Georg Philipp Telemann (was a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist. Almost completely self-taught in music, he became a composer against his family’s wishes. After studying in Magdeburg, Zellerfeld, and Hildesheim, Telemann entered the University of Leipzig to study law, but eventually settled on a career in music. He held important positions in Leipzig, Sorau, Eisenach, and Frankfurt before settling in Hamburg in 1721, where he became musical director of that city’s five main churches. While Telemann’s career prospered, his personal life was always troubled: his first wife died only a few months after their marriage, and his second wife had extramarital affairs and accumulated a large gambling debt before leaving him.
Telemann is one of the most prolific composers in history[1] (at least in terms of surviving oeuvre)[2] and was considered by his contemporaries to be one of the leading German composers of the time—he was compared favorably both to his friend Johann Sebastian Bach, who made Telemann the godfather and namesake of his son Carl Philipp Emanuel, and to George Frideric Handel, whom Telemann also knew personally. As part of his duties, he wrote a considerable amount of music for educating organists under his direction. This includes 48 chorale preludes and 20 small fugues (modal fugues) to accompany his chorale harmonizations for 500 hymns. His music incorporates French, Italian, and German national styles, and he was at times even influenced by Polish popular music. He remained at the forefront of all new musical tendencies, and his music stands as an important link between the late Baroque and early Classical styles. The Telemann Museum in Hamburg is dedicated to him.
Georg Philipp Telemann
Essercizii Musici
Part A (12 Solo sonatas)
1. Violin Sonata, TWV 41:F4
3. Flute Sonata, TWV 41:D9
5. Viola da Gamba Sonata, TWV 41:a6
7. Recorder Sonata, TWV 41:d4
9. Oboe Sonata, TWV 41:B6
11. Suite in C major, TWV 32:3
13. Violin Sonata, TWV 41:A6
15. Flute Sonata, TWV 41:G9
17. Viola da gamba Sonata, TWV 41:e5
19. Recorder Sonata, TWV 41:C5
21. Oboe Sonata, TWV 41:e6
23. Suite in C major, TWV 32:3
Part B (12 Trio sonatas)
2. Trio No.1 for Recorder, Oboe, Continuo, TWV 42:c2
4. Trio No.2 for Viola da gamba, Cembalo, Continuo, TWV 42:G6
6. Trio No.3 for Violin, Oboe, Continuo, TWV 42:g5
8. Trio No.4 for Flute, Cembalo, Continuo, TWV 42:A6
10. Trio No.5 for Violin, Recorder, Continuo, TWV 42:a4
12. Trio No.6 for Flute, Viola da gamba, Continuo, TWV 42:h4
14. Trio No.7 for Recorder, Viol, Continuo, TWV 42:F3
16. Trio No.8 for Recorder, Cembalo, Continuo, TWV 42:B4
18. Trio No.9 for Flute, Violin, Cello, Continuo, TWV 42:E4
20. Trio No.10 for Violin, Viola da gamba, Continuo, TWV 42:D9
22. Trio No.11 for Flute, Oboe, Continuo, TWV 42:d4
24. Trio No.12 for Oboe, Cembalo, Continuo, TWV 42:Es3
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