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George Frideric Handel
(German-British Composer Known for His Works: ‘Water Music’ and ‘Music for the Royal Fireworks’)
Birthdate: February 23, 1685
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Halle (Saale), Germany
Died: April 14, 1759
George Frideric Handel was a German-British Baroque composer known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. He received training in Halle, worked in Hamburg and Italy before settling in London in 1712. Handel was influenced by the middle-German choral tradition and Italian Baroque composers. He established opera companies in England, transitioned to English choral works after a physical breakdown in 1737, and achieved great success with works like Messiah. Handel's music is considered a peak of the "high baroque" style, influencing later composers like Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.