Il Giardino Armonico, founded in 1985 and led by Giovanni Antonini, is a leading period instrument ensemble specializing in 17th and 18th-century repertoire.
Compositional Technique
Telemann's Suite in A minor features an 'Air à l'Italien' movement where the recorder takes on the role of a vocal soloist, performing a typical tripartite aria.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in two sessions between February 2012 and March 2013 at the Sacrestia Monumentale della Chiesa di S. Marco in Milan, Italy.
Composer Biography
Georg Philipp Telemann, one of the most prolific and renowned composers of his time, was a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who played keyboard, violin, flute, oboe, chalumeau, viola da gamba, double bass, and trombone.
Compositional Technique
Telemann's Sonata in F major for two chalumeaux is an example of 'Sonata auf Concertenart,' a hybrid genre blending sonata and concerto structures with stylistic cross-references.
Historical Context
The chalumeau, an ancestor of the clarinet, was very popular in Germany during Telemann's time, with composers like Dittersdorf, Hasse, Gluck, Molter, and Christoph Graupner writing for it.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Telemann's music often blends Italian and French styles, as he constantly sought to define a distinct 'German' style that, in his view, never fully materialized.
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