Like many aspiring musicians, George Fredrich Handel, had parents who discouraged him at first from playing music professionally. In 1702, when he was 17, he left for college to study Law; but he dropped out a year later when he got a full-time job playing violin in the opera house orchestra in Hamburg, Germany. In 1712 he moved to England, and soon became a very famous composer. He often wrote pieces for the royal family to use at official events - such as The Royal Fireworks Music, which was written for a fireworks display the King of England gave to celebrate the end of a war with Austria, and The Water Music which was written for a party the King gave on his boat in the Thames river, which runs through the city of London.

 

Along with Bach and Antonio Vivaldi, Handel is considered one of the great masters of the Baroque style of music. His most famous piece is probably an Oratorio called The Messiah, which is often performed at Christmas time.