Georg Philipp Telemann (24 March [O.S. 14 March] 1681 – 25 June 1767) was a German Baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist. Almost completely self-taught in music, he became a composer against his family’s wishes. After studying in Magdeburg, Zellerfeld, and Hildesheim, Telemann entered the University of Leipzig to study law, but eventually settled on a career in music. He held important positions in Leipzig, Sorau, Eisenach, and Frankfurt before settling in Hamburg in 1721, where he became musical director of the five main churches.
Concerto for Two Violas TWV 52:G3 (c. 1740)
Copyist Johann Samuel Endler (1694-1762)
1. Lent
2. Gai (1:46)
3. Large (3:35)
4. Vif (4:50)
Reinhard Goebel, Viola I & Florian Deuter, Viola II
Musica Antiqua Köln conducted by Reinhard Goebel
Telemann was famous for writing concertos for various instruments and at the time the viola was not a popular instrument for a concerto because it was considered an English instrument, thus unfashionable. However, Telemann was a viola player himself, and wrote for the instrument. One of his most famous concertos was viola in G major TWV 51:G9.