Culture, Media & Creative Industries @ Kings

Lost in CCI paid a call on the Handel House Museum in central London today, to visit current student Tracy Li at her internship.

As the blue plaque shows, this is where the composer George Frideric Handel lived from 1723 until his death in 1759. Many of his most famous works were composed here, including the Messiah, Zadok the Priest and Music for the Royal Fireworks. As well as some wonderfullly narrow and winding staircases, panelled rooms and creaking floorboards, the museum features two harpsichords, some rather uncomfortable looking furniture, many portraits of Handel and his contemporaries, and a wardrobe of eighteenth century clothes for kids to dress up in. A composer in residence was recently appointed and regularly takes part in concerts, recitals and education events.

Tracy has been working with the museum’s marketing officer Shuk Kwan Liu, focussing on attracting more international tourists to the museum, and targetting international music festivals as well as early music festivals in the UK. She has learned a lot about museum marketing, and has enjoyed having the chance to put some of her own ideas into practice as well.

Tracy seemed especially interested in Handel’s bed, an attractive but rather small four-poster. Apparently he was a large man, yet a small bed suited him well, because, as Tracy explained, “he sometimes ate too much and so he needed to sleep sitting upright”.

Pictured below (L-R) are yours truly, Shuk Kwan Liu and Tracy.