Georg Philipp Telemann
Composer biography

Georg Philipp Telemann

Georg Philipp Telemann was a German composer of the late Baroque period, who wrote both sacred and secular music but was most admired for his church compositions, which ranged from small cantatas to large-scale works for soloists, chorus, and orchestra.

About 

Georg Philipp Telemann

Georg Philipp Telemann, (born March 14, 1681, Magdeburg, Brandenburg—died June 25, 1767, Hamburg), German composer. By age 10 he had learned several instruments, and he composed an opera at age 12, but his family discouraged his pursuit of a musical profession.

While studying law at Leipzig University, he organized student music groups and became music director of the Leipzig Opera (1702), organist at the New Church (1704), and kapellmeister to a count (1705). Moving to Eisenach (c. 1708), where he met Johann Sebastian Bach, he composed French-style instrumental music and German-style sacred music. He moved to Gotha (1717) and then Hamburg (1721), where he served as musical director of the Opera (1722–38), for which he wrote several dozen Italian-influenced works.

He wrote some 600 cantatas and a total of some 2,000 pieces, many of high quality.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Georg Philipp Telemann summary". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/summary/Georg-Philipp-Telemann. Accessed 24 July 2023.

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