Critica Musica

periodical founded by Mattheson

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June 25, 2026

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The Critica Musica was a periodical founded in 1722 by Johann Mattheson, a German composer and scholar. It was one of the earliest journals dedicated to music criticism. Mattheson, a significant figure in 18th-century German music, also wrote extensively on musical theory and practice, advocating for an integrated musical style that blended Italian, French, and German elements. His scholarly writings, including Der vollkommene Kapellmeister, provide valuable insights into the musical landscape of his time. The Critica Musica emerged during a period when musical criticism was gaining traction across Europe, with other notable figures like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Charles Burney also contributing to the field.12

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musical criticism
Historical development
…entirely to music criticism was Critica Musica, founded by Johann Mattheson in 1722. Mattheson had a number of successors, notably the Leipzig composer Johann Adolph Scheibe, who brought out his weekly Der critische Musicus between the years 1737 and 1740 and whose chief claim to notoriety was his scurrilous attack…
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…entirely to music criticism was Critica Musica, founded by Johann Mattheson in 1722. Mattheson had a number of successors, notably the Leipzig composer Johann Adolph Scheibe, who brought out his weekly Der critische Musicus between the years 1737 and 1740 and whose chief claim to notoriety was his scurrilous attack…
Read More