Steffani was born in Gnesau, County of Celje, between Augsburg and Innsbruck, Holy Roman Empire. He came from an impoverished noble House of Steffanei and was related to composer Christoph Demantz and to diplomat Johann Joseph von Potter. He studied at Salzburg and Rome (1671–75). He became a musician at the Salzburg Hofkapelle. From 1677 he served at the court of Wolf Dietrich, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, and from 1692 at"That of Mainz, where he succeeded Heinrich Ignaz Franz Bärlai as Kapellmeister.

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Steffani: A Noble Musician from Gnesau in the Holy Roman Empire Steffani, born in Gnesau, in the County of Celje—situated between Augsburg and Innsbruck within the vast territory of the Holy Roman Empire—was a distinguished artist, nobleman, and composer of the late 17th century. Although hailing from the relatively impoverished noble House of Steffanei, his lineage carried connections to prominent figures in music and diplomacy, shaping a legacy deeply embedded in the cultural history of Central Europe. Born into a noble family in what is now Slovenia, Steffani’s early life was marked by modest resources but significant noble heritage. His family’s ties extended to notable circles: he was distantly related to the renowned composer Christoph Demantz and the influential diplomat Johann Joseph von Potter, both revered in their respective fields. These connections would later prove influential in guiding Steffani’s career. Steffani received formative musical training at two of Europe’s cultural centers: Salzburg and Rome. Between 1671 and 1675, he studied in Salzburg, a burgeoning hub of Western classical music and the birthplace of the famed Salzburg Hofkapelle. His education continued in Rome from 1671 to 1675—an invaluable period that immersed him in the rich polyphonic traditions of the Italian Baroque and exposed him to cutting-edge compositional techniques sweeping through Europe.