| Georg Friedrich Händel |
Eyeballs were not the only thing Bach and Handel had in common. It was approximately 196
walking miles from Salzburg to Nürnberg, and this is the almost the distance young 21 year old
Johann Sebastion Bach supposedly walked just to hear the great Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
play the organ at the Marienkirche in Lübeck (later destroyed by Allied bombing). An eighteen year
old Handel, the same age as Bach, had visited Buxtehude three years earlier in 1703 to witness his
phenomenal keyboard technique. Bach’s four week visit turned into a four month stay. After this
encounter, Bach's music, as Handel's, changed dramatically. He had taken the cantata and fugue, and
developed them into complex and sublime pieces. In 1723, Bach moved to Leipzig, and during this
period, his major works included: St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion, Suite No. 3 in D, Magnificat in
D Major, Christmas Oratorio , Italian Concerto, Goldberg Variations, named after Bach's student Johann
Gottlieb Goldberg), The Well-Tempered Clavier, the Musical Offering, and The Art of the Fugue.
walking miles from Salzburg to Nürnberg, and this is the almost the distance young 21 year old
Johann Sebastion Bach supposedly walked just to hear the great Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
play the organ at the Marienkirche in Lübeck (later destroyed by Allied bombing). An eighteen year
old Handel, the same age as Bach, had visited Buxtehude three years earlier in 1703 to witness his
phenomenal keyboard technique. Bach’s four week visit turned into a four month stay. After this
encounter, Bach's music, as Handel's, changed dramatically. He had taken the cantata and fugue, and
developed them into complex and sublime pieces. In 1723, Bach moved to Leipzig, and during this
period, his major works included: St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion, Suite No. 3 in D, Magnificat in
D Major, Christmas Oratorio , Italian Concerto, Goldberg Variations, named after Bach's student Johann
Gottlieb Goldberg), The Well-Tempered Clavier, the Musical Offering, and The Art of the Fugue.
After suffering a stroke, he wrote oratorios, including "Messiah" in 1741, and Psalms, motets,
anthems, passions, cantatas, instrumental chamber works, plus works for keyboard. Handel never
married. Upon his death, more than 3,000 mourners attended his funeral, which was given full state
honors. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. Ironically, both Handel and Bach were afflicted with
cataracts and both courageously underwent a crude surgical treatment at the hands of the same
doctor which involved manually shoving the cataract covered lens back into the eyeball without
anesthesia to let in a little more light. Handel lived out his life but went completely blind at the end,
the last music he ever heard being his own Messiah at his death on April 14, 1759. Bach was not so
lucky. He died July 20, 1750 from septicemia induced by the procedure.
anthems, passions, cantatas, instrumental chamber works, plus works for keyboard. Handel never
married. Upon his death, more than 3,000 mourners attended his funeral, which was given full state
honors. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. Ironically, both Handel and Bach were afflicted with
cataracts and both courageously underwent a crude surgical treatment at the hands of the same
doctor which involved manually shoving the cataract covered lens back into the eyeball without
anesthesia to let in a little more light. Handel lived out his life but went completely blind at the end,
the last music he ever heard being his own Messiah at his death on April 14, 1759. Bach was not so
lucky. He died July 20, 1750 from septicemia induced by the procedure.
Georg Friedrich Händel was born in Halle in the same year as Bach. He
was appointed violinist-composer for Hamburg's German opera in 1703. In
1706, he travelled to Italy where he met Corelli and the Scarlattis. Upon his
return to Germany four years later, he assumed the post of Kapellmeister to
the Elector of Hanover, the future King George I of England. Handel moved
to London in 1712 where as a chapel master to the Duke of Chandos, he
wrote Italian operas. In 1719, Handel returned to his birthplace for eight
days in 1719 but a planned meeting between he and Bach mysteriously
never took place. Handel became a subject of the British crown in 1727.
was appointed violinist-composer for Hamburg's German opera in 1703. In
1706, he travelled to Italy where he met Corelli and the Scarlattis. Upon his
return to Germany four years later, he assumed the post of Kapellmeister to
the Elector of Hanover, the future King George I of England. Handel moved
to London in 1712 where as a chapel master to the Duke of Chandos, he
wrote Italian operas. In 1719, Handel returned to his birthplace for eight
days in 1719 but a planned meeting between he and Bach mysteriously
never took place. Handel became a subject of the British crown in 1727.