Handel
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Born / died
1685-1759
Movement
Baroque
Location
Lived in London, Halle +4 more
Friends / contemporaries
Arcangelo Corelli, Domenico Scarlatti, François Couperin +3 more
role: composer · 90%era: Baroquemovement: Baroque1685–1759
Movement
Baroque · Wikipedia
Baroque music refers to the period or dominant style of Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque style followed the Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Classical period after a short transition. Baroque music forms a major portion of the "classical music" canon, and continues to be widely studied, performed, and listened to. Key composers of the Baroque era include Jacopo Peri, who wrote the first operas; Alessandro Stradella, who originated the concerto grosso style; and Arcangelo Corelli, who was one of the first composers to publish widely and have his music performed across Europe.
How this movement sounds
steady pulsebasso continuocounterpointornamentationdance rhythmsterraced dynamics
Baroque listening cues: a steady pulse, energetic rhythmic drive, and lots of repeating patterns and sequences that feel like the music is constantly in motion.
Texture is often built from basso continuo (a bass line plus chords, frequently harpsichord or organ) and counterpoint: several independent lines weaving together (fugue-like thinking even when it's not a fugue).
Baroque expression is often about articulation and rhythm more than massive crescendos. Dynamics can be terraced (step-like) and the emotional character is often sustained rather than dramatically 'swung' every few bars.
Listen for dance rhythms in suites (courante, sarabande, gigue) and for how harmony supports long, flowing lines: tension is created by rhythmic drive and line-shape, not by sudden harmonic shocks.
If you're new to the sound: try following just the bass line (continuo). When you can hear that steady foundation, the rest of the counterpoint becomes much easier to 'read' by ear.
How Handel sounds
counterpointdance rhythmssteady pulseornamentssequences
Baroque music often sounds rhythmically steady and patterned, with repeating figures and clear harmonic direction.
You will frequently hear counterpoint (multiple independent lines) and dance-derived pulses underneath the surface.
Ornamentation (trills, turns) tends to decorate the melody, and intensity builds by layering lines rather than by sudden harmonic shocks.
Wikipedia
George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( HAN-dəl; baptised Georg Fried[e]rich Händel, German: [ˈɡeːɔʁk ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈhɛndl̩] ; 5 March [O.S.Wikipedia
23 February] 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Handel spent his early life in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London in 1712, where he spent the bulk of his career and became a naturalised British subject in 1727.Wikipedia
He was strongly influenced both by the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition and by composers of the Italian Baroque. In turn, Handel's music forms one of the peaks of the "high baroque" style, bringing Italian opera to its highest development, creating the genres of English oratorio and organ concerto, and introducing a new style into English church music. He is consistently recognised as one of the greatest composers of his age.Wikipedia
Handel started three commercial opera companies to supply the English nobility with Italian opera. In 1737 he had a physical breakdown, changed direction creatively, addressed the middle class and made a transition to English choral works. After his success with Messiah (1742), he never composed an Italian opera again.Wikipedia
His orchestral Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks remain steadfastly popular. One of his four coronation anthems, Zadok the Priest, has been…Wikipedia
Study resources & scores
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Local matches
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France Musique · published 2026-05-29
Handel: Messiah, HWV 56 par Emmanuelle Haim
2026Handel
