The 'Musicalisches Lob Gottes' cycle, published between 1742 and 1744, was the only one of Telemann's printed cycles to include chorale settings and Biblical dicta in addition to arias and recitatives.
Performer Biography
Klaus Mertens, a bass-baritone on this album, completed the complete recording of Bach's cantatas with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra under Ton Koopman in 2003.
Composer Biography
Georg Philipp Telemann was considered a "Kapellmeister-General" of Protestant Germany, with his cantata cycles widely performed.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Telemann designed his cantata cycles, including 'Musicalisches Lob Gottes', to be "performable everywhere" by ensembles of various sizes, from small village choirs to large metropolitan ones.
Performer Biography
The Hamburger Ratsmusik, an ensemble on this album, was revived in 1991 by viol player Simone Eckert and has a history dating back to the 16th century.
Cultural Impact
The publication of 'Musicalisches Lob Gottes' included a biography of Telemann and an engraved portrait, making it an early example of modern music marketing.
Composition History
Telemann published 360 sacred pieces between 1725 and 1748 in printed cycles, sometimes self-published and sometimes through other publishers.
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