Telemann - Overture in E min

Georg Philipp Telemann, Overture in E minor
arranged by Ayala and Batya Rubin

Among the many works that George Philipp Telemann wrote for the recorder one senses that the composer himself was a recorder player. However, it is not know that Telemann wrote music for recorder ensemble.

Arrangement of existing works was common in the Baroque period, and Telemann recommended arranging the music he had written for flute or violin for recorder. Ayala and Batya Rubin have continued this Baroque tradition of arranging music for other instruments in order to enable recorder ensembles to enjoy the music of Telemann. The composer wrote twenty-four overtures for strings and continuo, from which we have chosen his Overture in F# minor (Tafelmusik No. 19, TWV 55:fis1) to arrange for recorder ensemble.

This arrangement of Telemann's Overture in E minor (original key F# minor) for recorder ensemble was written for players with a wide range of technical abilities. It is intended for both students and amateur players. Particularly, we have included an alternate arrangement of the Courante, in which the difficult part is divided between the upper two voices, making the work playable by students.