Discover the Musical Magic: Top 9 Fun Facts About Handel You Never Knew!

1. Handel's Never-Ending Playlist

Who needs Netflix when you've got Handel and his never-ending playlist: This prolific Baroque composer penned more than 42 operas, 25 oratorios, and a smorgasbord of cantatas, trios, duets, arias, sonatas, and more, all neatly catalogued in the Händel-Werke-Verzeichnis for your binge-listening pleasure.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Almost a Fencing Fatality

The original opera wars: George Handel and Johann Mattheson were not only friendly rivals in the world of music but also season warriors, coming an inch from taking their high notes to bloodbaths in an opera-house fencing match – all before laughing it off over a pint: Handel's life was saved by a button on his coat during a near-fatal duel with his fellow composer, shedding light on their tumultuous relationship that included accusations of Handel stealing melodies - just showing how it ain't over till the chubby German sings!
Source => vulture.com

Did you know that Bach had 20 children, but only four went on to become famous composers? Discover the unique styles and legacies of the "Dresden Bach," "London Bach," and more!

=> Fun Facts about Bach

3. WhatsApp-worthy Water Music

Imagine if today's composer answered a royal call by WhatsApp, and instead of typing, they'd compose a tune to float the king's boat; quite literally! In 1717, George Frideric Handel was put to the test: King George I desired a concert on the River Thames, and Handel crafted the perfect response. The result was his famous "Water Music" suite, captivating everyone aboard the king's barge with its French overture, minuets, bourrées, and hornpipes, ensuring encores aplenty as they journeyed up the river.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Cataracts and Quacks: Eye Mishaps

Eye'll be Bach: Handel, like his contemporary Bach, gambled with his eyesight in the 18th century when he underwent multiple cataract surgeries from a notorious quack named Chevalier John Taylor. This crude procedure left Handel completely blind for the last decade of his life, and it may have sealed Bach's fate too, leading to a painful eye condition and possibly causing his demise due to a post-operative infection.
Source => med.wisc.edu

5. Law Dropout-turned-Music Maestro

Handel's legal career fell flat, sharper mind orchestrated a different note: Destined for law following his father's wishes, Handel's innate musical aptitude struck a chord and saw him study with famous organist Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, composing church services by the tender age of nine, entirely avoiding the courthouse.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Choir Feat: A Divinely Orchestrated Event

Talk about a divinely orchestrated event: Handel managed to overcome church opposition to have the St. Patrick's choir boys and other songsters perform his sacred oratorio "Messiah" in Dublin in 1742, with a grand finale of the man himself playing the organ.
Source => yourclassical.org

7. Hoop Skirts & Swords vs. Philanthropy

When fashion took a backseat to philanthropy: In an RSVP of enormous proportions, ladies attending the 1742 premier of Handel's Messiah in Dublin were asked to ditch their hoop skirts, while gentlemen were encouraged to leave their swords at home – all to make room for more patrons to experience Handel's musical masterpiece. The packed house raised a whopping 400 pounds, which was then used to release numerous individuals from the grasps of debtor's prison.
Source => thetabernaclechoir.org

8. Bach & Handel: Facebook Friends Only

In a hit historical drama that never aired, featuring two astonishing maestros who lived in the same country but never managed to become more than Facebook friends (or Georgian-era equivalents): Bach attempted to meet Handel during a visit to Halle, but alas, Handel had already left, and there is no evidence that they ever had a personal relationship or directly communicated with one another.
Source => uh.edu

9. Messiah's Social Climbing

You'd think Handel's "Messiah" was the original social climber – from a low-key gathering to a full-blown party extravaganza: Originally composed for humble vocal and instrumental forces, the oratorio found itself supersized after Handel's death, performed by massive orchestras and choirs. The pendulum swings both ways, though, and a growing trend now favors a return to Handel's authentic aesthetic, but hey, who doesn't like to occasionally revel in a "big Messiah" production?
Source => en.wikipedia.org