Stamitz, Johann 1717-1757

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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 at the Concerts Spirituels.

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, notably the crescendo. He was the first to introduce the oboe into the symphony orchestra.

Stamitz died in 1757 in Mannheim.