Great Britain: Notable Musicians and Musical Developments

1685 - 1759 - George Frederic Handel (All Facts)

• German-English Baroque Composer

  • He was a friend of Domenico Scarlatti

• He was born in Saxony and worked in Hamburg (Germany) and in Italy

• He then settled in London after his employer became King George of Great Britain

• He was known for having wrote for royal occasions

• He wrote chamber music and around 40 Italian operas

1709 - George Frederic Handel: Agrippina (All Facts)

• Opera which won the namesake composer overnight fame following its first triumphant production

1717 - George Frederic Handel: Water Music (All Facts)

• Written for King George II’s boating parties

1727 - George Frederic Handel: Zadok the Priest (All Facts)

• Written for King George II’s coronation

1736 - George Frederic Handel: Alexander’s Feast (All Facts)

1739 - George Frederic Handel: Israel in Egypt (All Facts)

1742 - George Frederic Handel: Messiah (All Facts)

• At the time of the namesake’s premiere, one Dublin music critic wrote about it, saying it was “the sublime, the grand, and the tender, adapted to the most elevated, majestic, and moving words”

1707 - 1788 - Charles Wesley (All Facts)

• English Cleric and Hymn Writer

  • He wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime

• He led the “Methodist Movement” along with his brother John who founded it

• He formed a Holy Club with his brother John at Oxford University

1739 - Charles Wesley: Hark, The Herald Angels Sing (All Facts)

• English Christmas Carl based on Luke 2:8–14, describing an angelic chorus singing of Christ's nativity (birth)