George Frideric Handel Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

George Frideric Handel - Term Paper Example The boy who would later become a renowned musician was born on 23rd February 1685 (Schoelcher 2). He exhibited ardent interest in music from an early age, although his father objected to his determination to pursue music. Handel’s father conformed to the societal opinion during that time. The people of the 17th and 18th century viewed music as a hobby undeserving of been considering a career. People who exhibited too much passion in hobbies earned a negative reputation in the society. The majority of people sought to have a high profile career, explaining why Handel’s father wanted his son to pursue law, which had a higher societal regard. However, despite this resistance from his father, he strived to learn the organ and the clavichord. His mother helped him in discretion, offering him the clavichord. He learned these organs on his own and made good progress. On one occasion, a duke recognized that he had a talent in music after hearing him playing the organ, and took the initiative of pleading his father. The duke’s efforts bore fruit and Handel’s father allowed him to register for music classes. Handel encountered Zacchau as his first music teacher at the Lutheran church in his hometown when he was eight years old. Through the instruction of Zacchau, he registered fast progress in his musical career, such that at 11, he was excelling in playing the harpsichord, violin, and the organ. Moreover, he gained exemplary skills in composition, harmony, and the counterpoint. At this point, Handel’s father exhibited the conviction that his son had acquired sufficient skills in music, and wanted to bring the music classes to a halt. However, when he got home, his father died a factor that compelled him to pursue the wishes of his father and spend the years that followed studying in order to fulfill his father’s wishes. During this time, he also embarked on enhancing his music knowledge by working with the church by playing the organ and cantatas writing. On attaining the age of 18, he decided to pursue music as his career, with an ardent determination to advance his musical skills. After making that decision in his life, he relocated to Hamburg in Germany (Rockstro 65). Handel’s Musical Career When Handel moved to Hamburg, he had made his determination to nurture his talent, and impact the music industry in a diverse way. Hamburg had earned a name as a renowned center in opera music (Mainwaring 44). This attribute attracted the talented Handel to Hamburg. On arrival, he landed a job in an opera house that was very popular in the city to take the role of playing the violin. Handel proved aggressive by seizing every opportunity to exhibit his talent in the playing other instruments such as the harpsichord. For example, he seized the opportunity presented by the absence of a musician to exhibit his talent in playing the harpsichord. Moreover, he established an acquaintance with Johann Mattheson who wa s four years older. Johann Mattheson demonstrated exemplary talent in composition, singing, and defining music theories. Apparently, Handel was hot-tempered, and he was involved in an ugly argument with Mattheson concerning of the operas by Mattheson (Parker 66). That argument compromised their working relationship, and the two no longer worked together. After spending some time in Hamburg, he gained popularity that appealed the prince of Italy, who invited him to Italy. He