Handel's Story An Inspiring One

HELLO FOLKS — This Christmas holiday season there were many songs sung concerning Santa Claus, Christ, the Christmas tree and winter.

Among all those sung and played there is none greater than the greatest of all great compositions, Handel's "The Messiah".

I have just finished reading the story of Handel's life, and for the benefit of many who probab1y haven't read the story of tragedy and victory of this great man, I will review it briefly here.

Handel was born in the year 1685. His father, Georg, insisted that his son would never be a musician, for in those days musicians were mostly travelers. He even went so far as to say that he would cut off his son's fingers, if he had to, to deter him from being a musician.

Upon the insistance of the Duke of Weissenfels, Georg finally changed his mind and enrolled his son under the tutorship of the great organist Zachau.

Handel learned to play the violin, oboe, bassoon, clavichord, and organ. From the inexaustible well of his creativity came 40 operas and many and varied pieces for the organ, orchestra, violin and nineteen oratorios.

People thronged to the operas to hear his renditions. He was acclaimed the world over; then the 'roof' seemed to fall in. Jealous rivals and critics turned against him and along with other happenings he found himself penniless, friendless and miserable.

In his despair he wandered the streets of London, returning to his shabby room to rest and mope.

One night when he returned he found a package waiting for him. It was from the poet Charles Jennings; with a letter urging him to write suitable music for the enclosed poem. The poetry was entitled "A Sacred Oratorio".

Handel scoffed at the idea of writing music for religious purposes.

As he went over the words they seemed to burn into his soul. He once again felt the life of music come into his being. For 22 days he wrote almost constantly. When the score was finished he fell to his bed and slept, as if in a coma, for 17 hours.

It was performed for the first time in Dublin, Ireland, (London would have nothing to do with him then.) Handel insisted that all the proceeds go to charity. He was a changed man. From then on he wrote only for religious music. "The Messiah" was presented 34 times during the life of Handel. He received the praise of kings and paupers alike.

On April the sixth, at the age of 74, he sat listening to an Easter rendition of his greatest achievement, When the chorus began to sing, "The trumpet shall sound," he slumped in his chair. He was carried to his bed, never to rise again.

His wish was to die on Good Friday. This wish was granted him, for it was on the morning of Friday, April 14, 1759, that Handel died.

Although Handel has been dead over 200 years his music lives on and brings happiness to ever increasing millions the world over.