Telemann, Georg Philip (1681 - 1767)
At the time that Telemann lived, he was considered to be by far the superior to his friend, J.S. Bach. Now, however, it is vice-versa. This doesn't mean that Telemann is bad, oh no...
In 1681 Telemann was born into a middle-class family. Having no musicians in his family or any trace of music in his ancestors, he had not much support. He had, however, a very strong family and an ancestoral line of clergymen.
Telemann was another child prodigy in music. He wrote his first of 40 operas to come when he was 12! He was intended for a church career but went to the University of Leipzig to study law. He was realised as a musical expert by his friends and was advised to drop university, which he did so. He funded a special college of music and let his friend, J.S. Bach, direct it. He himself became an organist and leader/director of the Leipzig Opera.
In 1715 Telemann was made the Godfather of one of J.S. Bach's children - C.P.E. Bach.
In 1712 Telemann became the musical director of the city Frankfurt and the Keipplmasterof 'Barfusserkirche' until 1721. In 1721 he was invited to Hamburg to teach at a grammar school and to look after the city's 5 main churches musically.
When he died in 1767, his godson, C.P.E. Bach took over his jobs.
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