Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767) was a German composer and organist. Telemann was a musical self-taught, he graudated law at the University of Leipzig. He was one of the most played composers of his time, a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Friedrich Händel. Although Bach is generally considered a major composer, Telemann was much more famous for his musical abilities throughout his life. Telemann traveled very often and on his travels he was influenced by a number of other musical styles, which he then used in his own compositions. His work is very extensive. He composed 12 volumes of temple cantatas, 46 passions, 35 oratorios, 50 operas, 15 masses and almost 1000 smaller works. He is a representative of late baroque music.