Abstract
This paper treats the relationship of text and music discussed in Johann Mattheson’s
article “Der melodische Vorhof”, which is compiled in the 2nd volume of Critica
Musica, especially focusing on the concept of “sensus rhetoricus”.
In this article, Mattheson criticizes the argument of Heinrich Bokemeyer about the
relationship of text and music. While he claims that the text is a component of music
and composers must compose music correspond to the text, Mattheson divides their
connexion and proposes the liberty of music from the text.
As an example of such musical liberty, we read the statement about the musical
repetitions. While Bokemeyer lists some conditions for repetition, Mattheson’s
requirement is basically only one, namely the fulfillment of the “sensus rhetoricus”.
Though it is a meaning mainly constituted by the organization of subject and predicate,
Mattheson requires to take the situation or context which are implied in the text into
consideration. In this paper, the author reveals that this concept has two functions,
namely to relate the text with music progressively and on the other hand to support
traditional technique of repetition. This concept grants composers liberty to repeat, at
the same time, warns against its abuses.
