Georg Philipp Telemann was considered a European celebrity during his lifetime. Self-published in 1735, the 12 Fantasie per il Violino senza Basso TWV 40:14–25 are addressed to “Amateurs,” the music-making middle classes. The cycle is divided into two parts: The first half is committed to the "old", fugal style; the second, according to Telemann himself, consists of "gallantries". Johann Mattheson called them “good ideas,” since in his opinion they did not fit into any other scheme.

The edi...