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Baroque Composer Georg Philipp Telemann Was Born On This Day in 1681

March 14, 2019

2 MIN READ

German Baroque composer Georg Philipp Telemann was born on this day in 1681 - 338 years ago

German Baroque composer Georg Philipp Telemann was born on this day in 1681 - 343 years ago.

Renowned as the foremost German composer of his time, Telemann enjoyed considerable acclaim during his lifetime, though his stature eventually diminished in the shadow of his contemporary, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Nevertheless, Telemann's extensive body of work, arguably unparalleled in classical music history, encompassed components from over 31 cantata cycles, numerous operas, concertos, oratorios, songs, compositions for civic and religious events, passions, orchestral suites, and an abundance of chamber music.

Telemann, largely self-taught, demonstrated remarkable skill on various instruments, including the flute, violin, viola da gamba, oboe, trombone, double bass, and several keyboard instruments. His musical talent emerged early in life, composing an opera titled Sigismundus by the age of 12.

Initially intending to pursue a legal career in Leipzig at 20, a fortuitous encounter with a young Georg Friedrich Handel in Halle reignited Telemann's passion for music, prompting him to compose cantatas for a Leipzig church and swiftly rise to local prominence. By 1702, he assumed the role of director at the Leipzig Opera, producing four operas for the institution over subsequent years.

Pioneering the practice of self-publishing, Telemann emerged as one of the first composers to actively engage in disseminating his own music. His efforts yielded at least forty early prints of his compositions, distributed and marketed by himself. Several of these editions, notably Der Getreue Musik Meister, Musique de Table (Tafelmusik), and the 6 Concerts et 6 Suites, garnered widespread popularity across Europe during Telemann's lifetime, solidifying his reputation as a prolific and influential musical figure.

Telemann's major contributions to the string repertoire include: a violin concerto, 12 Fantasias for Solo Violin - and his signature Viola Concerto in G Major.