Datebook: March 14, 1681 / Baroque Composers.
Known
for his musical ability, Telemann was one of the most prolific composers in
history, a contemporary and good friend of Johann Sebastian Bach and George F.
Handel.
Georg Philipp Telemann (March 14, 1681 – June 25, 1767), was a German composer, organist and
conductor. He was a contemporary and good friend of Johann Sebastian Bach and George
Frideric Handel. JS Bach's son, C.P.E. Bach, was Telemann's godson. Telemann's style was an exemplar of German Baroque during its height
and he was the best-known German Baroque composer and organist of his time.
He was born in Magdeburg, Germany
into a family with strong links with the clerical people. As a child, he
received no specific musical education and taught himself by studying stores
especially those of Lully and Campra. At ten, he had learned to play
the keyboard, flute and violin. By the time he was twelve, he had written an
opera.
Sadly, his mother, still
not impressed, confiscated his instruments and sent him away to school.
Fortunately, the schoolmaster was a music theorist. For the next four years
Telemann continued his formal studies while also developing his understanding
of musical composition.
Below, G.P. Telemann Oboe Concertos
Below, G.P. Telemann Oboe Concertos
(1). Concerto in E minor 0:00
(2). Concerto in D minor 11:32
(3). Concerto in C minor 20:19
(4). Concerto in F minor 29:40
(5). Concerto in D 37:26
He continued his studies in Hildesheim, to the Gymnasium Andreanum. There he was further encouraged by his teacher to compose music for school dramas and for the local Catholic Church. He briefly went to Leipzig University to study law. While at Leipzig, he wrote a psalm setting which was performed at the Thomas-kirche. The mayor was impressed and invited him to compose a cantata for every second Sunday, which was later commissioned for every Sunday.
Career
- 1702 - At 21, In Leipzig, while a student, he founded the Collegium Musicum where he staged regular concerts. At the same year, he was appointed musical director of the Leipzig Opera. He also started to compose operas.
- 1704 – Appointed organist of St Matthew's New Church.
- 1705 - Left Leipzig and briefly became Kapellmeister to Count Erdmann II of Promnitz in Sorau (now Poland), composing courtly music in the style of Lully at the count's request.
- 1708 to 1712 – Became Kapellmeister at Eisenach Court, leading the court orchestra and writing cantatas and instrumental music. He also made the acquaintance of Johann Sebastian Bach in Weimar.
- 1712 – Took up a post in Frankfurt.
- 1714 – Married the daughter of a Frankfurt council clerk, with whom he raised 10 children.
- 1721 – Appointed Cantor of the Hamburg Johanneum, and eventually became Music Director of the Hamburg Opera. Telemann increased the city's musical activities with series of concerts and operas, including the works of Handel. He also composed the three collections of Tafelmusik (Table Music)
Work
His prolific output of
concertos for both new and old instruments, including violin, viola da gamba,
recorder, flute, oboe, trumpet, horn, and bassoon, represent a methodical
investigation into the tonal resources and structure of the new Baroque
orchestra, a research noted by his colleague Johann Sebastian Bach.
His voluminous works
include more than 40 operas (e.g. Pimpinone,
1725), oratorios (Der tag des Gerichts / The
Day of Judgement, Der Tod Jesu / The Death of Jesus), and numerous sacred
cantatas (Der Schulmeister / The
Schoolmaster), Die Landlust / The Joy of Country Life), round about 600
overtures in the Italian style, about 44 Passions, instrumental fantasias and
serenades.
Domestic
Life
Although an extremely
prolific composer, Telemann had less success in his family life. His first wife
died in childbirth. With his second wife, only two survived out of eight
children, and in time she left him for another man. He died at age 86.
Image Credit:
G.F. Telemann. Public Domain. (Hand-coloured aquatint of Telemann by Valentin Daniel Preisler, after a lost painting by Louis Michael Schneider, 1750)
Resources:
The Encyclopedia of Music, by Max Wade-Matthews
& Wendy Thompson, Hermes House, 2002
The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, New Updated Edition, edited
by Stanley Sadie, Macmillan, 1994
The
Oxford Companion to Music, edited by Alison Latham, OUP, 2002
Note: I originally published this at Suite101.com, October 23, 2008. / Tel
(c) 2008. Updated March 14, 2021. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
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