Georg Friedrich Handel, a German-born composer known as a major figure of the late Baroque period.
Despite parental opposition, he immersed himself in music, and from a young age his extraordinary talent was evident—he surpassed his teachers in composition, organ, harpsichord, and violin.
In this article, we present a ranking of Georg Friedrich Handel’s most popular works.
Whether you’re a classical music enthusiast or not, be sure to check it out!
Zadok the Priest from Coronation Anthems by George IIGeorg Friedrich Händel16rank/position
Handel: Coronation Anthem for King George II: Zadok the Priest [Naxos Classical Curations Special Edition: FIFA World Cup]
A coronation anthem composed in 1727.
Written to celebrate the accession of King George II of Great Britain, this work is a solemn piece of sacred music that fuses a grand orchestra with chorus.
After a quiet introduction, the suddenly explosive choral entry overwhelms the listener.
Its lyrics, based on the Old Testament, powerfully express the king’s sanctity and the people’s blessings.
As an iconic piece of royal ceremonial music, it remains a tradition performed at coronations to this day.
It is also familiar to football fans as the theme of the UEFA Champions League, so even those not accustomed to classical music may have heard it at least once.
Alla Hornpipe, No. 2 from Water Music Suite No. 2Georg Friedrich Händel18rank/position
Handel Water Music: Hornpipe; the FestspielOrchester Göttingen, Laurence Cummings, director 4K
An orchestral piece that can be considered one of Handel’s signature works.
“Alla Hornpipe” means “in a folk-dance style.” Handel originally served at the court in Hanover, Germany, but he ignored orders to return and remained in England.
There is a story that when his former patron later came to England as king, Handel composed Water Music to curry favor with him.
“Messiah” Hallelujah ChorusGeorg Friedrich Händel20rank/position
Messiah “Hallelujah”
The P&G Ariel commercial titled “Yellowing When Switching Seasonal Clothes.” In it, Toma Ikuta hangs laundry under a blue sky while explaining the product.
Adding a sense of openness and grandeur to the already refreshingly pleasant spot is the “Hallelujah” chorus from Messiah.
That melody, repeating the word “Hallelujah,” is probably familiar to just about everyone.
Incidentally, “Hallelujah” carries a nuance of blessing, so it matches the joy of laundry being washed clean.
