Interview

M: Hello and welcome, Today is a very special day, at least it’s a very special day for me because I got to have to opportunity of talking to a fantastic young man. Lets not waste any more time, everybody I am honored to introduce George Frideric Handel!

G: Guten tag my friend.

M: George, thank you for managing to find some spare time out of your busy schedule to come out here and have a little chat with me.

G: That’s perfectly all right, it just so happens that I was passing through this direction.

M: Well how convenient! So tell me about yourself, You’re a great composer. How did you get in to it? Did anything happen as a child that made you want to continue composing?

G: Well, my family didn’t have any musical background so it came as sort of a surprise when I started composing. The only exposure to learning musical instruction was when a very kind organ player taught me how to play the organ. After that I started really liking the organ and I think it was right after… my 17^th birthday, I got my first job as a local church organ player. (http://www.8notes.com/school/history/handel.asp) That wasn’t enough though; I liked it so much that I traveled to Hamburg in Germany where I composed my first opera. Then after that I moved on and I was composing operas and oratorios so on and so forth…

M: Hmm I see, now you said you where taught by an organ player, how would you say he helped you become who you are today?

G: He taught me to play how to play the organ! That and the oboe and violin where the only instruments I ever learned how to play. If it weren’t for him… well I wouldn’t be who I am today. He was the one who brought music on to my life and helped me discover what I wanted to be. My dad intended for me to go in to law (http://www.baroquemusic.org/bqxhandel.html) but learning the organ was a way of showing him that I wanted to compose! I wouldn’t want to be some judge sitting in a court all day, no I wanted to be something bigger. I owe that man my gratitude, because with out him people wouldn’t know me for who I am. People might know me as “George Frideric Handel the bank clerk!” now that is pathetic. I am so happy that I compose, and I thank him for helping me discover who I am.

M: Well it seems like he really inspired you! When you went in to composing what was composing viewed as?

G: Composing was huge! It was the time where everyone was listening to classical music. Dances, Symphonies, Operas, Dramas, composers where needed for everything. I guess that made it a bit more of a challenge for me ha ha.

M: What about the sociality? Where there any economic or political things standing in your way?

G: No there wasn’t any, I guess you could say that the only thing that stood in my way of becoming a composer was my father. He was determined to make me a lawyer. When the duke recognized my talent as I first played on the organ he spoke to my father quite seriously about what I should do. Even then my father refused to back down, he let me learn the organ but he still had high hopes that I would be a lawyer. (http://www.nndb.com/people/946/000091673/)

M: What would you say one of your major accomplishments where as a composer?

G: Well, one of my favorite peaces I ever wrote would be the song “Hallelujah” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ1aR2RhJnM) I think that song is what I’m mostly well known for. At the time I wrote it I was deeply depressed, but a miracle happened… I saw the face of god. At that time I was so in to what I was writing. My assistant apparently tried contacting me, when I didn’t reply he showed up at my door. As he walked in… I was crying. Yes I was crying, I was so happy. God had showed me a sign and what do u know, people love the song! (http://www.playpiano.com/wordpress/composers/george-frideric-handel-and-the-story-of-the-hallelujah-chorus)

M: That’s one amazing story. Did you ever have any opportunities that you took that changed your life?

G: Actually, My dad was a Barber-surgeon and one day he was going to the court. I begged him to let me go with him, I wanted to see what he did. He was not keen on letting me go but I guess I annoyed him so much that he gave in and let me come with him.  That day was the day where I got the chance to play on the big organ and that was the day when the duke saw me play. I already told you what happened after that. But If I didn’t go that day I wouldn’t of learned how to play the organ and that’s what made me interested in composing. (http://www.dsokids.com/listen/composerdetail.aspx?composerid=9)

M: Oh yes I remember. That’s when the duke talked to your father right?

G: Yes it is!

M: Well, did you make any personal choices that made you successful?

G: Yes. Despite the fact that I wanted to compose I followed my fathers wish and I went to law school at the University of Halle. (http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/public-domain/composers/handel.html) My father, however, died not to long after I joined. I dropped out of that school as soon as possible and joined the Opera House Orchestra as a violinist. I know that sounds like an un-ethical decision but it got me where I am today so I’m glad I chose it.

M: No no I understand why you would do that, I mean its what you always wanted to do! Did you face any other roadblocks to become an artist?

G: When I started my career as a composer my music… wasn’t the best ha ha. I was scared that this career wasn’t going to turn out as well as I hoped. So I focused on oratorios. (http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/classicalcomposers/p/handelprofile.htm)  That’s when I composed the Messiah witch was my favorite peace I composed. After the Messiah’s success I continued writing oratorios and my confidence went back up again.

M: Ah I see. I must say I have listened to the Messiah and it is fantastic.

G: Thank you.

M: Did you as a person ever run in to any limitations?

G: I think the only thing that held me back from becoming a composer would be my father. Also when I first started composing, and things weren’t turning out the way I had hoped… I was bankrupt and I was suffering with tremendous pain. Only after I composed the Messiah did I regain my confidence and people didn’t view me as “ the German nincompoop,” any more. (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/musiciansartistsandwriters/handel.html)

M: Oh I see, ok I have one final question. Do you have any personal stories that illustrate how you became successful in composition?

G: Yes I do ha ha, one day at a performance at… Hamburg I think it was I, being a stubborn little boy, refused to let the composer have his seat. I liked it so much! Well it wasn’t the smartest thing to do because after the performance he and I ended up having a duel outside the theater. Ha ha ha a duel over a seat, how remarkable is that? Well luckily I was wearing a button on my shirt, and when he lunged the button was the only thing that saved me from the sword going threw my chest. Despite the whole duel we remained friends. I guess the moral of the story is: no matter what you have to go through, you can get there.

M: Ha ha very interesting George, well I think that’s all I would like to know. Thank you George for stopping buy.