[HarpsichordConcerto]

Nice thread. I enjoy Telemann's music. I think he was particularly fine when it came to instrumental music, be it the multi-movement concerto, orchestral suites or various chamber pieces such as trios and quartets. The record label CPO is releasing his violin concertos under Elizabeth Wallfisch (Baroque violin) with a period instrument band. Also on that label features numerous of his vocal music, in particular cantatas and passions (all done by period instrument groups).

I cannot help but reiterate how wonderful these pieces come through under experienced HIP bands.

 

[Il_Penseroso]

Telemann was the most favorite German composer at his time, even more than Handel (If we take he was really a German but later inspired by Italian and English music), It's a shame that his music had been forgotten for a long time.

I love his Concerto for Viola, his most famous and one of my all-time favorites.

 

[Il_Penseroso]

I'm also a huge fan of his flute/recorder fantasias, being a recorder player. I'll eat up any Telemann you throw my way.

I have this :

his sonatas for two recorders (without bass continuo), played by Michala Petri and Elisabeth Selin for RCA, CD released 1990. Well, I'm not a recorder player and can not say anything about this recording, but always enjoy listening to these sonatas.

 

[neoshredder]

Listening to Tafelmusik right now. Very relaxing music. Definitely a Vivaldi influence (but lighter) as probably most Baroque is influenced by Vivaldi, Corelli, and etc. I love the cd cover artwork. I also hear some Classical Era sounds.

 

[clavichorder]

So many good ouverture suites, its unreal.

 

[neoshredder]

So many good ouverture suites, its unreal.

Yeah it's beautiful. Love the flute sound. The harpsichord is always nice as well. The last hints of Baroque before the Classical Era takes over.

 

[Lukecash12]

I do And, at least for me, it applies to Telemann, too, except the Tafelmusik and the Passions. Also, being a huge Bach fan, Telemann seems far inferior by comparison.

That's funny, my friend, because Bach actually seems more idiosyncratic than Telemann to me.

 

[neoshredder]

Good time to bump this thread as Brilliant Classics just came out with a 8 cd boxset of Telemann's Overtures at a budget price. Clavichorder would love this.

 

[presto]

To be honest, by the end of that set of quartets, I was getting a little bored. They are lovely, but after about 90 minutes - it started to get a little repetetive or perhaps my ears were getting tired.

We often get complete sets of works on CD's like complete Opus numbers.
But I would imagine it was never intended we should listen through the whole set in one sitting.
I think it's a bit unfair to do so especially if the works are all scored the same.
I'll often play a couple of Paris Quartets move on to a Recorder Sonata and perhaps end with a Concerto or two.
I never tire of Telemanns amazing invention.

 

[Lukecash12]

Right now I'm enjoying one of his most charming cantatas. This time around he didn't take it very easy on the flute player. And the recitative is marvelous, even better than Bach's recitatives in my opinion, because his turns are at times more modally and tonally novel, and spaced better too. The lilting melody really does give compliments to the period between late Baroque and Classical (the Rococo).

http://erato.uvt.nl/files/imglnks/u...s/usimg/f/f0/IMSLP93765-PMLP192089-gs11-08-1-13m_Seele__lerne_dich_erkennen.pdf

 

[realdealblues]

I don't know much Telemann, but I heard the Darmstadt Overtures (Suites) recording with Helmut Muller-Bruhl on Naxos years ago and remember really loving it.

I've been getting more into Baroque age classical lately and I just picked up the 29CD Telemann Edition from Brilliant Classics and am looking forward to diving into it.

 

[bigshot]

I got that set recently. Telemann is OK, but he's no Vivaldi or Handel. There is some good stuff in that box to be sure... But an awful lot of it is hooty hoot toodley toot background music for while you eat dinner.

 

[realdealblues]

I don't listen to music when I eat dinner. I'm old fashioned...Telemann (and Baroque music in general) is perfect for Sunday mornings, reading an actual Newspaper on the front porch while having a cup of coffee or tea in the crisp autumn air

 

[neoshredder]

I got that set recently. Telemann is OK, but he's no Vivaldi or Handel. There is some good stuff in that box to be sure... But an awful lot of it is hooty hoot toodley toot background music for while you eat dinner.

You are free to your opinion but your opinion is WRONG! I don't know how to rank them but Telemann is one of the Composers I listen to most.

 

[bigshot]

Can you recommend something to me. I have thirty CDs of Telemann in this set and all that keeps coming up in rotation is flutophone tootles. Is there anything like Haydn's Concerto Gosso op 6 or Vivaldi's Chamber Concertos?

 

[neoshredder]

Tafelmusik is great. I'm sure you got that one though. Also enjoying his Trumpet Concertos.

 

[bigshot]

I'll check them out right now.

 

[StlukesguildOhio]

I got that set recently. Telemann is OK, but he's no Vivaldi or Handel. There is some good stuff in that box to be sure... But an awful lot of it is hooty hoot toodley toot background music for while you eat dinner.

You gotta get the right stuff by Telemann:

His violin concertos are more than lovely... especially performed by Elizabeth Wallfisch. The same label (CPO) also released a marvelous recording of his trio sonatas. I just got two Telemann discs in the mail today... the 12 Fantasies for Solo Cello and the Fantasies for Solo Violin (the latter performed by Rachel Podger). Both discs are stunning... among the finest Baroque instrumental works. Of course Telemann was especially fine as a vocal composer... I have long liked any number of his cantatas and oratorios. Is he on the level of Bach? Of course not... who is? Is he equal to Vivaldi or Handel? Again I would place Handel within my top-ten. I enjoy dozens of composers from the Romantic era... but few are on the level of Wagner, Schubert, or Brahms. On the other hand... Telemann most certainly ranks among the top-ten Baroque composers and is worth getting to know better.

 

[bigshot]

I'm at square one with Telemann right now, so I'm not going to go horizontal with more versions yet. I'm listening tothe trumpet concertos right now and the faster movements are quite good. Nothing to compare to Mozart's horn concertos, but at least now I don't think this box is a complete wash. I'll check out the violin stuff next.

 

[Cheyenne]

I second the CPO complete violin concertos - some of the best work by Telemann I've heard. There is also this:

It's a great way to get to know him, a 3 CD set that contains separate collections of concertos and overtures by Telemann played by different ensembles. The stuff for trumpet is especially exciting. And, as a bonus, you can find it for a budget price.
On a separate note, does anybody have any comments on the 8-CD overture set with Patrick Peire? If it's any good I may think about getting the Telemann Edition myself.