Georg Philipp Telemann was born in Magdeburg, the son
of a Lutheran deacon who died in 1685, leaving the
mother to raise their three children alone. The youth
showed remarkable talent in music, but was temporarily
discouraged in his chosen pursuit by Puritan Lutherans,
who told Telemann's mother that he would turn out no
better than "a clown, a tightrope walker or a
marmot-trainer." In opposition to his mother's wishes,
Telemann continued to study in secrecy until she
relented, allowing him to t...(+)
Georg Philipp Telemann was born in Magdeburg, the son
of a Lutheran deacon who died in 1685, leaving the
mother to raise their three children alone. The youth
showed remarkable talent in music, but was temporarily
discouraged in his chosen pursuit by Puritan Lutherans,
who told Telemann's mother that he would turn out no
better than "a clown, a tightrope walker or a
marmot-trainer." In opposition to his mother's wishes,
Telemann continued to study in secrecy until she
relented, allowing him to train under the highly
respected Kantor Benedict Christiani, at the Old City
School. Outside of some early lessons in reading
tablature, Telemann was self-taught and was capable of
playing the flute, violin, viola da gamba, oboe,
trombone, double bass, and several keyboard
instruments. Telemann began to write music from
childhood, producing an opera, Sigismundus, by age
12.
Telemann continued to be extraordinarily productive and
successful, even augmenting his income by working for
Eisenach employers as a Kapellmeister von Haus aus,
that is, regularly sending new music while not actually
living in Eisenach. Telemann's first published works
also appeared during the Frankfurt period. His output
increased rapidly, for he fervently composed
overture-suites and chamber music, most of which is
unappreciated. In the latter half of the Frankfurt
period, he composed an innovative work, his Viola
Concerto in G major, which is twice the length of his
violin concertos. Also, here he composed his first
choral masterpiece, his Brockes Passion, in 1716.
Although originally composed for String Orchestra, I
created this Interpretation of the "Overture Suite in
B-Flat Major" (TWV 55:B8) the "Ouverture Burlesque" for
Flute & Strings (Violin, Viola & Cello).
SHEET MUSIC