Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) was considered the
greatest German composer of the first half of the
18th century...
until the more objective lens of history was given a few
centuries to consider J.S. Bach's music.
Nonetheless, Telemann was incredibly prolific, writing among
other things about
40 operas,
46 Passions, and
five complete cycles of cantatas.
At its best, the music of Telemann has a melodiousness
foreshadowing that of Haydn and Mozart.
Born at Magdeburg to an affluent middle-class family,
Telemann went against family tradition, choosing to study
music over service in the clergy.
Pressed by his father to study law instead, Telemann
went to the University of Leipzig in 1701, but once his
musical abilities were discovered, it was impossible for him
to do anything else.
He founded the Collegium Musicum, a society that gave
public concerts which Bach later directed, and became a widely
respected organist.
Telemann left Leipzig in 1705 for positions in Soraus
and Eisenach, but settled for nine years (1712-1721) into a
position as Music Director of the city of Frankfurt.
He moved to Hamburg in 1722 to become cantor and take
charge of the music at the five principal churches in the city,
and remained there until his death, when he was
succeeded by his godson, C.P.E. Bach.
Telemann published an enormous amount of chamber music
for a wide range of musical combinations.
Much of it was aimed at amateur players and was not
especially difficult.
For this reason it was highly successful and his fame
become so widespread that when is largest collection,
Musique de table, was published in 1733,
one quarter of the subscriptions were purchased abroad.
From this collection comes the brilliant
Concerto in A Major for flute, violin, cello, & strings,
recognized for its "galant" style-music in which simple
melodies and clear textures convey a mood of playful elegance and charm.
The A Major concerto may well be the finest work in the series.
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