FreeFull concert
France Musique · published 2026-05-14
Handel: Theodora - Millenium Orchestra, Chœur de Chambre de Namur, Leonardo García-Alarcón
2026Handel
FreeFull concert
Play videoARTE Concert · published 2026-01-20 · 2h 21m
Handel's Messiah - Lausanne Cathedral 2025 - ARTE Concert
20252h 21m
FreeFull concertLong
Play videoYouTube · published 2025-11-15 · 46m
Une fete Baroque Le Concert d'Astree - Jean-Philippe Rameau, George Friedrich Handel, Henry Purcell
202546m
FreeFull concertLongLive
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2025-05-16 · 2m
Robert Wilson’s Der Messias: A Staging of Handel’s Messiah (excerpt) | Carnegie Hall+
Free
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2025-05-16 · 2m
Sing Along to Handel’s Messiah at Český Krumlov Castle
20252m
Free
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2025-05-16 · 22m
Joyce DiDonato Master Classes 2023: Karen Mathilde Heier Hovd sings from Handel’s “Hercules”
202322m
FreeLong
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2025-05-16 · 28m
Joyce DiDonato Master Classes 2023: Agustin Pennino sings from Handel’s “Alcina”
202328m
FreeLong
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2025-05-16 · 35m
Joyce DiDonato Master Classes 2023: Karen Mathilde Heier Hovd sings from Handel’s “Alcina”
202335m
FreeLong
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2025-05-16 · 26m
Joyce DiDonato Master Classes 2023: Travon D. Walker sings from Handel’s “Ariodante”
202326m
FreeLong
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2025-05-16 · 33m
Joyce DiDonato Master Classes 2023: Agustin Pennino sings from Handel’s “Alcina”
202333m
FreeLong
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2025-05-16 · 3m
Handel’s Julius Caesar in Egypt at the Theater an der Wien | Carnegie Hall+
20253m
Free
Play videoYouTube · published 2025-02-11 · 1h 10m
Baroque concert with countertenor Jakub Józef Orlinski | Pieces by Handel, Cavalli, Boretti & others
20251h 10m
FreeFull concertLongLive
Play videoYouTube · published 2025-02-11 · 1h 27m
Dmitri Alexeev - recital in Cedars Hall Wells - Handel, Brahms, Medtner, Wagner, Liszt, Chopin
20251h 27m
FreeFull concertLongLive
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2024-05-11 · 2m
Handel’s Messiah at Český Krumlov Castle | Carnegie Hall+
20242m
Free
Play videoCarnegie Hall · published 2024-04-13 · 28m
Joyce DiDonato Master Classes 2022: Handel’s “Pena tiranna” from “Amadigi di Gaula”
202228m
FreeLong
Play videoYouTube · published 2024-02-12 · 2h 32m
Handel's Messiah (A complete performance by Royal Melbourne Philharmonic conducted by Andrew Wailes)
20242h 32m
FreeFull concertLongLive
Play videoYouTube · published 2023-03-14 · 1h 42m
Handel Celebration Concert | The English Concert, Händelfestspielorchester Halle, Howard Arman
20231h 42m
FreeFull concertLongLive
Play videoSt. Peter Live Zurich · published 2022-09-30
Vortragsreihe | «Umdenken und neu handeln in Bezug auf LGBT-Inklusion in der Kirche» vom 06.09.2022 mit Prof. Dr. David P. Gushee | Moderation: Pfrn. Priscilla Schwendimann und Prof. Dr. Thorsten Dietz
2022
FreeFull concertLive
Play videoBerlin Philharmonic · published 2022-05-18 · 2m
Handel: Harp Concerto in B flat major / Langlamet - Berliner Philharmoniker
Free
Play videoYouTube · published 2021-02-12 · 1h 35m
Handel: Messiah | Voces8 and Academy of Ancient Music [Full Concert]
FreeFull concertLongLive
Play videoBerlin Philharmonic · published 2020-05-18 · 3m
Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks / Haïm - Berliner Philharmoniker
Free
Play videoYouTube · published 2018-08-07 · 58m
Joep Beving Live@ "Motel Mozaique 2018" (Groot Handels Gebouw in Rotterdam).
201858m
FreeFull concertLongLive
Play videoYouTube · published 2015-03-16 · 2h 17m
G. F. Handel: Messiah HWV 56 (fantastic performance)
FreeFull concertLongLive
Play videoBerlin Philharmonic · published 2012-05-20 · 2m
Handel: Water Music / Haïm · Berliner Philharmoniker
Free
Play videoYouTube
La Nuova Musica | Handel: Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno - Live from Wigmore Hall
Tempo
FreeLive
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