While Bach was known for his complex and intricate compositions, Handel was known for his emotive and expressive music. In conclusion, Bach and Handel were two of the most influential composers of the Baroque period, but they had very different styles and approaches to music. This is reflected in the subject matter of their compositions, with Bach's music often having a religious theme and Handel's music being more centered on secular themes and stories. Bach was primarily a church musician, while Handel was more focused on secular music and opera. Handel's music, on the other hand, is more emotive and expressive, with a strong emphasis on melody and grandiosity.Īnother key difference between Bach and Handel is the context in which they composed their music. Bach's music is often more complex and cerebral, focusing on technical virtuosity and counterpoint. While both Bach and Handel were masters of their craft, there are several key differences between their styles and approaches to music. ![]() ![]() Handel was a prolific composer and his most famous works include the operas "Julius Caesar" and "Messiah," and the oratorio "Israel in Egypt." Handel's music was characterized by its dramatic intensity and emotional depth, and he was known for his use of bold melodies and grandiose orchestration. He was a composer, conductor, and organist who is best known for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental music. Handel, on the other hand, was born in Germany in 1685 but spent much of his career in England. He was also a master of counterpoint, which is the technique of combining melodies in a way that is harmonically interesting and pleasing to the ear. Bach was a devout Lutheran and much of his music was religious in nature, including his famous Mass in B Minor and St. He is known for his complex and intricate musical compositions, particularly his organ works and choral music. Despite living and working in the same time period, Bach and Handel had very different backgrounds, styles, and approaches to music.īach was born in Germany in 1685 and was a prolific composer, organist, and musician. Also notable are his sixteen keyboard suites, especially The Harmonious Blacksmith.Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel were two of the most influential composers of the Baroque period, a time in Western classical music characterized by grandeur and ornate stylistic elements. 7, together with the Opus 3 and Opus 6 concerti grossi the latter incorporate an earlier organ concerto The Cuckoo and the Nightingale in which birdsong is imitated in the upper registers of the organ. Among the works with opus numbers published and popularised in his lifetime are the Organ Concertos Op. His most famous work, the oratorio Messiah with its "Hallelujah" chorus, is among the most popular works in choral music and has become the centrepiece of the Christmas season. Handel's compositions include 42 operas, 29 oratorios, more than 120 cantatas, trios and duets, numerous arias, chamber music, a large number of ecumenical pieces, odes and serenatas, and 16 organ concerti. ![]() Handel composed more than forty operas in over thirty years, and since the late 1960s, with the revival of baroque music and historically informed musical performance, interest in Handel's operas has grown. ![]() One of his four Coronation Anthems, Zadok the Priest (1727), composed for the coronation of George II of Great Britain, has been performed at every subsequent British coronation, traditionally during the sovereign's anointing. His funeral was given full state honours, and he was buried in Westminster Abbey.īorn the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti, Handel is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era, with works such as Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and Messiah remaining steadfastly popular. Almost blind, and having lived in England for nearly fifty years, he died in 1759, a respected and rich man. After his success with Messiah (1742) he never performed an Italian opera again. Musicologist Winton Dean writes that his operas show that "Handel was not only a great composer he was a dramatic genius of the first order." As Alexander's Feast (1736) was well received, Handel made a transition to English choral works. Within fifteen years, Handel had started three commercial opera companies to supply the English nobility with Italian opera. Handel received critical training in Halle, Hamburg and Italy before settling in London (1712), and became a naturalized British subject in 1727. He was strongly influenced both by the great composers of the Italian Baroque and the middle-German polyphonic choral tradition. George Frideric Handel was a German-born, British Baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London, becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos.
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