Georg Philipp Telemann

Telemann was born in Magdeburg. Self-taught in music, he studied languages and science at the University of Leipzig. He was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach. Nowadays Bach is generally thought of as the greater composer, though Telemann was better recognized for his musical abilities during his lifetime.

He was so prolific that he was never able to count the number of his compositions.

Telemann traveled widely, absorbing various musical styles and incorporating them into his own compositions.

He held a series of important musical positions, culminating in that of music director of the five largest churches in Hamburg, from 1720 until his death on June 25, 1767. He was succeeded by his godson Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.

Recordings

- "Trauer - Actus", Cantatas Konrad Junghänel, 2002