Duration: 10 minutes

In an era when fluent composition was the norm, Telemann was even more productive than most. A huge number of vocal and instrumental compositions are known to exist, including concertos for most instruments. His works were widely known, imitated, and plagiarized in his lifetime. When the position of Music Director of the churches in Leipzig fell vacant in 1723, the first choice of the selection committee was Telemann. When he declined the offer, it went to the “second best” applicant, Johann Sebastian Bach. Only in the last few decades have Telemann’s works become well known.

Program note by the late Dr. C.W. Helleiner