{"product_id":"9780486144597","title":"George Frideric Handel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"I was so impressed by what Dr. Lang has done in his new and very fresh approach to Handel, his life and works, that I can find only one word to express my feeling about it: Monumental!\" — Eugene Ormandy.\u003cbr\u003eUniversally known and admired for his great oratorio \u003ci\u003eMessiah,\u003c\/i\u003e George Frideric Handel (1695–1759) ranks among the greatest composers of all time. Over a career of more than 50 years, most of it spent in England, the German-born master composed numerous other oratorios, operas, concertos, chamber music, orchestral suites, cantatas, and more. But until now, far less has been known about the man \"possessed of a central calm\" but whose \"driving force was incalculable.\"\u003cbr\u003eIn this immensely thorough and readable biography — considered by many scholars the definitive work on Handel — renowned musicologist Paul Henry Lang penetrates the mystery of Handel's life to paint a vivid portrait of the great composer, while offering expert analysis of Handel's music — its sources, nature, forms, and influence.\u003cbr\u003eDetailed, meticulously researched discussions cover Handel's birth and childhood in Halle; his early musical training and years at university; sojourns in Italy and meetings with Corelli, Scarlatti, and other major composers; Handel's adoption of England as his home; his business dealings in London; his somewhat puzzling relations with women; the onset of blindness in 1751 and the end of his artistic career; his death in 1759 and burial in Westminster Abbey; and many other aspects of his long and complex life.\u003cbr\u003eIn addition to the breadth of biographical material, Dr. Lang offers detailed discussions of Handel's music, of both its general characteristics and the specific features of such masterworks as the oratorios \u003ci\u003eMessiah, Israel in Egypt, Solomon \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Judas Maccabaeus\u003c\/i\u003e; the operas \u003ci\u003eGiulio Cesare \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Rinaldo\u003c\/i\u003e; the orchestral suites \u003ci\u003eRoyal Fireworks Music \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Water Music\u003c\/i\u003e;\u003ci\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ethe pastoral \u003ci\u003eAcis and Galatea\u003c\/i\u003e; the odes \u003ci\u003eAlexander's Feast \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Ode for St. Cecilia's Day\u003c\/i\u003e; and many other compositions. Perceptive, extremely thorough and obviously a labor of love, this masterly biography belongs in the library of every musician, music lover, and student of music and music history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dover Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47174616514800,"sku":"9780486144597","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780486144597_p0.jpg?v=1763708264","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780486144597","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}