The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-12-10
Members Of the Woman's Club Spend
an Interesting Afternoon Dis
,cussing Great Master.
MRS. W. W. STRONG AS EssAMsT
Story of the Life of Handel and His
Works Illustrated by Kenosha's
Leading Musicians.

Handel, of whom Haydn said, ssHe
was the Master of us ALL" was the
topic for discussion at the meeting of
the Woman's Club Wednesday after
noon, and IN honor of the discussion
of the life and work of the famous mu.
stefan well known musicians of Keno.
sha gave one of the most splendid
classical concerts ever heard in the
city.
Mrs. W. w. Strong was the essayist
for the afternoon, and she gave a
charming presentation of the life and
work of the famous Saxon.
In her paper Mrs. Strong told of the
birth of Handel in Saxony in 1886, Of
his budding genius which was not met
with favor by the stern parent-of the
little clavichord hidden away in the at
tic, on which the great musician first
developed his rem arkable talents. She
followed him through his struggling
boyhood to the great Conservatives Of
Germany, and saw him crowned king
of musicians at the age of eleven
years. The fascinating story con-
tinued showing the production Of his
first opera at Ham burg in 17O5. It
was "Alma, Queen of Castillo" and it
at once brought Handel into the fore
most rank of musical creators. It was
rapidly followed by ''Nero'' and
"Daphne."
Mrs. Strong then told of the triumph
in Italy where Handel, after three
weeks, brought out the famous opera
"Agrippina.' After Italy came Eng.
land, where Handel gained his great
est renown, and where for his work he
was made a natura1ized citizen by
special act of Parliament.
Mrs. Strong spoke of the sincere
friendship that had existed between
King George and the musician, and
showed the influence of this friendship
on his work. She told the story of the
water Music which was composed
to be played on the barges following
the royal yachts.
In England Mrs. Strong showed
that the musician was stirred 10 his
greatest works. Here he wrote his
first oratorio "Saul'' and followed it in
few weeks with "Israel in Egypt.o
Here the musician took up the great
works of the English poets and set
them to music. These charming songs
included Dryden's lode for St. Cecelias
Day" and Milton's "L'Allegro~ and
I'll Penseroso." Then came the crown
ing Of his musical career, the produc.
ton of the oratorio 1.-The Messiah"
which was first produced in Doublin
in 1742. 1t remains today the greatest
piece Of religious music ever written.
"The Messiah" at once made Han
del the master of the musicia rs in the
world. In the closing years of
his life came the splendid or
atorios Sampson" Joseph" Bells
hazzar," "The Occasional Oratorio,"
"Judas Maccabenus," Solomon and
Theodore" the last of the writer's
triumphs. 1t was during this period
that Handel wrote the "Dettinger TIE
Deum" one of his most remarkable
productions.
Mrs. Strong told the pretty story of
the death of Handel on Good Friday,
April 10, 1889. Handel had always
been a great religious writer and he
had longed to die on this great festival
of the church.
His remains were laid to rest in the
poets corner at Westminster Abbey
and over his tomb was placed statue
of him with copy of the messiah"
in his hand the finger pointing to the
famous line 81 know that my Redeem
err Liveth.''
IL illustration of the writings Of
Handel Miss Brown sang the "L'Al.
legro" and the love song from Scala
tea" Miss Slosson played 1.-THE Har-
monius Blacksmith" Mrs. Kalten
bach played pretty arrangement of
"The Water Music and Miss Head
sang in very charming manner
"Angels Ever Bright and Fair The
musical program closed with renditions
of portions of the messiah" by Miss
Head and Mrs. Tanner the accompaui-
ment being played by Mrs. Kaltenbach
and Mr.. Jacoby.
AMERICAN OR EUROPEAN-WHICH?