Today I’m sharing something especially fun! Georg Philipp Telemann was a much more talented and clever composer than he gets credit for being. His Canonic Sonatas are great examples of Telemann’s genius. They are simple, yet brilliant. First: what is a “canon”? Well probably the most familiar example of a Canon is “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” in which there is one melody line, and subsequent people join in singing the exact same melody, staggering their entrances. Telemann composed quite a few of these Canonic Sonatas, and they are perfect little gems that fit together just so. They are fun to play, and fun to hear — not a gimmick at all, but truly lovely music. Listen carefully, and see if you can pick out that single melody line being played by each of the performers.