Handel

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

properly HAEN- DEL (hen'del), GEORGE FREDERICK, a great German composer; born in Halle, The passion Prussia, Feb. 23, 1685. which he early showed for music overcame his father's opposition to training him as a musician, and at the age of 7 he was placed under the tuition of Zachau, organist of Halle Cathedral. In 1696 he was sent to Berlin, where he heard the music of Bononcini and Ariosti. He returned to Halle, was appointed organist of the cathedral in 1702, but soon left to visit Hanover and Hamburg. At Hamburg he played second violin in the orchestra, and brought out in 1704 his first work, an oratorio on the Passion, and his first opera, "Almira," followed in February by his "Nero," and subsequently by his "Florinda and Daphne." In 1706 he went to Italy, visiting Fl Florence, Venice, Naples, and Rome. On his return to Germany he entered the service of the Elector of Hanover, afterward George I. of England, as musical director. He visited England twice, and ultimately having received a pension from Queen Anne, settled down there. He was placed at the head of the newly founded Royal Academy of Music, and accumulated a Among the large fortune. operas which he had composed up to this date (1735) are "Rhadamistus," "Julius Cæsar," "Flavius," "Tamerlane," "Richard 1.,' I.," "Orlando," "Ariadne," etc. His last opera was performed in 1740. By this time he had begun to devote himself chiefly to music of a serious nature and he produced successfully "Esther" (1731), "Deborah" (1732), "Athalia" (1733), "Israel in Egypt," "L'Allegro and Il Penseroso," "Saul," and "The Messiah," his chief work (1741). In 1742 the "Samson" appeared, in 1746 the "Judas Maccabæus," the "Solomon," and in 1752 the "Jephthah." In 1752 he became blind, continuing to perform in public and even to compose. He died in London, April 13, 1759, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. HAND GRENADES. Offensive and defensive implements of warfare, widely used in the World War. The first devices were extremely crude and consisted of tin cans filled with stones which, on exploding, would cause death or damage. degrenade, however, was quickly kly The g veloped into a weapon of great destruc- -SAFETY PIN -CAST IRON BODY STRIKER & PIN -EXPLOSIVE DETONATOR -FUSE PERCUSSION CAP BASE PLUG GRENADES-MILLS HAND GRENADE tive power by all belligerents. Although differing somewhat in details, the principles ples of the grenade were practically the same. The one ch chiefly used by the American force was the so-called Mills grenade, which was thrown by hand. Hand grenades were widely used by raiding parties in quick and sharp attacks. HANDICAP (for hand i(n) cap, for the drawing of lots out of a hat or cap), an old game at cards, not unlike loo, but with this difference: the winner of one trick had to put a double stake into the pool, the winner of two tricks a triple stake, and so on. In a race or contest in which the competitors are brought as nearly as possible to an equality by the allowance of time, distance, etc., or the imposition of extra weight.