Here he at
first played the 0iOliH di ribienO in the
orchestra of the opera house. For joke
che acted the part of man who knew
scarcely enough to count FIVE. But the
harpsichordist, being absent, he allowed
himself to be persuaded TO replace MIN,
and. to the establishment of everybody
present he proved himself to be great
master of that instrument" Soon after
this, the place of organist, at Lubbock,
became vacant by the retirement of the
great Buxtehude. Handel went to inves-
tigate the chances of his succeeding to
the position. He found as one of the
conditions to his obtaining the place
that he must marry the retiring organ
lists daughter. He declined to compete
for the position.
Handel made the acquaintance, about
this time, of young Mattheson, COM
poser, singer, actor and writer, and sec
rotary of the British minister at Ham
burg. He could write an opera, sing it,
and during the intervals, conduct it,
presiding at the harpsichord. When his
opera, Cleopatra, was produced in the
opera house he sang the part of An
tony. After Antony died he wished to
supersede Handel at the harpsichord.
Mandel declined, perhaps illnaturedly.
Mattheson was naturally very indignant,
and on the way out of the theater he
cuffed Handel on the ear. Both drew
swords and hacked away at each other
in a very scientific manner, it is sup
posed. Fortunately Mattheson's sword
was shivered on large metal button on
his adversary's coat. This terminated
the quarrel and the two young men be-
came warm friends.
The next article will consist OF Han
del and his works.
L. F. BURNETT.