Stamitz, Johann

Stamitz, Johann (yō`hän shtä`mĭts), 1717–57, Bohemian-German composer. Stamitz came to Mannheim (1741) and became (1745) concertmaster of the Mannheim orchestra. He made it the best in Europe. Stamitz wrote more than 50 symphonies, a dozen violin concertos, concertos for various other instruments, and chamber music. In developing the form of the sonata movement with two contrasting subjects and increasing the complexity of the bass part, Stamitz crucially influenced the course of symphonic writing. His most prominent son was

Karl Stamitz, 1745–1801, a musician and composer. Karl was taught music by his father and F. X. Richter. He was a violin and viola d'amore virtuoso and wrote more than 50 symphonies, 60 concertos, and vocal and chamber music in the galant style (a light, gay style used for short movements of the classicial suite).

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Stamitz, Johann (Wenzel Anton)

(baptized June 19, 1717, Deutschbrod, Bohemia—died March 27?, 1757, Mannheim, Palatinate) Bohemian-born German composer and violinist. He joined the elector's court in Mannheim c. 1741, and he soon became director of its orchestra, which he built into the finest in Europe. He wrote some 75 symphonies, in which he helped establish the four-movement form as the standard and introduced the orchestral crescendo to Germany from Italian music. He and his students (including his sons) made up what is called the Mannheim school. His son Carl (1745–1801), also a composer and violinist, played in Mannheim, toured widely as a soloist, and wrote more than 50 symphonies.

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Stamitz, Johann 

(also Jan Václav Antonín Stamic). Born June 19, 1717, in Havlíčkův-Brod; died Mar. 27,1757, in Mannheim. Czech composer, violinist, and conductor.

Stamitz studied music both with his father and at a Jesuit school in Jihlava. He worked in Prague. In 1744 he became first violinist of the Mannheim orchestra and in 1748 the orchestra’s concertmaster and director of chamber music. He made appearances in German cities and in Paris as a virtuoso violinist and conductor. Stamitz was the leader of the Mannheim school of music.

As a performer and composer, Stamitz reflected the artistic ideals of the Enlightenment and the traditions of Czech folk music in his work. He composed 74 symphonies, as well as orchestral trios and instrumental concertos, sonatas, capriccios, duets, and church music. He developed the sonata form and dynamic orchestral effects, introduced dramatic and heroic elements and thematic contrasts, and included French horns and clarinets in the orchestra. His students included his sons Carl and Anton and C. Cannabich.

REFERENCES

Belza, I. Istoriia cheshskoi muzykal’noi kul’tury, vol. 1. Moscow, 1959.
Pospiäil, A. KolemJan Václava Stamice. [Havlícküv-Brod] 1947.