George Frideric Handel was born on 23 February 1685 in Halle (Saale). A German-born Baroque composer, Handel trained in Halle, worked in Hamburg and Italy, and settled in London in 1712, becoming a British subject in 1727. He wrote dozens of Italian operas for the London stage and, as their popularity faded, turned to oratorio, English-language dramatic works for chorus and soloists. His oratorio Messiah, first performed in Dublin in 1742, contains the Hallelujah chorus and remains among the most performed choral works. Other well-known pieces include the Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and the coronation anthem Zadok the Priest. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Before and after
- 5 April 1684Birth of Catherine I of Russia
- from 25 April 1684 to 26 January 1699Morean War
- October 1684Leibniz publishes the first paper on calculus
- 1685Construction of Ashmolean Museum
- 23 February 1685Birth of George Frideric Handel
- 21 March 1685Birth of Johann Sebastian Bach
- 1 October 1685Birth of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
- 1686Founding of Greenfield
- from 1686 to 1700Third Russo-Turkish War
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1540Construction of Westminster Abbey
- 1616Construction of Sultan Ahmed Mosque
- 1670Construction of avenue des Champs-Élysées
- 17th centuryRise of ukiyo-e
- 25 April 1719Publication of Robinson Crusoe
- October 1745Publication of God Save the King
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 17th century.