Search - Georg Philipp Telemann, Ludger Remy, Telemannisches Collegium Michaelstein :: Georg Philipp Telemann: Kapitänsmusik 1724 [Hybrid SACD]

Civic Virtues, Civic Pride, Civic 'Harmony'

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 09/01/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There was probably no more secure or pleasant place for an ordinary burgher to live in 17th/18th Century Germany than Hamburg. The Emperor was far away, and though the Danes were close, the River Elbe guaranteed mercantile prosperity. The best fortifications in Germany spared the city from the worst of the Thirty Years War. Moreover, Hamburg had a vigorous citizen militia, active in defending its burg from war, fire, and other calamities. In Telemann's time, as many as 10,000 armed men were enrolled in the Guard, out of a population of about 80,000. They were assigned to companies of 180, each headed by a "Captain" - hence the title Kapitänsmusik. Each year civic banquets were held, with opulent feasting and celebratory music, in honor of the Captains.



Georg Philipp Telemann became Hamburger Stadtmusikdirektor -- effectively muiscal czar of the city and its churches -- in 1722. He enjoyed that position for 42 years (zwei-und-vierzig Jahre)! He composed his first 'Captains' Music' in 1723, and the likelihood is that he wrote another every year of his tenure. Nine complete sets have survived. This one comes from 1724; it has been edited for modern performance and has entered the repertoire of Telemann's 'greatest hits'. There are also recordings of the Captains' Music of 1744 and 1755; there is no musical duplication. The standard Captain's Music is actually two pieces of quite distinct composition, a sacred cantata sung at the beginning of the celebration and a secular 'serenata' probably performed as Table-Music. This 1724 cantata has civic gratitude for God's special favor as its theme. The serenata is an allegorical dialogue proclaiming Hamburg's felicity and lauding its guardian burghers.



This is zesty, colorful music, rich in harmonic invention and instrumental virtuosity. The performance, by the Collegium Michaelstein, is marvelous... except for one grievous problem. The young Polish soprano Magdalena Podkoscielna is out of her league; her timbre is thin and her intonation is faulty. I hate to put the knock on her - especially because she has studied with three longtime friends of mine - but I have to be honest: she spoils this CD for me.

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