This is the fifth CD in the first complete recording of the 72 cantatas from Georg Philipp Telemann’s collection Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst, published in Hamburg in 1726 – the first complete set of cantatas for the liturgical year to be appear in print.

Although Telemann wrote an astonishing 1,700 cantatas, 1.400 of which survive, this is the first cycle of his cantatas ever to be recorded in its entirety.

The cantatas are designated for voice, an obbligato instrument (recorder, violin, transverse flute or oboe) and basso continuo, and generally take the form of two da capo arias with an intervening recitative.

Although intended for worship, both public and private, Telemann’s cantatas are a masterly blend of tunefulness with skilled counterpoint and vocal and instrumental virtuosity.

The pursuit of authenticity in these recordings extends to obtaining the correct pronunciation of the German of Telemann’s day: an unusual essay in the booklet details the development of German as a sung language.