Johann Stamitz
Johann Wenzel Anton Stamitz (Czech:
Jan Václav Stamic) (
June 19,
1717 –
March 27,
1757) was a Czech
composer and
violinist. Johann was the father of
Carl Stamitz and
Anton Stamitz, also composers.
Stamitz was born in Nemecky Brod (now
Havlickuv Brod,
Czech Republic). His first
music lessons came from his father, an
organist. He later studied at the gymnasium in
Jihlava and at
Charles University in
Prague.
In 1741 he went to
Mannheim, becoming first violinist of the court orchestra there in 1743 and concertmaster in 1745. He served under Kapellmeister
Carlo Grua for his tenure at the Hofkapelle. He raised the level of the orchestra to a point where it was one of the most respected in Europe. In 1754-55 he spent time in
Paris, where his music was well received.
Stamitz, generally regarded as the founder and most prominent member of the so-called
Mannheim School of composers, wrote a number of
concertos (mainly for
violin or
flute), a quantity of
chamber music and a
mass (1755). His most significant works, however, are his
symphonies, of which he wrote over fifty. He was the first composer to regularly write symphonies in a four-movement form, adding the
minuet and
trio to the other three standard movements. In introducing a second group of contrasting thematic material to his opening movements, he also did much to develop what would become known as
sonata form.
In common with other composers of the Mannheim School, Stamitz is also noted for giving a more prominent role to
wind instruments, and making more adventurous use of
dynamics.
Stamitz died in 1757 in Mannheim. His post as musical director went to
Christian Cannabich.
