Georg Philipp Telemann: Fantasias for Viola da Gamba Robert Smith

• Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767): Fantasia No. 1 in C minor, TWV 40:26:
• 1 Fantasia No. 1 in C minor, TWV 40:26: I. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio - Allegro 03:27
• 2 Fantasia No. 1 in C minor, TWV 40:26: II. Allegro 02:16
• Fantasia No. 2 in D major, TWV 40:27:
• 3 Fantasia No. 2 in D major, TWV 40:27: I. Vivace & Andante 07:16
• 4 Fantasia No. 2 in D major, TWV 40:27: II. Presto 01:22
• Fantasia No. 3 in E minor, TWV 40:28:
• 5 Fantasia No. 3 in E minor, TWV 40:28: I. Largo 02:38
• 6 Fantasia No. 3 in E minor, TWV 40:28: II. Presto 01:45
• 7 Fantasia No. 3 in E minor, TWV 40:28: III. Vivace 01:21
• Fantasia No. 4 in F major, TWV 40:29:
• 8 Fantasia No. 4 in F major, TWV 40:29: I. Vivace 04:01
• 9 Fantasia No. 4 in F major, TWV 40:29: II. Grave 00:47
• 10 Fantasia No. 4 in F major, TWV 40:29: III. Allegro 01:36
• Fantasia No. 5 in B flat major, TWV 40:30:
• 11 Fantasia No. 5 in B flat major, TWV 40:30: I. Allegro 02:32
• 12 Fantasia No. 5 in B flat major, TWV 40:30: II. Largo 00:59
• 13 Fantasia No. 5 in B flat major, TWV 40:30: III. Allegro 01:27
• Fantasia No. 6 in G major, TWV 40:31:
• 14 Fantasia No. 6 in G major, TWV 40:31: I. Scherzando 02:06
• 15 Fantasia No. 6 in G major, TWV 40:31: II. Dolce 02:49
• 16 Fantasia No. 6 in G major, TWV 40:31: III. Spirituoso 01:13
• Fantasia No. 7 in G minor, TWV 40:32:
• 17 Fantasia No. 7 in G minor, TWV 40:32: I. Andante 04:36
• 18 Fantasia No. 7 in G minor, TWV 40:32: II. Vivace 01:25
• 19 Fantasia No. 7 in G minor, TWV 40:32: III. Allegro 01:43
• Fantasia No. 8 in A major, TWV 40:33:
• 20 Fantasia No. 8 in A major, TWV 40:33: I. Allegro 01:57
• 21 Fantasia No. 8 in A major, TWV 40:33: II. Grave 01:55
• 22 Fantasia No. 8 in A major, TWV 40:33: III. Vivace 01:46
• Fantasia No. 9 in C major, TWV 40:34:
• 23 Fantasia No. 9 in C major, TWV 40:34: I. Presto 02:10
• 24 Fantasia No. 9 in C major, TWV 40:34: II. Grave 03:07
• 25 Fantasia No. 9 in C major, TWV 40:34: III. Allegro 01:53
• Fantasia No. 10 in E major, TWV 40:35:
• 26 Fantasia No. 10 in E major, TWV 40:35: I. Dolce - Allegro - Dolce - Allegro 02:47
• 27 Fantasia No. 10 in E major, TWV 40:35: II. Siciliana 02:39
• 28 Fantasia No. 10 in E major, TWV 40:35: III. Scherzando 02:02
• Fantasia No. 11 in D minor, TWV 40:36:
• 29 Fantasia No. 11 in D minor, TWV 40:36: I. Allegro 02:05
• 30 Fantasia No. 11 in D minor, TWV 40:36: II. Grave 02:06
• 31 Fantasia No. 11 in D minor, TWV 40:36: III. Allegro 02:05
• Fantasia No. 12 in E flat major, TWV 40:37:
• 32 Fantasia No. 12 in E flat major, TWV 40:37: I. Andante 02:57
• 33 Fantasia No. 12 in E flat major, TWV 40:37: II. Allegro 02:09
• 34 Fantasia No. 12 in E flat major, TWV 40:37: III. Vivace 02:19
• Total Runtime 01:19:16

Info for Georg Philipp Telemann: Fantasias for Viola da Gamba

Lost to the world for centuries, the recent rediscovery in 2015 of Georg Philipp Telemann’s twelve Fantasias for viola da gamba represents a major addition to the solo repertoire of the instrument.

In the year of the 250th anniversary of Telemann’s death, acclaimed Amsterdam-based gambist Robert Smith brings these long forgotten works back to life with this striking recording of the complete set of twelve fantasias in a vital addition to the Telemann discography - one of earliest recordings of these eagerly anticipated works.

'Whatever the [music's] mood, this is playing of exceptional quality. Robert Smith navigates each piece with clear-eyed musicality, always weaving a beautifully sonorous, coherent line through Telemann’s rich invention.' (The Observer)

'Under Smith’s experienced, marvellously sensitive hands, these works burst into life, and a dazzling array of invention and technique is unfolded before the listener. Smith’s particular talent is to allow the instrument to speak with total naturalness, keeping the music rhythmically buoyant and skilfully applying subtle rubato' (Europadisc)

Robert Smith, viola da gamba

Robert Smith
is an English viola da gambist and baroque cellist. In 2012 he won the Bach-Abel Viola da Gamba Competition in Köthen, taking the First Prize, Audience Prize and Special Prize. His performance of a heavy-metal transcription of a Metallica song was especially noted.

Robert’s ensemble, Fantasticus, has received wide critical acclaim for its recent recordings of stylus fantasticus and French Baroque music. In 2013 his playing was described by The Strad as, ‘Intensely expressive, highly dramatic.’

Robert studied Viola de Gamba with Mieneke van der Velden (Amsterdam) and Paolo Pandolfo (Basel). He also studied Baroque cello with Wouter Möller, Jaap ter Linden and Viola da Hoog. He was principal cellist with the European Union Baroque Orchestra in 2005/6.

Robert currently plays with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Fantasticus, amongst many other groups. In 2010 he won the second prize in the International Baroque Soloist competition in Brunnenthal, Austria. In ensembles he received several prizes in the Bruges Musica Antiqua Competition and the Van Wassenaer Competition (Amsterdam).

Booklet for Georg Philipp Telemann: Fantasias for Viola da Gamba