Georg Philipp Telemann Sonata in F Minor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Georg Philipp Telemann Sonata in F Minor - Essay Example His musical prowess, which he has painstakingly nurtured amidst the resistance of his family especially his mother, makes him the most prominent composer during his period, even greater than the currently renowned Bach (Georg Phillip Telemann 2007). Telemann has been born in a family which most of the members is involved in church activities but is not directly musical. Only his great-grandfather who served as Cantor at Halberstadt is known to have been directly involved in musical activities. He lost his father at an early age, leaving him at the sole care of his mother who opted that he build a career in fields other than music. Yet, his musical genius is discovered early in his life, with Telemann writing his first opera at the age of twelve. Fearing that he will pursue a career in music, his mother confiscates all his instruments and sends to a school in Zellerfield. However, the approval of the superintendent of the institution discovered and approved of his talent giving him the opportunity to learn to play various instruments including recorder, viola, organ, viola da gamba, flute, oboe, chalumeau, double bass, and bass trombone (Baroque Composers and Musicians n.d.) With his mother's insistence, he studies law at Leipzig where he is commissioned to write music for two of the city's main churches. At the same time, he also founds the Collegium Musicum which gives performance of his music. Because of his growing prominence, Telemann is given the main position as the musical director of five churches in Hamburg, a position which he holds for the rest of his life. He is also noted for his regularly publication of his works (Georg Philipp Telemann 2007). Historical Information A. The Baroque Period Telemann's Sonata in Fminor is composed during the Baroque period which is an era in the European classical music which flourished between 1600 and 1750. Baroque music becomes a major component of the classical music canon which is widely performed, studied, and listened to. The general musical style which best characterized Baroque music are "more elaborate musical ornamentation, as well as changes in musical notation and advances in the way instruments were played" (Baroque Music 2007). Others include "unity of emotion, ornamentation, and a contrasting rhythm with improvisation melodies usually had a continuous line moving, terrace dynamics and extensions (Baroque Music 2007)." B. Sonata Form During the Baroque period, sonata refers to a variety of works including works for solo instrument such as keyboard of violin or groups of instruments. Sonata is a composition for one or more instruments always with continuo (Sonata 2007). Sonata form is "a way of organizing the musical ideas in a movement on the basis of key." Generally, it follows the following outline or standard form: 1. Introduction. "The introduction section is optional, or may be reduced to a minimum. If it is extended, it is generally slower than the main section, and focuses on the dominant key. It may or may not contain material which is later stated in the exposition (Sonata Form 2007)." 2. Exposition. "The primary thematic material