Telemann Studies

This book explores Georg Philipp Telemann's life and music, highlighting his significance as an important early Enlightenment and postmodern figure, his relationships with contemporaries, and the urban and courtly contexts for his compositions. It also examines his influential position as general Kapellmeister of protestant Germany.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Even as Georg Philipp Telemann's significance within eighteenth-century musical culture has gained greater recognition in recent years, the English-language literature on his life and music has remained limited. This volume, comprising sixteen essays by esteemed scholars from the United States, Germany, and Japan, aims to rectify this imbalance by showcasing a more international engagement with Telemann's legacy. The composer emerges not only as a prominent figure in the early Enlightenment but also as a postmodern one. Chapters on his sacred music delve into the works' sensitivity to Lutheran and physico-theology, their juxtaposition of historical and modern consciousness, and their embodiment of an emerging opus concept. His secular compositions and writings are brought into vibrant dialogue with French musical and aesthetic currents. Additionally, the book explores Telemann's relationships with contemporaries such as Johann Sebastian Bach, the urban and courtly contexts for his music, and his influential position as the general Kapellmeister of protestant Germany.

Introduction:
Georg Philipp Telemann, a German composer of the eighteenth century, has been increasingly recognized for his contributions to musical culture. However, the English-language literature on his life and music has remained relatively limited, despite his significant role in the period. This volume seeks to address this imbalance by bringing together sixteen essays by leading scholars from the United States, Germany, and Japan, who offer diverse perspectives on Telemann's legacy.

Early Enlightenment Figure:
Telemann's significance as an early Enlightenment figure is explored in several essays. Scholars highlight his role as a composer and musician who bridged the gap between the Baroque and Classical eras, incorporating elements of both styles into his works. They discuss his contributions to the development of chamber music, opera, and instrumental music, as well as his influence on other composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach.

Postmodern Perspective:
The volume also emphasizes Telemann's postmodernism, particularly in his sacred music. Scholars examine the composer's sensitivity to Lutheran and physico-theology, his contrast of historical and modern consciousness, and his embodiment of an emerging opus concept. They explore how Telemann's works reflect the changing social and cultural landscape of his time, and how they contribute to the broader discourse on the Enlightenment and postmodernism.

Sacred Music:
Chapters on Telemann's sacred music delve into the composer's treatment of religious themes and his contributions to Lutheran and physico-theology. Scholars discuss the works' emotional depth, their use of biblical and liturgical texts, and their embodiment of an emerging opus concept. They also explore how Telemann's sacred music influenced other composers, particularly in the Baroque era.

Secular Compositions:
Telemann's secular compositions and writings are brought into rich dialogue with French musical and aesthetic currents. Scholars examine how Telemann's compositions reflect the influence of French music, particularly in terms of orchestration, harmony, and melody. They also explore how his writings on music theory and aesthetics influenced his contemporaries and contributed to the development of musical discourse.

Contemporaries:
The book also considers Telemann's relationships with contemporaries such as Johann Sebastian Bach, the urban and courtly contexts for his music, and his influential position as the general Kapellmeister of protestant Germany. Scholars explore how Telemann's interactions with Bach influenced his compositional style and how his music was received in different social and cultural contexts.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this volume offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of Georg Philipp Telemann's life and music. By bringing together essays by leading scholars from different countries, it provides a more international engagement with Telemann's legacy and helps to redress the imbalance in the English-language literature on his life and music. The book showcases Telemann as a significant early Enlightenment figure and a postmodern composer, and it explores his sacred and secular compositions, his relationships with contemporaries, and his influential position as a general Kapellmeister. The volume contributes to our understanding of eighteenth-century musical culture and its global connections.

Weight: 850g
Dimension: 250 x 175 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108493833