Der vollkommene Capellmeister

Der vollkommene Capellmeister (The Complete Chapel Master) is a significant work by Johann Mattheson, published in 1739. This encyclopedic treatise is a crucial source for understanding 18th-century German musical thought.1

Mattheson, a composer and scholar, advocated for a unified musical style that integrated Italian, French, and German elements. He also believed that sacred music could be enriched by incorporating secular, even operatic, components.1

The work is particularly noted for its detailed exploration of the "doctrine of the affections," a theory central to Baroque aesthetics. This doctrine proposed that music could evoke specific emotions in listeners through carefully chosen musical devices. Mattheson cataloged these devices, explaining how elements like intervals, harmony, and melody could produce feelings such as joy, sadness, or fury.2