The son of Johann Stamitz, Carl Stamitz was born in Mannheim, where he had his musical training from his father and his father’s successors. In 1770 he moved to Paris, subsequently travelling as a virtuoso violinist and later as a viola player.

Orchestral Music

Carl Stamitz wrote a quantity of symphonies and symphonies concertantes (orchestral works with contrasting groups of solo instruments). He added significantly to the concerto repertoire, not least in 15 authenticated violin concertos, a number of clarinet concertos and three viola concertos, the last of particular importance in a limited solo repertoire for the instrument.

Chamber Music

Prolific also in his composition of chamber music, Carl Stamitz provided a varied series of compositions for ensembles, ranging from works for wind band to duos, a number of them involving the viola. His style is very much of its period, stemming from the Mannheim tradition.