Happy Birthday, George Frideric Handel

Born on this day in 1685

Hallelujah from Handel's Messiah (every year I always get excited when Christmas rolls around knowing that I will be attending at least one live performance of Messiah)


Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah
The kingdom of this world
Is become
The kingdom of our God
And of His Christ
And He shall reign forever
King of Kings
For ever and ever
And Lord of Lords


George Frideric Handel - Music for the Royal Fireworks


See, the conqu'ring hero comes and Sing Unto God from Handel's Judas Maccabaeus


See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets! Beat the drums!
Sports prepare! The laurel bring!
Songs of triumph to him sing!

See the godlike youth advance!
Breathe the flutes and lead the dance!
Myrtle wreaths and roses twine
to deck the hero's brow divine!

See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets! Beat the drums!
Sports prepare! The laurel bring!
Songs of triumph to him sing!
See, the conqu'ring hero comes!
Sound the trumpets! Beat the drums!




Sing unto God, and high affections raise,
To crown this conquest with unmeasur'd praise.

Interesting. He was born the same year as Bach.

And anyone who has ever seen “Barry Lyndon” will recognize this other work by Handel right away,

forgot to include another favorite...



Zadok the Priest (recently heard in "The Crown" at the coronation of Elizabeth II scene)


Zadok the Priest,
and Nathan the Prophet
anointed Solomon King.

And all the people
rejoiced,
and said: God save the King!
Long live the King!
May the King live for ever,
Amen, Allelujah.

I have loved classical music since I was a small lad. Our music teacher used to play various pieces as we left assembly in the morning. One piece that stuck in my mind was March of the Toreadors.

My first record purchases (around late 60's,early 70's) were classical,in fact I still have them although no record player to play them on.