Revisions in Steffani's Chamber Duets

Abstract

The chamber duets for two voices and continuo by Agostino Steffani (1654–1728) have always been considered models of perfection. In 1739 Johann Mattheson wrote that in this form Steffani was above comparison with any other composer known to him—and he was presumably including Handel.Mattheson defined the chamber duet as an aria for two voices instead of one. That both singers speak with one and the same voice is true not only of the duet movements but also of the solo movements within chamber duets. In the duet examined later, for example, both the soprano and contralto represent the lover of Cloris, to whom the text is addressed. This feature helps to distinguish most chamber duets from dialogue cantatas, in which each singer has a different role.