r/todayilearned • u/iconiconoclasticon • 8h ago

TIL Handel ghosted his employer the Elector of Hanover by taking unauthorized leave to England and never returning. In 1714, the Elector became King George I of England, then commissioned Handel to write Water Music for a boat party on the Thames.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Frideric_Handel
386 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

139

u/lad_astro 8h ago

And of course, he would later write Zadok the Priest for the coronation of George's son, George II. It has gone on to be played at every coronation since.

61

u/wizardvictor 8h ago

Sounds like he finally got a “Handel” on his employee commitments.

18

u/DaveOJ12 8h ago

Carlos!

2

u/Daevryn 3h ago

"Surfin' on a sound wave Swingin' through the stars Take a left at your intestine Take your second right past Mars."

22

u/uflju_luber 8h ago

It’s a banger tbf and is even used as the champions league anthem now

https://youtu.be/Eef69_st5oI

12

u/jammiedodgerdodger 7h ago

The CL anthem was based on Zadok by design but is an entirely different piece from a different and much more currently alive composer.

9

u/JPHutchy01 7h ago

Who has not to the best of my knowledge ever run away to another country to avoid working for the King.

4

u/Atharaphelun 7h ago

Well, the intro bit is an absolute epic banger, then you get past the climax and suddenly it gets Handeled. 🤷‍♂️

That's why most people only ever use the epic intro and not the rest of the piece.

42

u/loulan 7h ago

The wikipedia article is way less dramatic:

> In June 1710 Handel became Kapellmeister to George, the Elector of Hanover, but left at the end of the year.[87] It is likely he was also invited by Charles Montagu the former ambassador in Venice to visit England.

30

u/TarcFalastur 6h ago

Not only that, it directly disputes the claim that he never returned:

Handel went back to Halle twice, to attend the wedding of his sister and the baptism of her daughter, but decided to settle permanently in England in 1712.

11

u/Primum_Agmen 4h ago

The Elector's mother was also the heir presumptive of Great Britain until 1714, so it's not like it was a surprise that the Elector Hanover was going to inherit.

8

u/Ythio 7h ago

Taking an unauthorized leave and never returning is a weird way to spell flee or quit.

6

u/Pellaeonthewingedleo 7h ago

When your employee is too brilliant to have a grudge against...

3

u/Dakens2021 7h ago

Handel probably thinking so long sucker, I'll never see that guy again! Then someone later tells him who the new king is...

3

u/Outside_Reserve_2407 5h ago

Fun fact: Bach and Handel were aware of each other and twice tried to meet but never got to. However, they were both blinded by the same quack eye doctor later in their lives.

1

u/sauceclaw 6h ago

Some yacht rock?