Georg Philipp Telemann

Georg Philipp Telemann

Painting by Valentin Daniel Preisler   1750

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Born on 24 March 1681 in Magdeburg, Germany, self-taught violinist, Georg Philipp Telemann, somewhat exists in the background to J.S. Bach who more hogs the show and whom he knew, but he joins his close contemporary as an industrial-strength composer in taking baroque to its apex in Germany. Though firmly a baroque, he joins others like Alessandro Scarlatti, Antonio Vivaldi and George Handel as among the first whom their contemporary, music theorist, Johann Mattheson, cited as "galant" in style, the galant period an urban fashioning of roughly thirty to fifty years through which baroque passed into the rearview mirror as music transitioned to the classical period, opera again a main force through which such occurred. As like the shift from polyphony during the Renaissance to baroque, so was the galant a purge of the overmuch toward elegance. Though Telemann was too complicated overall to fit the bill of galant, Mattheson yet found in him a predecessor.

Before diving into Telemann's career it is well to clarify the TVWV or TWV numbers to be seen herein. Telemann's vocal works are assigned numbers 1 (church cantatas) through 25 (mostly odes). Operas, for instance, are designated 22:1, 22:2, 22:3, et al. These may be rendered as TWV but are also distinguished as vocal works by TVWV. Telemann's instrumental works are categorized by TWV numbers 30 (fugues for keyboard) through 55 (orchestral suites). The TVWV of vocal works arrived in 1982 per Werner Menke's 'Thematisches Verzeichnis der Vokalwerke von Georg Philipp Telemann' published in Frankfurt am Maim. The TWV of instrumental works is from Martin Ruhnke's 1984 'George Philipp Telemann: Thematisch-Systematisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke, Instrumentalwerke' published in Kassel. TVWV is often simplified to TWV since numbering alone (1-25) already designates a vocal work in the Menke directory. They are referred to in common as the 'Telemann-Werke-Verzeichnis'. I also abbreviate TVWV to TWV herein, following IMSLP. As for letters seen in the numbering of Telemann, they designate key. For instance, a small "a" indicates A minor while a capital A indicates A major.

Telemann is thought to have begun singing, playing organ and composing at age ten. He'd written an opera, 'Sigismundus', at age twelve. He also studied music theory and notation about that time, in addition to composing for choirs and town musicians. Telemann had been a law student at the University of Leipzig when he decided to switch to music. This is said to be due that a fellow student discovered a composition by Telemann, a setting for 'Psalm 6', which was then performed. The impressed mayor of Leipzig then commissioned Telemann to compose for the city's two main churches, St. Nicholas and St. Thomas. Now with a career, Telemann formed a collegium musicum (college musical society) of about forty members with which he gave public performances. His first opera listed in the 'Telemann-Werke-Verzeichnis' is 'Narcissus' TWV 21.5 which appeared in three acts in Leipzig in 1701 with libretto by Johann Christian Rau after Apostolo Zeno. Though Telemann may have composed more than fifty operas Wikipedia lists only 33 with known premiere years.

In 1702 Telemann was appointed director of the Opernhaus auf dem Brühl where he also employed college musicians for opera. In 1705 he became kapellmeister for the court of Count Erdmann II of Promnitz in Sorau (now Żary, in Poland). He wrote more than 200 overtures during this period even as it was disrupted by the Great Northern War (1700-21) between Russia and Sweden.

In 1708 Telemann entered into the service of Duke Johann Wilhelm of Saxe-Eisenach, whence he became kapellmeister in 1709. His earliest cantata documented in the 'Telemann-Werke-Verzeichnis' is 'Nun komm der Heiden Heiland' TWV 1:1177 as of 30 November 1710. In 1712 Telemann became musical director for the city of Frankfurt and kapellmeister at the Barfüsserkirche, also composing for St. Catherine's. Olaf Mühlenhardt suggests that Telemann's 'Concertos à 4 Violini' TWV 40:201-204 [IMSLP / Wikipedia] may have fit into his schedule sometime in Eisenach if not later in Frankfurt, putting them in a range of 1708 to 1717. Dating Telemann's unpublished works is hindered insofar as few of his autographs exist.

