GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL
(From a Portrait by Mercier in the possession of the Earl of Malmesbury.)

Frontispiece.]

HANDEL

BY
ROMAIN ROLLAND


TRANSLATED BY
A. EAGLEFIELD HULL
MUS. DOC. (OXON.)



WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR
17 MUSICAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND 4 PLATES







NEW YORK
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
1916

PREFACE

For a proper appreciation of the colossal work of Handel many years ofstudy and a book of some two hundred pages are very insufficient. Totreat at all adequately of Handel’s life and work needs a whole lifetimein itself, and even the indefatigable and enthusiastic Chrysander, whodevoted his life to this subject, has hardly encompassed the task.... Ihave done what I could; my faults must be excused. This little book doesnot pretend to be anything more than a very brief sketch of the life andtechnique of Handel. I hope to study his character, his work, and histimes, more in detail in another volume.

ROMAIN ROLLAND.

CONTENTS