Telemann - Violin Concerto No. 8 in G Major

Details

Description

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Violin Concerto No. 8 in G Major
Composed ~1720s to 1730s

Performed by Iona Brown (1941-2004), violin, and The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Continuo: Denis Vigay (1926-2015), cello; and Alan Cuckston (1940-2025), harpsichord

Recorded June 1983 in London

0:00 I. Andante
2:08 II. Allegro
4:51 III. Siciliana
7:33 IV. Presto

Telemann’s Violin Concerto No. 8 in G Major is part of his extensive body of concertos composed during the early to mid-18th century, a period when he was highly active in both Frankfurt and Hamburg. As with many of his violin concertos, this work reflects his cosmopolitan style, blending elements of the Italian concerto form with French elegance and German counterpoint. Likely written in the 1720s or 1730s, the concerto features Telemann’s characteristic clarity, charm, and inventive use of melody and rhythm. While not as frequently performed today as the concertos of Vivaldi or Bach, Telemann’s Violin Concerto No. 8 stands as a testament to his skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the violin’s expressive capabilities.