Steffani composed primarily sacred music—masses, motets, and cantatas—with some secular works, including operas and secular cantatas. His Vespers (1712) is considered a masterpiece in its genre. His music is notable for its theatrical flair, harmonic richness, a blend of stile rappreszentativo and stile moderno, and his role in shaping the German cantata tradition, influencing composers such as Johann Adam Hiller and even later figures like Mozart, who admired early German sacred music.

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Steffani: The Theatrical Architect of Sacred and Secular Music in the German Baroque Steffani (1678–1742), a towering figure in the late German Baroque, stands as a master composer whose body of work profoundly shaped sacred music and quietly enriched the secular repertoire. Though primarily celebrated for his devotional masses, motets, and cantatas, Steffani’s versatility shines through operas and secular cantatas that reflect his deep understanding of theatrical expression and harmonic sophistication. Among his most revered works is the Vespers of 1712, widely regarded as a pinnacle in the genre—blending the grandeur of stile rappresentativo with the clarity of stile moderno, and exemplifying his unique synthesis of Baroque emotional intensity and structural precision. ## Sacred Splendor: Masses, Motets, and Cantatas Steffani’s sacred output is extensive and stylistically innovative. His masses reveal a secure command of polyphonic writing, often infused with dramatic contrasts and expressive recitatives that elevate liturgical text into theatrical narrative. His motets—written for canon Vikaries and liturgical occasions—combine intricate counterpoint with expressive word-painting, showcasing his ability to merge intellectual rigor with Emotional immediacy. Equally significant are his cantatas, composed for devotional services across northern Germany, which reflect deep theological insight and profound musical inventiveness. These cantatas often feature complex vocal textures and orchestral colors, demonstrating Steffani’s mastery of balancing sacred gravitas with lyrical beauty.