Why did many 18th-century musicians consider Georg Philipp Telemann the greatest living composer?

In the 18th century, Georg Philipp Telemann was widely regarded as the greatest living composer due to his extraordinary versatility, prolific output, and ability to make music accessible to the general public.1

His contemporaries admired him for several key reasons:

• Mastery of Styles: Telemann was a master of the principal musical styles of his time—German, Italian, and French—and could write with fluency in any of them, often incorporating Polish and English influences.1
• Musical Quality: His compositions were noted for their natural melodies, bold harmonies, and buoyant rhythms. Whether serious or light, profound or witty, his work never lacked variety or quality.1
• Public Engagement: Through his public concerts, Telemann brought music to the general public that had previously been reserved for the aristocracy or limited groups of burghers.1
• Practicality and Accessibility: He was highly valued for his church compositions, which ranged from large-scale works for chorus and orchestra to small cantatas suitable for churches with limited resources. Additionally, his published prefaces provided invaluable practical advice on performance, benefiting both amateur and professional musicians.1