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George Frideric Handel was a brilliant German composer of the Baroque era known for his mastery of melody. While born in the same year and country as Johann Sebastian Bach, Handel's music served royal patrons rather than exclusively religious purposes. Tonight's performance will be of one of Handel's most significant works, the Chaconne in G Major, a 21-variation masterpiece praised by great composers and seen as metaphor for life's changing stages.

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39 views1 page

Untitled Document

George Frideric Handel was a brilliant German composer of the Baroque era known for his mastery of melody. While born in the same year and country as Johann Sebastian Bach, Handel's music served royal patrons rather than exclusively religious purposes. Tonight's performance will be of one of Handel's most significant works, the Chaconne in G Major, a 21-variation masterpiece praised by great composers and seen as metaphor for life's changing stages.

Uploaded by

babakalondon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Now we explore the music of a composer you will instantly fall in love with.

His music resonates with our


innate desire for perfect beauty and harmony. This composer's name proudly stands beside Johann
Sebastian Bach. I'm talking about George Frideric Handel. Surprisingly, that three titans of music,
Domenico Scarlatti, Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel were born in the same year, 1685,
a year that would forever alter the landscape of Western civilization.

Handel, a brilliant German composer of the Baroque era, was a musical genius ahead of his time. As
playwright Bernard Shaw noted, "You can despise anyone or anything you want, but you are powerless to
contradict Handel." His music has the power to leave even atheists speechless.

Handel's musical journey began at the age of 11. His father saw music as mere entertainment. But
Despite his father's initial disapproval, Handel's passion for music soared, propelling him to master the
organ, harpsichord, violin, and even the oboe. He reached unparalleled hights, performing at prestigious
venues like Westminster Abbey. The fees for his operas and oratorios often exceeded his father's lifetime
earnings.

Comparing Handel and Bach, born in the same year and country, reveals a stark contrast in the purpose
of their music. While Bach's compositions were primarily for religious purposes, speaking to higher
powers, Handel's music served leaders, kings, and counts. Handel was not just a composer but also a
talented businessman. He earned around 1,000 thalers annually, compared to Bach's meager 60 thalers.
He held the prestigious position of the first court composer for King George I.

George Frideric Handel's music is an immediate delight, overflowing with energy, beauty, and harmony.
His mastery of melody makes his compositions instantly recognizable and deeply moving. Handel had a
striking ability to depict human character musically in a piece, painting vivid portraits with every note he
wrote.

Tonight, we experience one of Handel's most significant works, the Chaconne in G Major for keyboard.
This 21-variation masterpiece has been performed by some of the greatest composers and pianists of all
time, such as Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, Artur Rubinstein, Vladimir Horowitz, and Vladimir Ashkenazy.
As Ashkenazy once said, "This is a work that has inspired musicians and listeners around the world. It's a
masterpiece that never ceases to amaze."

The Chaconne can be seen as a metaphor for life's ever-changing landscape, with each variation
representing a different stage, mood, and state of mind. Let's embark on this musical journey and let
Handel's genius sweep us away tonight.

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