Telemann! Georg Philipp Telemann was born in Germany in 1681. For generations, Telemann men became ministers, and Georg Phillip was no exception. As a child, he loved music. He taught himself to not only play instruments but to compose as well.
When Telemann went off to University in Leipzig, he was supposed to forget about being a musician. Somehow, his roommate found out that he was a composer and had one of his pieces performed in church. That was the end of his career as a minister and the beginning of his composing career!
He spent his adult life composing, and was even the composer for a Duke in Poland! He eventually became the music director for a big city; first Frankfurt and then Hamburg. In this job he was able to compose music for churches and special occasions, conduct concerts and teach music. Telemann was influenced by folk instruments and the sounds of life around him. You can hear these influences in some of his pieces. Follow the Classics for Kids link on the Apps & Websites page above to hear some of his most famous works.
When Telemann went off to University in Leipzig, he was supposed to forget about being a musician. Somehow, his roommate found out that he was a composer and had one of his pieces performed in church. That was the end of his career as a minister and the beginning of his composing career!
He spent his adult life composing, and was even the composer for a Duke in Poland! He eventually became the music director for a big city; first Frankfurt and then Hamburg. In this job he was able to compose music for churches and special occasions, conduct concerts and teach music. Telemann was influenced by folk instruments and the sounds of life around him. You can hear these influences in some of his pieces. Follow the Classics for Kids link on the Apps & Websites page above to hear some of his most famous works.
