Middle School
Worksheets
Biography of George Frideric Handel
George Frideric Handel
Reading Comprehension for February 23
"Handel is the greatest composer who ever lived. I would bare my head and kneel at his grave." This quote is attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven, a composer very famous in his own right. It indicates the great respect Handel earned for his contribution to music.
George Frideric Handel was an accomplished musician who is perhaps best known for producing Messiah in 1742. This piece is often performed at Christmas time by choirs around the world. Interestingly, this famous piece was styled differently from much of his other work. Most of his work is known to be dramatic. Messiah is considered to be more contemplative. Since this piece is perhaps his most famous, he is often mistaken for having been primarily a church musician. Rather, he wrote many other works that include concertos, oratorios, and cantatas. His pieces were part of the Baroque period, a time when musical notes expanded and new instruments were introduced. Musical tones were used together both independently and in harmony.
Handel was born in 1685. (Another famous composer, Johann Sebastian Bach was also born that year.) Handel showed interest and skill in music as a child. His father, who was in his sixties when Handel was born, preferred his son pursue other interests, but his mother encouraged his musical bent.
