Telemann: Concerto No. 1 in D major for double bass quartet (arr. Heyes)

About the Concerto

Concerto No.1 in D major is from a set of four concertos for violin quartet without continuo and transcribes beautifully for the advanced double bass quartet. Originally in G major, the four contrasting movements (Largo-Allegro-Adagio-Vivace) feature lively melodies and intricate counterpoint with the melodic material shared equally between the four players. Highlighting the interplay between the basses, each playing in thumb position, the concerto has been described as “showcasing Telemann’s ingenuity and the vibrant musical language of the Baroque era.”

Concerto No.1 in D major would be an excellent concert opener with effective musical and technical challenges for each player.

About the Composer

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) was one of the most prolific composers of the Baroque age and his surviving output includes more than 3,000 pieces in many genres. Telemann was self-taught as a composer and was well regarded during his lifetime, living most of his life in Hamburg (1721-1767) where he was employed to write music for all five of the city’s churches. His music was influenced the German, Polish, French and Italian styles of the day and, although his music fell from favour in the 19th-century, today he is regarded as one of the finest and most popular of the Baroque composers.