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Show Handel's Life Saved by Turn of Sword's Point 'lad it not been for the large size of a Hal: brass hull mi on the coat of (,'eorge Frederick Handel, "The Mes-Hinh" Mes-Hinh" might never have been written. writ-ten. When Handel was eighteen he was dayiiig (he harpsichord in Ihe opera house in Hamburg, Herman;, and directing di-recting (he performances in the absence ab-sence of Ihe regular conduclor, Rein-I'anl Rein-I'anl Keiser. A young friend and rival composer, named Hat i heron, iA written (lie opera, 'Vleopntra," which was being produced. The composer himself played the part of Anthony in his opera, and, m'ler Hint point in the play where the hero dies, it. had 'been Hall he-son's he-son's custom to go to the harpsicord an. I conduct the remainder of the opera. Kei.'er, the regular conductor, did not object to this, but young Handel was more obsiinnle and refused re-fused to give up his place at the keyboard. alaltlicson was indignant and the outcome was a duel in Ihe early iiours of the following morning. ISwords were the weapons and Mat-thesou's Mat-thesou's would surely have pierced the breast of Handel had not the point struck the aforesaid button. 'The Messiah" was written 3S years later under intense inspiration 3n 21 days. Jlatlheson is best remembered remem-bered now for his reminiscences of Handel. He 4:'ote many anecdotes about his friend and fellow duelist, among them the story of the turned bword point. He and Handel went together to compete for the vacant post of organist, or-ganist, when Handel was seventeen mid JtaKhei'on a few years older. Arrived in Lubeck, they learned that the successful candidate was expected ex-pected to marry the daughter of the retiring organist. The lady is not described by JIattheson, but he states that he and Handel made all haste to llee the town. |
