BaroqueGeorg Philipp Telemann
Georg Philipp Telemann was born in Germany more than three hundred and forty years ago.
Georg Philipp Telemann’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1681👶 Birth
Born in Magdeburg on 14 March
- 1682🌍 Meanwhile
The French court moves to Versailles
- 1693📚 Trainingage 12
Teaches himself several instruments despite his mother’s opposition
- 1700🌍 Meanwhile
Bartolomeo Cristofori invents the piano in Florence (c. 1700)
- 1705🎩 Careerage 24
Kapellmeister in Sorau; discovers Polish folk music
- 1708🎩 Careerage 27
Konzertmeister at the Eisenach court
- 1714❤️ Private lifeage 33
Becomes godfather to Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
- 1719🌍 Meanwhile
Defoe publishes Robinson Crusoe
- 1733🎼 Workage 52
Tafelmusik (Musique de table)
- 1737🧳 Journeyage 56
Triumphant stay in Paris: Paris Quartets
- 1752🌍 Meanwhile
Franklin studies lightning with a kite
- 1762🎼 Workage 81
Der Tag des Gerichts, oratorio
- 1767🕯️ Deathage 86
Dies in Hamburg on 25 June, aged 86
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Excerpts of up to 90 seconds, freely licensed recordings from Wikimedia Commons.
Once upon a time…
Georg Philipp Telemann was born in Germany more than three hundred and forty years ago. His mum didn’t want him to be a musician: she hid his instruments! But Georg taught himself, in secret, the flute, violin and keyboard.
He composed a huge amount: more than three thousand pieces, a record! He wrote for all kinds of instruments, and even “table music” to accompany big meals.
In his time he was more famous than Johann Sebastian Bach. In fact he was godfather to one of Bach’s sons. And it was because Telemann turned down a job in Leipzig that Bach got it!
When he was old he loved growing rare flowers that his friend Handel sent him from England.
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Same era · Baroque
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Henry Purcell was born in London more than three hundred and fifty years ago, just as England got a king back after years when music had been almost forbidden.
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Jean-Philippe Rameau was born in Dijon more than three hundred and forty years ago.
1685 – 1759BaroqueGeorg Friedrich Haendel
George Frideric Handel was born in Germany the same year as Johann Sebastian Bach.
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Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Germany into a family where nearly everyone was a musician!