Was Baroque Composer George Frederick Handel Part Jewish?
The origins and ancestry of George Frederick Handel, one of the preeminent composers of the Baroque era, have been the subject of various speculations. One such claim is that Handel himself had Jewish roots, specifically his father. However, the evidence for this is not as straightforward as some might assume.
Understanding Jewish Ancestry
It's important to clarify that for a person to be considered Jewish, their mother must be Jewish. Additionally, if a conversion to Judaism took place, it would have occurred after birth. Given these conditions, if Handel's father was indeed Jewish, Handel himself would not be considered Jewish based on these criteria. This premise becomes the foundation for examining the claim in question.
Variious Scholarly Biographies
Despite the popular assumption, Handel's Jewish ancestry claim is not supported by recent scholarly biographies. According to Donald Burrows, the biographer of Handel, there is no mention of any Jewish heritage in his father or his family. Burrows, in his book 'Handel: The Man and His Music,' does not cite any evidence of Handel's father's former Jewish faith.
Besides Burrows, Jonathan Keates, another notable biographer, also dismisses this claim. Keates, in his work, describes Handel's father, Georg, as a renowned surgeon who was devout in his Lutheran faith. He further mentions that Handel's grandfather, Valtin, a coppersmith who had moved to Germany from Breslau, was also a devout Lutheran. Keates even points out that Valtin moved to Germany primarily to live in an environment more conducive to his Protestant beliefs, making the claim of Jewish background even less likely.
Examination of Historical Records
The musicologist Paul Lang, while not directly addressing the Handel's Jewish ancestry, cites George Handel's mother as coming from a background that included some Jewish ancestry. However, this does not necessarily indicate that these relatives converted to Judaism before Handel's mother's marriage to his father.
The facts presented by various scholars and historians strongly suggest that the most credible version of events aligns with Handel having no Jewish ancestry. The claim that his father converted from Judaism to Lutheranism is a point of speculation at best, and lacks substantial historical evidence. The reason for Valtin's move to Germany and Georg's religious identity provide compelling reasons to doubt any direct Jewish ancestry for Handel himself.
Conclusion
While the legacy of George Frederick Handel is rich and multifaceted, the claim of his Jewish ancestry is not a well-supported theory among scholars and historians. It is crucial to base such speculations on clear historical evidence rather than assumptions or unverified claims. Handel remains a towering figure in the Baroque era, and his music will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.