The Music of Georg Philip Telemann

Georg Philip Telemann was one of the most prolific and influential composers in the history of classical music and one of the most recognized composers of the early 18th century. A contemporary of J.S. Bach and Handel, Telemann remains a key figure in understanding the history surrounding the transition from the Baroque period to the Classical era. His musical legacy has recently received significant attention with rising popularity of the modern Early Music movement with performances on period instruments. In this course, we listen to a curated selection of his enormous musical output which included more than 100 concertos, 600 overtures, and 1000 Cantatas. We also discuss Telemann’s compositional legacy by focusing on his most important works, such as Tafelmusik, his popular Viola Concerto, and the Paris Quartets. Moreover, we reassess his legacy by further curating the abundance of his instrumental and vocal works. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.