Page "Georg Philipp Telemann" Paragraph 8

Once he established himself as a professional musician in Leipzig, Telemann became increasingly active in organizing the city's musical life.

From the start, he relied heavily on employing students: the very first ensemble he founded was a student collegium musicum that had some 40 members.

They gave public concerts and also provided music for the Neukirche.

In 1702 Telemann became director of the opera house Opernhaus auf dem Brühl, where too he employed student performers.

Finally, when Telemann got the post of organist and music director at the Neukirche, he only played the organ once, and assigned the organist's duties to his students.

Between 1702 and 1705 Telemann composed at least eight operas, four of which went to the Leipzig operahouse and four to the Weissenfels court.

During his time at Leipzig, he was continually influenced by the music of Handel, whom he met earlier, in 1701.

He also studied the works of Johann Kuhnau, Kantor of the Thomaskirche and city director of music in Leipzig ; in his later years, Telemann recounted how much he learned about counterpoint from Kuhnau's work.