George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
His name is now usually written this way in English-speaking countries; it is the form
that he himself used in England. German writers prefer Georg Friedrich Händel, the
style still used by the Library of Congress.
Editions
- Händel, Georg Friedrich. Hällische Händel-Ausgabe. Ed. Bernd Baselt and
Walther Siegmund-Schultze, for the Georg-Friedrich-Händel Gesellschaft,
Halle. Kassel: Bärenreiter, 1955–.
The operas are in series 2, v.1–14. Each appears in full score, with facsimiles
and commentaries. This complete edition has been controversial from its
inception, for reasons given in Dean’s essay (#943). It is intended to replace the
one edited by Friedrich Chrysander, issued 1858–1902.
Thematic Catalogues and Worklists
- Baselt, Bernd. Händel-Handbuch.Kassel: Bärenreiter, 1978–. ML134 .H3 H3.
In progress. A valuable supplement to the Ausgabe(#940), consisting of a The-
matisch- systematisches Verzeichnis,v.1–3; a collection of documents (#958),
v.4; and a bibliography to be published as v.5. Stage works are in v.1.
For a brief, reliable list of works there is the compilation by Anthony Hicks in The
New Grove Handel(#956). Earlier lists can now be disregarded.
Bibliographies and Guides to Resources
- Parker-Hale, Mary Ann. G. F. Handel: A Guide to Research.Garland Com-
poser Resource Manuals, 19. New York: Garland, 1988. xvii, 294p. ISBN
0-8240-8452-7. ML134 .H16 P37.
A second edition of this important guide is in progress. Parker-Hale sorts out
the vast literature, presenting 938 critically annotated entries. Monographs
and articles are listed in topical arrangement, with indexes of authors, compo-
sitions, and names. With a useful list of other Handel bibliographies, societies,
journals, and reviews of the new Ausgabe. - Dean, Winton. “Scholarship and the Handel Revival, 1935–85.” In Tercente-
nary(#950), 1–18.
An authoritative, critical review of principal writings. Observes that the Han-
del revival was not accompanied by major scholarship. Comments at length on
the new Ausgabe: it had a dubious start, entirely in the hands of musicologists
in the former DDR, and the first volumes were defective; but after reactions in
British journals, an upgrading eventuated. Finally an international committee
was established, and standards were raised. Indeed, all Handel scholarship
grew in quality in the 1960s and 1970s. Principal titles are described. - Burrows, Donald, and Martha J. Ronish. A Catalogue of Handel’s Musical
Autographs. New York: Oxford U.P., 1994. xxxviii, 332p. ISBN 0-19-
315250-9. ML134 .H24 B92.
An exhaustive, reliable inventory of manuscripts, with page-by-page tabula-
tions and full bibliographic descriptions. Attention to physical condition,
George Frideric Handel 185