Halle, Germany  - As 12 European cities marked "Handel Special Day" with concerts of the Anglo-German composer's music, orchestras played funeral music Sunday in his hometown, the eastern German city of Halle.

"The concert in our Market Church was a sell-out," said Bianca Berger, spokeswoman for the Handel birthplace trust in Halle.

Handel (1685-1759) was born in Germany and baptized in the church. He later became a British citizen. The concerts were organized to mark the 250th anniversary last Tuesday of his death in London.

The various concerts around Europe were broadcast by 40 radio stations.

The Halle concert required multiple orchestras to play the music staged at a 1784 memorial service for the great composer in Westminster Abbey, London. dpa