Carl Stamitz

On May 8th, 1745 Maria Antonia Luneborn and Jan Václav Antonín Stamic (Germanized as Johann Wenzel Anton Stamitz) welcomed their son, Karl Phillip Stamitz into the world. Although born in Mannheim, a city in Southwestern Germany, Stamitz’s family came from what is now known as Maribor, Slovenia with Czech ancestry roots. He was the oldest of Maria and Johann’s five children; his brother Anton Thadäus Nepomuk, his sister Maria Franziska, and two other siblings who didn’t survive infancy. As the son of one of the greatest baroque and classical violinists of all time, Karl was born into a prodigal family of musicians and would live on to continue the legacy.

Karl’s father Johann left his alma mater, the University of Prague, to begin his career as a violinist at the age of eighteen. Eventually, he was appointed director of the Mannheim Court sometime in 1750 after attending the school for about nine years. Throughout his lifetime he had composed over two hundred works, his best known compositions being his fifty-eight symphonies and ten trios. Christian Cannabich (born Johann Christian Innocenz Bonaventura Cannabich) was the twelve year old student and prodigy of Johann’s. He studied violin with him until appointed to play in the orchestra around 1746. Cannabich was a good friend of many famous musicians such as Mozart, and would eventually replace Johann as the director of the Mannheim court in the future. Karl and his brother Anton first began their music training on the violin with their father, and Cannabich.

After changing his name to Carl at a young age, he and his brother followed in his father’s footsteps and attended the prestigious Mannheim school. The school’s court orchestra comprised of a group of composers and musicia...

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...ude: “Concerto for Flute in G major, Op. 29”, “ Concerto for Viola no 1 in D major”, “Symphonie Concertante for Violin and Viola in D major”, and “Quartets for Clarinet and Strings, Op. 19: no 2 in B flat major ”.

Even today, many classically trained musicians play his works, which are known for their appealing melodies. His works are often compared to those of Mozart’s, and are perceived as mostly being happy and appealing scores. Although Stamitz started his music career as a well-trained violinist who came from a long line of violin players and composers, he is now considered one of the top viola players to ever have lived. His fame and recognition resides on his decision to tour with the harmony of a richer instrument. In the end, just as his father had left a trademark behind after his wake, Carl Stamitz brought forth a contribution in their family’s legacy.