Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) was one of the most prolific composers of the Baroque period, rivalling Vivaldi in his industry. He studied languages and science at Leipzig University, and was largely self-taught as far as music was concerned. In 1704 he became organist of the New Church in the city, and founded a students music society, called Collegium Musicum. After several other appointments in Germany, including Bayreuth, Eisenach and Frankfurt, he became director of music at the Johanneum in Hamburg, and organist at 5 major churches in the city. A tireless traveller, he visited Berlin many times and in 1737 went to Paris.

He was a friend, colleague and, through marriage, a relation to J S Bach. His huge output includes over 40 operas, 44 Passions, 12 sets of services for the year, cantatas, Psalm settings, keyboard music for organ and harpsichord and many inventive concertos and overtures.

This 29 CD set provides a superb introduction to this master of the Barock. He often suffers in comparison to Bach, Handel and Vivaldi, mainly because it is so difficult to know where to start with such a vast body of work. This Brilliant Classics box set makes the Telemann experience all the more enjoyable by making this selection and providing a wonderful window into the world of this great composer.

CDROM includes booklet essays and sung texts.

Contents:
CD 1–4 TAFELMUSIK (complete)
Musica Amphion / Pieter-Jan Belder

CD 5–6 TRUMPET CONCERTOS
Otto Sauter (trumpet)
Kammerorchester Mannheim / Nicol Matt

CD 7 OBOE CONCERTOS
Heinz Holliger (oboe)
Academy of St Martin in the Fields / Iona Brown

CD 8 CONCERTOS FOR DIVERSE INSTRUMENTS
Jed Wentz (traverso), Peter Masseurs (trumpet)
Musica ad Rhenum, Amsterdam Bach Soloists, Wiener Akademie / Martin Haselböck

CD 9–16 OVERTURES
Collegium Instrumentale Brugense / Patrick Peire

CD 17 12 FANTASIAS FOR FLUTE
Jed Wentz (flute)

CD 18 RECORDER SONATAS
Lorenzo Cavasanti (recorder)
Ensemble Tripla Concordia

CD 19 TRIO SONATAS FOR RECORDER, OBOE & B.C.
Lorenzo Cavasanti (recorder), Alfredo Bernardini (oboe)
Ensemble Tripla Concordia

CD 20 TRIO SONATAS FOR FLUTE, VIOLIN & B.C.
Fabio Biondi (violin), Lorenzo Cavasanti (flute)
Ensemble Tripla Concordia

CD 21–23 PARIS QUARTETS
Musica ad Rhenum / Jed Wentz

CD 24 BASS CANTATAS
Christian Hilz (bass)
Ensemble Cordia / Stefano Veggetti

CD 25–26 KANTATEN AUS DEM HARMONISCHEN GOTTESDIENST
Ingrid Schmithüsen (soprano), Klaus Mertens (baritone)
Il Concertino Köln

CD 27 INO · OVERTURE IN D
Barbara Schlick (soprano)
Musica Antiqua Köln / Reinhard Goebel

CD 28–29 PASSIONS-ORATORIUM
Barbara Locher (soprano), Zeger Vandersteene, Stefan Dörr (tenor), Berthold Possemeyer, Johan-René Schmidt (baritone)
Freiburger Vokalensemble, L’Arpa Festante München / Wolfgang Schäfer