Editing George Frideric Handel (section)

=== Early education ===
[[File:HALL IN SAXEN - Der getreue Reiß-Gefert... - 1686.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Halle (Saale)|Halle]], copper engraving, 1686]]
Early in his life, Handel is reported to have attended the ''[[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]]'' in Halle,{{sfn|Dreyhaupt|1755|p=625}} where the headmaster, {{ill|Johann Praetorius (musician)|de|Johann Praetorius (Musiker)|lt=Johann Praetorius}}, was reputed to be an ardent musician.{{sfn|Maitland|Squire|1890|p=277}} Whether Handel remained there, and if he did for how long, is unknown, but many biographers suggest that he was withdrawn from school by his father, based on the characterization of him by Handel's first biographer, [[John Mainwaring]]. Mainwaring is the source for almost all information (little as it is) of Handel's childhood, and much of that information came from J. C. Smith Jr., Handel's confidant and copyist.<ref>{{harvnb|Landon|1984|p=10}}; {{harvnb|Schoelcher|1857|p=7 n.1}}.</ref> Whether it came from Smith or elsewhere, Mainwaring frequently relates misinformation.{{efn|Both Landon and Hogwood point out and to the extent possible correct the more obvious misstatements of facts and dates and inconsistencies of Mainwaring. ''See'' {{harvnb|Landon|1984|pp=9–19}}; {{harvnb|Hogwood|1984|pp=11–17}}.}} It is from Mainwaring that the portrait comes of Handel's father as implacably opposed to any musical education. Mainwaring writes that Georg Händel was "alarmed" at Handel's very early propensity for music,{{efn|[[Victor Schœlcher|Schoelcher]] suggests that Handel's "doctor" father observed Handel making musical sounds even before he could talk and this in the eyes of the son of a coppersmith "discovered instincts of so low an order …"{{sfn|Schoelcher|1857|p=3}}}} "took every measure to oppose it", including forbidding any musical instrument in the house and preventing Handel from going to any house where they might be found.{{sfn|Mainwaring|1760|pp=4–5}} This did nothing to dampen young Handel's inclination; in fact, it did the reverse. Mainwaring tells the story of Handel's secret attic [[spinet]]: Handel "found means to get a little [[clavichord]] privately convey'd to a room at the top of the house. To this room he constantly stole when the family was asleep".{{sfn|Mainwaring|1760|p=5}} Although both [[John Hawkins (author)|John Hawkins]] and [[Charles Burney]] credited this tale, Schoelcher found it nearly "incredible" and a feat of "poetic imagination"{{sfn|Schoelcher|1857|p=4}} and Lang considers it one of the unproven "romantic stories" that surrounded Handel's childhood.{{sfn|Lang|1966|p=11}} But Handel had to have had some experience with the keyboard to have made the impression in Weissenfels that resulted in his receiving formal musical training.{{sfn|Dent|2004|pp=3–4}}