Stamitz, Johann [key], 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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