Johann Mattheson

Johann Mattheson (September 28, 1681 - April 17, 1764) was a German composer, writer and music theorist.

He was born and died in Hamburg.

Mattheson is mainly famous as a music theorist. He was the most thorough writer on performance practice, theatrical style, and harmony of the German Baroque. In addition to some original work--particularly on the relationship of the disciplines of rhetoric and music--he was a compiler of most of the ideas current at the time.

The bulk of his compositional output was vocal, including eight operas, and numerous oratorios and cantatas. He also wrote a few sonatas and some keyboard music, including pieces meant for keyboard instruction.