George Frideric Handel, renowned especially for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental compositions, was a German-born English composer of the late Baroque period. He wrote Messiah (1741), the most popular of all oratorios, and is also renowned for such occasional pieces as Water Music (1717) and Royal Fireworks Music (1749). At an early age, George Frideric Handel displayed a pronounced talent for music, becoming a professional keyboard player by age 9. While the thought of his son seeking a career in music did not impress his father, Handel pursued his artistic inclination, becoming well-established for his compositions later.