Bach Vs.

Handel
1. Handel's father disapproves of music, whereas Bach was born into a musical family.
2. Handel went to a university to study law before becoming a composer, whereas Bach was always a
musician.
3. Handel did not compose as many pieces as Bach. At one point in Bach's life, he was forced to write at
least one cantata a week.
4. Handel's work focused on operas and concertos and cantatas for mixed instruments.
5. Bach's work was more widespread, he wrote lots of keyboard/organ pieces, solos, duos/trios, vocal
works, canons, concertos, etc.
6. Unlike Handel, Bach left behind three important contributions to music: tempered tuning, the art of
fugue, and unaccompanied works for violin and cello.
7. However, Bach did not write operas.
8. Bach wrote primarily for the church.
9. Bach preferred instrumentals while Handel preferred vocals.
10. Bach was polyphonic (because of the fugue) and Handel was more homophonic.
11. Bach used a developed theme, while Handel used sequences.
12. Handel lived most of his life in England, so his music reflects the English style, whereas Bach had the
German style of writing music which was more complex.
13. Handel was a master of the harpsichord and the violin, while Bach was a master at the organ.
However, they would both use organs to compose.
14. It is arguable that some of Handel's music can be considered early classical because apparently the
Baroque period ended with the death of Bach in 1750, however, Handel did not die until 1759, and he
was composing even though he was blind.
15. Handel was more well-known at the time "By 1706, Handel was well known for his musical skills in
Venice, Florence, and Rome." Whereas Bach wasn't appreciated until Mozart and Beethoven studied
his works.
16. Bach wrote two books called the "Well Tempered Clavier", each consisting of 24 preludes and fugues.
He proved that this method of tuning was very effective. Handel never wrote a book about tuning
concepts.
17. Handel composed some festival pieces that were meant to be played outdoors, whereas Bach
composed more chamber pieces (serious pieces).
18. Bach never traveled while Handel traveled a lot
19. Handel preferred vocal pieces than instrumental, unlike Bach.
20. Bach's music is more complex, and Handel uses more simplicity to express the ideas in his pieces.
21. Handel was an extrovert and Bach was an introvert.
22. Handel is music that you can listen to when you are in a good mood, and it will put you in an even
better mood. With a few exceptions, Bach doesn't really lift your mood
23. Handel is morning music; Bach plays better at night.
24. Bach's music plays well in the middle of winter, Handel is summer music
25. Handel's music is more passionate, while Bach is restrained.
26. Handel's music appeals more readily to most listeners, while Bach may take dozens and dozens of
listening’s to figure out what is going on
27. Handel's music has a more modern quality. Some of his arias almost sound as though they could have
been written by Mozart or even Verdi. Bach is very Baroque.
28. Trying to play Bach with an overly modern approach ruins it completely. It becomes weak and sickly
sounding rather than masculine, as it should sound. There is more freedom to play around with
Handel.
29. Handel's music has a "gay" quality to it. Androgyny is an inherent part of it. Not so with Bach.
30. Beethoven copied the entire score of Messiah down by hand so as not to miss a single note. He
referred to Handel as the greatest composer who ever lived. Mozart seemed to prefer Bach.
31. Handel achieves higher highs than Bach. Bach has some extraordinary arias in the Saint Matthew
Passion and the Goldberg Variations are magnificent, but none of them can compare with the five
greatest choruses from Messiah.
32. Bach's fame during his lifetime was his ability to improvise. He could perform for HOURS making very
complex works. Few knew his compositions. Handel's fame came from his performances and
compositions.
33. Bach worked for a select number of people - Royalty, Universities, or local Governments. His last post
was as a teacher and church composer. Handel had Royal commissions but mostly supported himself
by composing for the Public. Handel worked for everyone.
34. Bach's compositions became famous long after his death. Far more powerful were Bach's many
students who spread his ideas throughout Germany. Handel was known for his compositions during his
own lifetime.
35. Bach was adamant about teaching music theory from "The Root up". Bach wrote many "teaching"
pieces that are still as fresh today and are darned hard to play. Handel wrote NO teaching pieces
though his works are excellent guides of composition. Handel did instruct some Patrons in music.
36. Some of Bach's most famous works were attempts to get better work - the Brandenburg Concerti and
Mass in B Minor for example. Bach also wrote "puzzle works" like the Art of Fugue or the Musical
Offering. Handel's most famous works were successes in obtaining a living. As far as I know Handel
never wrote something for any other reason than to offer it to the public for their enjoyment or to
please a patron.
37. Bach wrote a Cantata about Coffee. One of Handel's most famous Arias, "Umbra Mai Fu" from the
Opera Serse, is about a tree and its shade.
38. Neither used keyboards to compose Music. Bach scorned persons who used keyboards to compose as
"Knights of the Keyboard". Handel would sit at the table and cry while writing down music. Both men
re-wrote and edited extensively. Great works are not written but re-written.
39. Bach had 21 children. All his descendants live in the United States (through a daughter of his son
William Frederick). Handel never married and has no known descendants.
40. Bach's works can be intensely emotional - St. Matthew's Passion and the Mass in b minor are fine
examples. Bach "sneaks up on you" and blindsides you. Each time from a different direction. Handel
wrote very skilled counterpoint that is quite intellectual while being intensely emotional. Handel
reaches in and grabs your heart.
41. Bach beat Marchand in Dresden by default. Bach wanted to learn from Marchand and was
"disappointed" he'd left town before the contest Handel beat Scarlatti Jr in Italy "head-to-head".
42. Bach's music has a strange quality when played. It does things to your head, it's hard to describe but is
mildly shocking. Handel's music is easy to play but listening to it does things to your head.
43. Mitzler's Musical Society offered its first membership to Bach. Bach turned it down because he wanted
to be member 14 (the letters B-A-C-H add to 14). Handel was a member. Mozart turned down a
membership in this society.
44. Every voice of a Bach composition "stands on its own" as a fine tune. This is unusual and special for
Baroque music. Handel's music sounds best when it played altogether though he has some catchy
melodies too (the theme for the Alleluia chorus is a good example).
45. Bach's family helped him with Copying out scores. There is some suspicion that his wife Anna
Magdelina did more than copy music, that she might have contributed to composition or arrangement.
Before she married Bach, she was a professional Soprano. Given Bach's intense desire to teach and
impart musical knowledge he probably did recruit her and respected her contributions to works
attributed to him. Handel hired professional copyists for his work.

Both were masters at their work and at least one respected the other. Bach is alleged to have said, "I
would have liked to have been Handel if I were not Bach". Mozart said, "I feel the same way as Bach".
We will probably never know how Handel felt about Bach though I believe that Handel did know about
Bach. Bach's fame in Dresden was far too large for Handel to ignore. My best guess is that Handel felt
that Bach had nothing to offer him and that he needed to focus on his business. To me that was
Handel's loss as he might have learned a thing or two from the little Kantor from Leipzig.