Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.) [Illustration: GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL (_From a Portrait by Mercier in the possession of the Earl of Malmesbury._) _Frontispiece._]] HANDEL BY ROMAIN ROLLAND TRANSLATED BY A. EAGLEFIELD HULL MUS. DOC. (OXON.) _WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR_ _17 MUSICAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND 4 PLATES_ [Illustration: colophon] NEW YORK HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 1916 PREFACE For a proper appreciation of the colossal work of Handel many years of study and a book of some two hundred pages are very insufficient. To treat at all adequately of Handel's life and work needs a whole lifetime in itself, and even the indefatigable and enthusiastic Chrysander, who devoted his life to this subject, has hardly encompassed the task.... I have done what I could; my faults must be excused. This little book does not pretend to be anything more than a very brief sketch of the life and technique of Handel. I hope to study his character, his work, and his times, more in detail in another volume. ROMAIN ROLLAND. CONTENTS PAGE HIS LIFE 1 HIS TECHNIQUE AND WORKS 111 (1) THE OPERAS 122 (2) THE ORATORIOS 134 (3) THE CLAVIER COMPOSITIONS 143 (4) THE CHAMBER MUSIC (SONATAS AND TRIOS) 154 (5) THE ORCHESTRAL WORKS 158 APPENDICES-- LIST OF HANDEL'S WORKS 193 BIBLIOGRAPHY 201 INDEX 204 PLATES PORTRAIT BY THORNHILL _frontispiece_ GEORGE I AND HANDEL'S WATER MUSIC _to face page_ 69 HANDEL'S MONUMENT IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY 107 HANDEL DIRECTING AN ORATORIO 165 INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR Here in England we are supposed to know our Handel by heart, but it is doubtful whether we do. Who can say from memory the titles of even six of his thirty-nine operas, from whence may be culled many of his choicest flowers of melody? M. Rolland rightly emphasises the importance of the operas of Handel in the long chain of musical evolution, and it seems impossible for anyone to lay down his book without having a more all-round impression than heretofore of this giant among composers.