Johann Mattheson

Full biography Johann Mattheson

Johann Mattheson (1681-1764) was a versatile and prolific German composer, singer, organist, writer, lexicographer, diplomat, and music theorist of the Baroque era. He was born in Hamburg and received a musical education from his father, a church musician. Mattheson was a contemporary and friend of famous composers like Georg Frideric Handel, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Georg Philipp Telemann.

Mattheson's musical output includes operas, oratorios, cantatas, instrumental chamber music, and music for the church. His music is characterized by dramatic expressiveness, rich harmonies, decorative ornamentation, and inventive use of counterpoint. Some of his most famous works include "Boris Goudenow," "Cleopatra," and "La Risonanza."

In addition to his compositional work, Mattheson was also a music theorist and writer. He authored a number of treatises on music theory, such as "Der vollkommene Capellmeister" (The Complete Kapellmeister), which is considered one of the most important sources of information about German music of the time. Mattheson also wrote extensively on the performing arts, art criticism, and literary subjects.

Mattheson was well-known among his contemporaries as a diplomat and lexicographer, and was appointed Hamburg's musical director in 1718. He played an important role in the development of Hamburg's music scene and was a major influence on the next generation of German composers.