Comparison of Georg Philipp Telemann's use of the recorder and the transverse flute, as seen in his chamber works.

Abstract

During the eighteenth century a trend of musical style caused the gradual decline in the use of the recorder and the rise in popularity of the transverse flute. This trend began in France in the late seventeenth century and radiated to Germany and England in the early eighteenth century. Georg Philipp Telemann is an excellent composer to study in terms of this transition for many reasons. First, his compositional years closely overlapped this transition. Second, he was a prolific composer, providing us with many musical examples for both the recorder and the transverse flute. Finally, Telemann was the most popular and successful composer in Germany during that era, making him an excellent representative of the musical style of the time. In Chapter I the author examines Telemann's biography. In Chapter II a history of both the recorder and the transverse flute up to Telemann's time serves as a groundwork for a comparison of the two instruments. In Chapter III Telemann's uses of the two instruments are examined and compared, first in overview and then specifically in three of his chamber works. In Chapter IV conclusions are made as to preferences Telemann displayed for either instrument and likely reasons for them.