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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Composer of the Week: George Frideric Handel (1685-1759): Episode 1: Messing About on the River

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Episode 1

Episode 1: Messing About on the River

Messing About on the River

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), Messing About on the River

Donald Macleod explores Handel's early years in London.

Donald Macleod explores Handel's early years in London, when he becomes involved with the nascent opera scene.

This week, as part of the BBC's Eighteenth Century season, Donald Macleod explores the music Handel composed for the Georges, I and II, and to commemorate major events in their reigns.

Today, Handel is dismissed from his post as Kapellmeister to Georg Ludwig, Elector of Hanover, but restored to favour when Georg - now George - accedes to the British throne. George is a keen opera-goer so Handel, eager to please, throws himself with gusto into London's nascent operatic scene. Things come temporarily unstuck when the opera company runs into financial trouble and disbands, but this doesn't distract Handel from coming up with the perfect soundtrack for some right royal messing about on the river: his Water Music.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

With music Handel wrote for Kings George I and II and to mark major events in their reigns

Donald Macleod explores the music Handel composed for Kings George I and II and to commemorate major events in their reigns

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Composer of the Week

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Episode 1: Messing About on the River

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