Rhythmopeia: the poetry of rhythmic organization according to Johann Mattheson (1681-1764)

Abstract

The great German composer, lexicographer, music critic and theorist Johann Mattheson (1681-1764) stated, in his treatise Der Volkommene Cappelmeister (1739), that the power of Rhythmus (metrical foot patterns) in organizing melody is immeasurable, and that for composers, the study and knowledge of metrical feet is as important as melodic science. This pattern, which gives rhythmic organization a poetic meaning, is called Rhythmopeia. According to Mattheson, the meaning of metrical feet (Fusse) in poetic art finds its equivalent in Rhythmi in the art of sounds, which is why we name it “sounding feet” (Klang-Fusse), because the intervals of the song (melody) are intrinsically related to the rhythm. Mattheson stipulated 26 metric or sonorous feet. In addition to transcribing his values into musical notation, Mattheson provided, in several cases, the historical origin, character, suitability for a particular musical type and even advice for performance, thus demonstrating the central role of rhythmic organization in musical composition.