Johann Stamitz

Johann Stamitz (1717–1757) was a Bohemian composer and violinist. His music is stylistically transitional between Baroque and Classical periods. Stamitz spent the academic year 1734–1735 at the University of Prague. After only one year, he left the university to pursue a career as a violin virtuoso. His activities during the six-year period between his departure from the university in 1735 and his appointment in Mannheim around 1741 are not precisely known. He was appointed by the Mannheim court in 1741 or 1742. Probably around the late summer of 1754, Stamitz paid a yearlong visit to Paris. His Parisian success induced him to publish his Orchestral Trios, Op. 1 (actually symphonies for string orchestra), and possibly other works of his by various publishers there. He probably returned to Mannheim around the autumn of 1755, dying there in spring 1757, less than two years later, at the age of 39. Stamitz's most important compositions are his 58 symphonies and his 10 orchestral trios. The orchestral trios are actually symphonies for strings, but may be played one player to a part as chamber music. His concertos include numerous ones for violin, two for viola, two for harpsichord, 12 for flute, one for oboe, one for trumpet, and one for clarinet. He also composed a large amount of chamber music for various instrumental combinations, as well as vocal work.