| Nationality: | German/English |
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Date & Place of Birth: |
Feb. 23, 1685 — Halle |
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Date & Place of Death: |
April 14, 1759 — London |
| Near Family: | Mother: Dorothea Taust |
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Main Place of Residence: |
Studied in Halle; lived and worked in Hamburg and Hanover, then finally settled in London. |
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Vocation (including composition): |
He held several positions as kapellmeister and organist, respectively, but more often gave concerts of his music while traveling. |
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The oratorio Messiah appears more often in every orchestra's repertory than almost any other piece. Other well known works by Handel include the oratorios Saul(1739), Sampson(1743), Esther and Judas Maccabaeus(1747), as well as the instrumental works: Water Musick(1747), Fireworks Musick(1749) and The Harmonious Blacksmith. |
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Interesting Facts: |
Towards the end of his life, Handel went completely blind as the result of cataracts. |
