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Johann Wenzel Anton Stamitz (Czech: Jan Václav
Stamic) (baptized June 30, 1717 - March 27, 1757)
was a composer and violinist.

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 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. He died two years later in Mannheim. 
His post as musical director went to Christian
Cannabich.

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 (music)|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 (music)|dynamics.

Johann was the father of Carl Stamitz and Anton
Stamitz, also composers.

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