George Frideric Handel (Friday 23 February 1685 ? Saturday 14 April 1759) was a German-born British Baroque composer who was a leading composer of operas, oratorios and concerti grossi. Born in Halle as Georg Friedrich Händel (), he dwelt during most of his adult life in England, becoming a subject of the British crown on 22 January 1727. His most famous works are Messiah, an oratorio set to texts from the King James Bible, Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks. Drawing on the techniques of the great composers of the Italian Baroque, as well as the music of Henry Purcell, he deeply influenced in his turn many composers who came after him, including Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, and his works helped lead the transition from the Baroque to the Classical era. Biography Handel was born in Halle at Saxony-Anhalt in Germany to Georg and Dorothea (née Taust) Händel in 1685, the same year