TELEMANN: 12 GAMBA FANTASIES for cello solo

TELEMANN: 12 GAMBA FANTASIES for cello solo

Transcribed by Dietmar Berger

Fantasy I (Adagio-Allegro, Allegro)
Fantasia II (Vivace, Andante, Presto)
Fantasia III (Largo, Presto, Vivace)
Fantasia IV (Vivace, Grave, Allegro)
Fantasia V (Allegro, Largo, Allegro)
Fantasia VI (Joking, Sweet, Witty)
Fantasia VII (Andante, Vivace, Allegro)
Fantasia VIII (Allegro, Grave, Vivace)
Fantasia IX (Presto, Grave, Allegro)
Fantasy X (Dolce-Allegro, Sicilian, Scherzando)
Fantasia XI (Allegro, Grave, Allegro)
Fantasy XII (Andante, Allegro, Vivace)

DIETMAR BERGER, cello

1 CD

The Fantasies pour le Basse de Violle (1735) – rediscovered only in 2015 – are part of those collections all entitled “Fantasies” and intended for various instruments. Starting from the original for viola da gamba, the version proposed here was created by the same performer, Dietmar Berger, with the cello in mind. However, the transposition between the two instruments should not surprise us, as their connections are many and mark an era. It might, however, be surprising that Telemann dedicated a solo collection in 1735 to an instrument that was no longer in favour with the public and performers: supplanted by the cello, the viola da gamba was the symbol of another era. But a few years earlier, J.S. Bach composed the famous Partitas for solo cello and it seems that he initially intended them specifically for the viola da gamba! This recording is therefore a further incentive to investigate the affinities and differences between the two musicians.