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'He was the greatest composer that ever lived,' said Beethoven of Handel. 'He is the father of us all,' wrote Haydn. This short, vivid biography of Handel reminds us of the composer's greatness. Separate chapters are devoted to the Messiah, the Harmonious Blacksmith, Handel's organ at Cannons, and his will and codicils. A few notes and an index have been added to this revised and reset edition. William Hayman Cummings (1831-1915) was a singer and music historian. He taught singing at the Royal Normal School and the School for the Blind before being appointed a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in 1879. In 1896 he was appointed principal of the Guildhall School of Music. His historical studies of music and musicians led to him being made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1884.

William Cummings's highly regarded biography of has been revised and reset to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Henry Purcell, one of the greatest English composers of all time. Few other composers can boast the originality or the range which Purcell displayed - from sacred music, to airs, to tavern songs and the first great English opera, Dido and Eneas. As well as following Purcell's life and career, the book provides appendices on Purcell's family, the organists, choirmasters and copyists of Westminster Abbey, and a list of important dates in the composer's life. William H. Cummings was Principal of the Guildhall School of Music, London, and a noted music historian.