Search - Georg Philipp Telemann, Hermann Max, Das Kleine Konzert :: Telemann: The Day of Judgment

Powerful late Telemann oratorio challenges stereotypes

Frank T. Manheim | Fairfax VA | 07/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Baroque composer J.S.Bach was rediscovered by Felix Mendelssohn in the 1840's. Bach's Italian contemporary, Antonio Vivaldi, had his popular rediscovery around the middle of the 20th Century, first by Leopold Stokowski in the Disney Film "Fantasia", and then through the Virtuosi di Roma and other chamber orchestras. The marvelous sonorities of the baroque string orchestra, rendered by hi fi equipment, helped baroque music reach favorite status for many music lovers. In recent decades it has been Georg Philipp Telemann's turn. Telemann was long relegated to minor mention in music histories as a composer esteemed in his time but of minor consequence. Telemann continues to gain appreciation. He snagged me in the late 70's along with many other aficionados. Baroque ensembles now can't get enough of the artful variety of Telemann's original instrumental combinations and inventive music. More Telemann is now played by Washington DC area classical music stations than Bach. I justify my e-mail handle by owning some 80 Telemann recordings, and having organized local music organizations' public performances of his rarer chamber works. The newest and still little-known facet of Telemann's vast output was made known through scores published by the Telemann Archive project in Germany. This project, begun around 1952, continues in Magdeburg under leadership of Wolf Hobohm, whose wrote the liner notes for this CD. The big surprise to many is Telemann's late choral-orchestral compositions, like the "Day of Judgment". This stunning work of 1765 (two years before Telemann's death at 86) defies time or style classification. The oratorio, based on a libretto by one of the younger German pre-romantic poets, Christian Alers, is in 4 reflections, performed by soloists, chorus, and an orchestra including trumpets, horns, oboe d'amore, bassoon, tympani, and organ. Its style is no longer baroque, nor is it "classical" - except for touches. It is unique to late Telemann. Telemann's expression of the colorful text sometimes evokes historic musical echoes, from Lutheran chorale, through baroque influences and even "classical" touches in some choruses (Telemann experimented with pre-classical styles as early as the 1740's, but evidently found the courtly Haydnesque classical manner not to his liking). But key parts of the oratorio are in an unfamiliar, often harsh, emotionally evocative style with unexpected vocal and instrumental effects. These are especially noteworthy when depicting scenes of devastation, the agony of sinners, or the intersection of "all-devouring" lightning bolts. There have been other Day of Judgment releases, notably a pioneering performance by Nicolaus Harnoncourt on LP with very extensive notes, and a CD (1995) set directed by Thomas Wikman on the d'Note Classic label. This the only version currently available through Amazon. The period orchestra performance is professional as are soloists and chorus, but the music is the star. I recommend this or other versions of Day of Judgment to any music lover ready to venture out of the standards."