Georg Philipp Telemann was a German composer, organist and conductor. He was a contemporary of JS Bach, John-Philippe Rameau, Domenico Scarletti, and George F. Handel, a good friend. His style was an exemplar of German Baroque at its height, and he was the best-known German Baroque composer and organist of his time.
Early Life of Georg Philipp Telemann
Born on March 14, 1681 in Magdeburg, Germany, his family had strong links with the clerical people. As a child, he received no specific musical education and taught himself by studying scores especially those of Lully and Campra. At 10, he had learned to play the keyboard, flute and violin. By the time he was 12, he had written an opera.
Education and Musical Beginnings
His mother, seemed never 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.
Telemann 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.
Unhappy 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 on June 25, 1767 at the age of 86.
Career Milestone
(Various classical music books were consulted; primary source is by John Stanley, 1994.)
- 1702 - At 21, In Leipzig, while a student, he founded the Collegium Musicum where he staged regular concerts. The same year, he was appointed musical director 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. In Weimar, he also made the acquaintance of Johann Sebastian Bach, whose second son CPE Bach became his godson.
- 1712 – Took up a post in Frankfurt.
- 1714 – Married the daughter of a Frankfurt council clerk.
- 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)
Telemann's Output
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.
Major Works By Telemann
- Operas (e.g. Pimpinone, 1725), more than 40
- Oratorios, e.g. Der tag des Gerichts (The Day of Judgement), Der Tod Jesu (The Death of Jesus)
- Cantatas, e.g. Der Schulmeister (The Schoolmaster), Die Landlust (The Joy of Country Life)
- Overtures in the Italian style, some 600
- Passions, some 44
- Instrumental fantasias and serenades
Sources:
The Encyclopedia of Music, by Max Wade-Matthews & Wendy Thompson, Hermes House, 2002
The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, edited by Stanley Sadie, Macmillan, 1994
The Oxford Companion to Music, edited by Alison Latham, OUP, 2002
