Carl Stamitz

Karel Stamic (May 7, 1745 - November 9, 1801), who took the German form of his name Karl Philipp Stamitz and is now better known as Carl, was a Czech-German composer, violin, viola and viola d'amore virtuoso. He was the most prominent of the second generation of the so-called Mannheim school.

The exact date of Stamitz's birth is not known, but he was baptised on May 8, 1745. He was born in Mannheim and was first taught music by Johann Stamitz, his father and founder of the Mannheim school. He played in the orchestra at Mannheim from 1762, and in 1770 he moved to Paris where he became known as a violinist. In Paris he was court composer and conductor to the Duc de Noailles. He and his younger brother, Anton, were recurring performers in the Concert Spirituel. He moved to the Hague in 1779 or 1780 and found work as a violist at the court of William V, Prince of Orange. Between 1788 and 1790 he spent a lot of time touring. The last years of his life were spent in Jena, where he was Kapellmeister and a teacher at the University. ["Carl Stamitz: Four Symphonies", Chandos Records, Chan 9358, cd, liner notes.]

Some time prior to 1789, he married Maria Josepha Pilz, and they had four children, who all died in infancy.

Stamitz wrote over fifty symphonies and about as many concertos for various instruments, as well as a quantity of chamber music. His earliest symphonies come from his years with the Mannheim orchestra; his last known symphony is from 1791, the year of Mozart's death. ["Carl Stamitz: Four Symphonies", Chandos Records, Chan 9358, cd, liner notes.] His viola concerto and his first string quartets were first published in 1774. He also wrote two operas, "Der verliebte Vormond" (1787) and "Dardanus" (1780), which have both been lost. [ [http://opera.stanford.edu/composers/S.html Opera Glass] ]

Recordings

*"Symfonies concertante," Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Henry Swoboda, dir., Westminster, WL 50-17 (WL-17 A--WL-17 B), 1950.
*"Four Quartets for Winds and Strings," Nonesuch Records, H-71125, c1966.
*"Chamber music. Selections," Musical Heritage Society, MHS 1403, 1972.
*"Carl Stamitz: Four Symphonies," London Mozart Players, Matthias Bamert, dir., Chandos Records, Chan 9358, 1995.

References

External links

* [http://www.viola-in-music.com/Carl-Stamitz.html Viola in music] – Carl Stamitz
* [http://www.mozartforum.com/Contemporary%20Pages/Carl_Stamitz_Contemp.htm Carl Stamitz] Brief "vita" and discography
* [http://beethovenkoden.no/gahl.htm The Beethoven Code] – with the film "Brødrene Gahl og jakten på Beethovenkoden", which features "violism", inspired by Stamitz
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