Stamitz (lived 18th–early 19th centuries)

Bohemian family of musicians:

Johann Wenzel Anton (1717–1757), violinist and composer. He entered the service of the Electoral court at Mannheim in 1741, became principal violinist in 1743 and later music director. Under him the orchestra became the most famous in Europe, called by Charles Burney ‘an army of generals’. He was the founder and most important member of the Mannheim school of symphonists, which had a profound influence on Mozart's instrumental style.

His works include 74 symphonies (58 extant); concertos for violin, harpsichord, flute, oboe, clarinet; trio sonatas and other chamber music, violin sonatas.

Carl (1745–1801), violinist and composer, son and pupil of Johann. He entered the Mannheim orchestra as second violin in 1762, then went to Strasbourg (1770), Paris, and London, appearing as a virtuoso on the violin and viola d'amore. He continued to travel widely, visiting Prague in 1787 and Russia in 1790, until, in 1794, he settled in Jena as music director to the university.

His works include the operas Der verliebte Vormund (1787) and Dardanus (1800); about 80 symphonies and sinfonies concertantes; concertos; chamber music.

Johann Anton (1750–before 1809), violinist and composer, son and pupil of Johann. In 1770 he went with his brother Carl to Paris, where he settled as violinist in the court orchestra. Rodolphe Kreutzer was his pupil. He wrote 12 symphonies, concertos for violin, viola, flute, and oboe, as well as chamber music.