'Concerto for 4 Violins' in G major  TWV 40:201   Georg Telemann

C 1711-1712

Chamber Orchestra of St. Petersburg / Lev Shinder

'Concerto for 4 Violins' in D major  TWV 40:202   Georg Telemann

C 1711-1712

Musica Antiqua Koln / Reinhard Goebel

Telemann by Opus number is little seen. A couple had once been ascribed like 'Op 2' or 'Op 5', but they don't jive with publishing dates. Telemann's first published volume of works which is thus effectively his Op 1 saw print in 1715 per 'Six Sonaten A Violon seul accompagne par le Clevecin' TWV 41:1. IMSLP lists publications by Op number to as many as 60, many wanting numerous reprints to find their way throughout Europe (scroll to bottom). Of latest known date is Op 55 published in 1665 that is 'Symphonie zur Serenate auf die erste 100jährige Jubelfeier' ('Symphony to the Serenata for the first 100 year jubilee celebration'). [See also Compositions: Publications below.] Something else that doesn't jive are the TWV numbers of the six sonatas recorded by Valerio Losito and Federico Del Sordo on the album '6 Violin Sonatas' upon comparison with IMSLP:

'Six Sonaten'   TWV 41:1   Georg Telemann

6 sonatas for violin & continuo   Pub 1715

Harpsichord: Federico Del Sordo   Violin: Valerio Losito

Telemann's initial Passion oratorio premiered in Frankfurt am Main on 10 April of 1716 as 'Der für die Sünde der Welt gemarterte und sterbende Jesus' TWV 5:1 with libretto by Barthold Heinrich Brockes also known as 'Brockes-Passion' first published in 1712 [text]. Among Telemann's more significant works are his settings for the Passion. The Passion in church services amounts to the reading of an account of the Crucifixion from one of the four Gospels during Holy Week. Originating as early as the fourth century, it began to be intoned by at least the eighth. By the 16th century the Passion had become an important musical element in church services, eventually coalescing with the oratorio. Telemann composed Passions not only as oratorios but for employment in Roman Catholic liturgy. His initial liturgical Passion was his first from the book of 'Matthew', 'Wenn meine Sünd' mich kränken' TWV 5:7, in 1722.

'Der für die Sünde der Welt gemarterte und sterbende Jesus'   TWV 5:1

Passion oratorio by Georg Telemann

'The Story of Jesus Suffering and Dying for the Sins of the World' aka 'Brockes-Passion'

Premiere 10 April 1716 Frankfurt Jessica Suchy-Pilalis

Libretto: Barthold Heinrich Brockes   1712

This performance: Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin Orchester / René Jacobs

Telemann became kapellmeister for the city of Eisenach in 1717. In 1721 he is found working at the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums in Hamburg, also appointed musical director of that city's five main churches. It was November 1728 when he began publishing 'Der getreue Music-Meister' ('The faithful music master') in 25 fortnightly installments of four pages. These saw distribution to amateur musicians for performing at home in Germany, France and Italy. As music lessons they are probably Telemann at his easiest approach [IMSLP / Shuttleworth].

'Suite for Oboe and Continuo'   TWV 41:g4   Overture-suite by Georg Telemann

From 'Der getreue Music-Meister' pub 1728-1729

Composed for oboe or violin w basso continuo

Violin: Stephan Schardt   Harpsichord: Sonja Kemnitzer   Cello: Elizabeth Wand

Telemann's first wife, Amelia, had died in 1711. Catherine, his second as of 1714, was a gambler who nearly drove him to bankruptcy but for the financial assistance of friends. The couple finally separated in 1736. It was during this troublesome period with Catherine that he composed '36 Fantasias pour le Clavessin' (harpsichord) TWV 33 of 1732-33 and '12 Fantasias for Solo Flute' TWV 40:2-13 of 1732-33.

'36 Fantasias for Keyboard'   TWV 33:1-36   Georg Telemann   1732–33

Harpsichord: Joseph Payne

'12 Fantasias for Solo Flute'   TWV 40:2-13   Georg Telemann   1732–33

Flute: Barthold Kuijken   Dresden

'Concerto for 3 Violins' in F major   TWV 53:F1   Georg Telemann   1733

Musica Amphion / Pieter-Jan Belder

In 1637 Telemann left Hamburg for Paris where he concentrated on publishing the 'Nouveaux quatuors' that year, that the second set completing 'Paris Quartets' begun with '6 Quadri' in 1730. His early grooming for law may have contributed to Telemann becoming an early instance of intellectual rights, he pursuing exclusivity of rights to publish his work upon discovering unauthorized books of his music being published in Paris during his stay there.

