The Life of George Frederick Handel
With an Introductory Notice by George Grove

An 1883 biography of Handel, the larger-than-life and much-acclaimed composer whose works remain a staple of concert life.

William Smith Rockstro (Author), George Grove (Introduction by)

9781108064811, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 4 July 2013

476 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.7 cm, 0.6 kg

Beloved not only in Britain, George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) is admired as a composer the world over. His inventive and sensitive melodic genius and his exuberant brilliance in depicting the spectacular are best displayed in his Messiah and Zadok the Priest. Larger than life, Handel impressed all who met him and was adept at promoting his works, arranging for their publication and even selling them from his home in London's Brook Street. His dogged determination to triumph over the many reverses of his career and the fickle enthusiasms of the Georgian public is the stuff of three-volume novels. This sympathetic and highly readable biography by the composer and author William Smith Rockstro (1823–95) was first published in 1883. Wherever possible, autograph manuscripts have been consulted and the book contains the first detailed catalogue of Handel's output. Among other works, Rockstro's biography of Mendelssohn is also reissued in this series.

Notice
Author's preface
1. The Handel family
2. Georg Friedrich's childhood
3. The journey to Berlin
4. The student-organist
5. The journey to Hamburg
6. Almira
7. The journey to Italy
8. The first Italian opera
9. The first visit to London
10. In London and Hanover
11. The Utrecht Te deum
12. At Burlington House
13. Concerning the Water Musick
14. The second passion oratorio
15. Concerning the duke of Chandos
16. Concerning the Royal Academy of Music
17. Concerning the success of the Royal Academy of Music
18. Cuzzoni and Faustina
19. Concerning the decline and fall of the Royal Academy of Music
20. Handel as manager
21. The revival of Esther, and Acis and Galatea
22. The threatening storm
23. The rival operas
24. Performances without dramatic action
25. The last Italian operas
26. Saul, Israel in Egypt
27. The disputed Magnificat
28. The Messiah
29. The technical history of the Messiah
30. The return to London
31. The victory of Dettingen
32. The second bankruptcy
33. Brighter prospects
34. National rejoicings
35. The last oratorio
36. English dramatic works
37. Pasticcios
38. Instrumental music
39. Eventide
40. The closing scene
41. The will
42. The man
43. The genius
44. De reliquiis
Catalogue of works
Fac-simile of handwriting
Appendix
Genealogical tree
Index.

Subject Areas: Baroque music [c 1600 to c 1750 AVGC3]