TELEMANN, GEORG PHILIPP

born March 14, 1681, Magdeburg, Brandenburg died June 25, 1767, Hamburg 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. Additional reading Biographies and critical works include Martin Ruhnke, G.P. Telemann, in Die Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart (1966), a condensed, but the best informed, report on Telemann's life and works (in German), and Relationships Between the Life and the Works of Georg Philipp Telemann, The Consort, 24:271279 (1967); Wolf Hobohm, Verzeichnis des Telemann-Schrifttums, in Beitrge zu einem neuen Telemannbild, pp. 8395 (1963), a good compilation of the major books and articles on Telemann; Werner Menke, Das Vokalwerk Georg Philipp Telemann's berlieferung und Zeitfolge (1942), a survey of Telemann's vocal compositions; Max Schneider, preface to vol. 28 of Denkmler Deutscher Tonkunst (1907), the first Telemann biography of the 20th century, also containing Telemann's autobiographies of 1718 and 1739; Romain Rolland, A Musical Tour Through the Land of the Past (1922, reissued 1967; originally published in French, 1920); Erich Valentin, Georg Philipp Telemann (1952), in German, and Telemann in seiner Zeit (1960); and Richard Petzoldt, Georg Philipp Telemann (1974; originally published in German, 1967), so far the most extensive Telemann biography. Major Works: Operas. More than 50, including Der gedultige Socrates (first performed 1721); Der neu-modische Liebhaber Damon (1724); Pimpinone (1725). Oratorios and cantatas. Der Tag des Gerichts (1762); Ino (1766); Die Tageszeiten; Der Tod Jesu; Die Auferstehung Christi; Seliges Erwgen, 46 Passions. Instrumental. Musique de table, productions 13 (published 1733); innumerable concerti, suites, quartets, and sonatas, for varying instrumental combinations.