Paris Quartets 1-6   '6 Quadri'   TWV 43   Georg Telemann   1730

Composed for flute / violin / viola da gamba or cello / continuo (harpsichord)

Freiburger BarockConsort

Paris Quartets 7-12   'Nouveaux quatuors en six suites'   TWV 43   Georg Telemann   1738

Composed for flute / violin / viola da gamba or cello / continuo (harpsichord)

Musica ad Rhenum Ensemble / Jed Wentz

Returning from Paris to Hamburg in 1738, Telemann may be the first to have set music for Miguel de Cervantes' novel 'Don Quixote' published in two parts in 1605 and 1615. This was his 'Burlesque de Quixotte', an overture suite of 1739 among Telemann's more favored works. Telemann would later compose an opera based on the comical Quixote theme in 1761. [Beggerow / IMSLP / Los Angeles Philharmonic].

'Burlesque de Quixotte'   TWV 55:G10   Overture-suite by Georg Telemann

Composed for strings and continuo 1739

New York Baroque Incorporated

Among instruments for which Telemann wrote was the chalumeau, predecessor to the clarinet [Wikipedia / Yamaha]. Among titles featuring chalumeau were 'Concerto for 2 Chalumeaux and 2 Bassoons' TWV 52:C1 and 'Concerto for 2 Chalumeaux' TWV 52d1.

'Concerto for 2 Chalumeaux'   TWV 52:d1   Overture-suite by Georg Telemann

Composed for 2 chalumeaux / strings / continuo   c 1740

Chalumeaux: Lorenzo Coppola / Tindaro Capuano

La Stagione Frankfurt / Michael Schneider

Telemann's great burst of the last few decades began consuming less fuel upon aging into his sixties and seventies, even as he outlived his oldest son who died in 1755. Not a few others got called home when on 1 November 1755 the Lisbon earthquake struck, killing a minimum of 12,000 people [Clemson Blogs / Wikipedia]. Telemann composed 'Donnerode' ('Thunder Ode') of 1756 in response, setting a paraphrase of 'Psalms' 8 and 29 by Christian Gottfried Krause and Karl Wilhelm Ramler translated to German by Johann Andreas Cramer. The second part to this oratorio arrived in 1760 per 'Mein Herz ist voll' ('My Heart Is Full') paraphrasing 'Psalm' 45 in 1760 [Baerenreiter / Carus-Verlag Blog / IMSLP / Wikipedia].

'Donnerode'   ('Thunder Ode')   Oratorio by Georg Telemann

Part 1: TWV 6:3a premiering 1756   Part 2: TWV 6:3b premiering 1762

Rheinische Kantorei w the Kleine Konzert / Hermann Max

'Das befreite Israel'   TWV 6:5   Oratorio by Georg Telemann

'The Liberated Israel'   1759

Rheinische Kantorei w the Kleine Konzert / Hermann Max

'Die Auferstehung und Himmelfährt Jesu'   TWV 6:6   Oratorio by Georg Telemann

'The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus'   Libretto: Karl Wilhelm Ramler   1760

Rheinische Kantorei w the Kleine Konzert / Hermann Max

Telemann's last opera with a known premiere date was 'Don Quichotte auf der Hochzeit des Comacho' (aka 'Don Quixotte, der Löwenritter') TWV 21.32 first performed in Hamburg on 5 November 1761 with libretto by Daniel Schiebeler [Wikipedia]. Telemann was eighty years old at the time. His final of six Passion oratorios arrived in 1755 per 'Du, dessen Augen flossen' ('Der Tod Jesu') TWV 5:6. His 'Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele' ('Seliges Erwägen des Leidens und Sterbens Jesu Christi') TWV 5:2 of 1763 with libretto by himself was a revision of his second Passion oratorio sharing eponymous titles composed in 1722 toward premiere in 1728. Wikipedia distinguishes the earlier as TWV 5:2a.

Yet composing en force until his death in 1767, Telemann that year completed two symphonies, two divertimentos, three overtures and his final of forty liturgical Passions per one from 'Mark' titled 'Christe du Lamm Gottes' TWV 5:52. The divertimento below is one of the few works for which an autograph exists.

'Divertimento in A major'   TWV 50:22   Georg Telemann

For strings and continuo   1767

Rheinische Kantorei w the Kleine Konzert / Hermann Max

Telemann died at eighty-six years of age in Hamburg on 25 June 1767.