GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN
Concerto for Viola & StringsFull Score
Edited from the urtextby Alan Bonds
PREFACE
This edition was prepared from the original ms at Darmstadt University and later published by Bärenreiter Verlag (1955).It’s main purpose is to ornament the first movement in the manner of the period.This idea is based on Telemann’s six Method Sonatas for Violin or Flute.The original advertising material stated that “The Sonatas will be very useful to those that wish to apply themselves to cantabile ornamentation”.
Telemann offers two versions of the cantabile movements (usually the first movement) - one unadorned, the other floridly ornamented in accordance with French and Italian taste.Interestingly, none of the ‘slow’ movements (usually the 3rd) has extra ornamentation. They are sometimes quite ornate and sometimes marked with words like semplice.
By good chance, the B flat major Method Sonata 1st movement has the same time signature of 3/2 and marked Largo. It too has the same Chaconne-like phrasing commencing on the 2nd beat of the bar. Likewise, many of the half-notes are marked staccato in the ornamented version. Therefore it provides an excellent model for embellishments in the 1st movement of the Viola Concerto.
My version is a fairly basic attempt. Players should try the B flat Sonata and then try out their own.
But I am certain that the soloist would not have entered playing the same material as the orchestra. It would have been unthinkable to a baroque string player. It provided the ideal opportunity to show off their virtuosic skills of improvization and ornamentation.I am also sure that the staccato markings in the 1st movement indicate a dance-like lilt, perhaps derived from the Chaconne.
Alan BondsPerth, Western Australia
July 2016
AllegroII
6
Largo
Concerto in G majorI for Viola, Strings and Continuo G. Ph. Telemann
Viola solo
Viola solo
IV Presto
Cadenza
III AndanteViola solo
Viola solo
52
47
41
35
30
24
18
12
6
Violin 1
Largofor Viola and String OrchestraConcerto in G major
Georg Phillip Telemann
73
67
63
56
49
41
31
27
19
10
5
Allegro2Violin 1
20
12
7
Presto
3
27
21
15
12
8
4
AndanteViolin 1
104
98
91
85
78
70
60
51
45
39
33
26
4Violin 1
53
47
41
35
29
23
17
11
6
Largofor Viola and String OrchestraConcerto in G major
Georg Phillip TelemannViolin 2
72
66
61
53
44
37
31
27
19
10
5
Violin 2
Allegro2
22
13
7
Presto
28
21
15
12
8
4
Andante3Violin 2
103
96
90
84
76
64
57
48
41
35
29
4Violin 2
53
47
41
35
29
24
18
12
7
Largofor Viola and String OrchestraConcerto in G major
Georg Phillip TelemannViola
71
64
58
52
43
36
30
25
19
12
6
Allegro
2Viola
22
13
7
Presto
27
22
17
13
9
5
Andante3Viola
102
95
89
82
73
64
57
48
41
35
29
4Viola
53
47
41
35
29
23
18
12
6
Largofor Viola and String OrchestraConcerto in G major
Georg Phillip TelemannBasso Continuo
71
61
54
48
42
35
29
23
17
11
6
Allegro2Basso Continuo
27
20
13
7
Presto
27
23
19
15
5
Andante3Basso Continuo
103
97
91
85
77
71
65
58
52
45
39
33
4Basso Continuo