Telemann: Fantasies TW 40:26-37

Recording solo pieces was a departure from my usual ensemble or orchestral work, requiring a different mindset and approach (...) the solitude allowed for introspection and deep connection with the music, resulting in a profoundly personal recording experience. - Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir

Click Here to read the entire interview with Ásdís.

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My own journey with these wonderful pieces began during the pandemic, when I found a transcription of them that someone had made for my instrument, the viola. There is very limited repertoire for the viola from the Baroque period, so we have to make do with transcriptions of Bach’s solo works for cello and violin, and indeed we also play the Fantasies that Telemann wrote for the violin. So I was very happy to find something new to work on during that strange time of no concerts, bought a copy and started practicing. As I worked through them I often wondered if the text could be arranged differently over the octaves. Thus, I gradually found myself actually making a completely new transcription, and in January 2024 my version was published by the French publisher Billaudot. I have tried to respect the original text as far as possible and I included every note and every chord that Telemann wrote, even if some of them are barely possible to play on the viola! Making this edition and recording has been an incredible journey of discovery. These fantasies are appropriately named; they travel through many tonalities with extreme peaks and valleys; quirky fast movements full of folk music, joy and surprises; slow movements full of wonder and sorrow, some marked Grave, others simply Dolce. Each fantasy has a character of its own, full of humanity and unique stories to tell. I feel very humbled, honoured and grateful that I have had the opportunity to delve so deeply into these wonderful Fantasies and to make this recording. - Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir (viola, transcription)