"Daughter of Zion, rejoice greatly" - This is how the opening movement of the Advent cantata TVWV 1:407 begins, with which Georg Philipp Telemann opened his so-called Engel-Jahrgang, which was printed in Hirschberg, Silesia, from 1748. An original set of parts for this Advent music was acquired from the antiquarian book trade (J & J Lubrano Music Antiquarians LLC, USA) at the end of 2024 by the Telemann Centre together with the Melante Foundation Magdeburg and the "Georg Philipp Telemann" Magdeburg e.V. working group.
The name of the Engel-Jahrgang, consisting of 72 pieces of church music based on texts by Daniel Stoppe and an unnamed poet, was already derived in the 18th century from a small angel-like creature depicted on the title page of each piece. Below this putto-like "angel", which is missing its wings, is a two-liner referring to Telemann: "You glorify and sanctify the sweet harmony of the art of music". The acquired set of nine parts is complete, although the timpani part does not appear to be original. On the title page there is the stamped ownership note "Gottfried Deetjen" and a handwritten acquisition date "Hamburg, 9 August. 1908." A further stamp with the number "765" refers to the organisation system of the Deetjens Collection.
The renowned organist and conductor Deetjen was born in Hamburg on 16 June 1888 and received his musical training in his home town and in Leipzig. He worked there from 1911 to 1912 as assistant to the organist Karl Straube, who had also been his teacher. After working in Graz, Lyck (Ostpr.), Verden/A., Bremen and Barmen, he became organist and cantor at St Nicolai's in Hamburg in 1926, and from 1943 to 1950 he also served as acting organist at St Jacobi's from 1943 to 1950. He retired in 1953 and lived in his native city until his death on 8 April 1972.
According to the antiquarian bookshop, the print was sold in 2024 on behalf of the American collector Michael D'Andrea, who had acquired it from A. Rosenthal Ltd. via the American antiquarian bookseller La Scala Autographs in 2004.
Ralph-Jürgen Reipsch (2025)