About Anton Stamitz

Today’s post is the middle movement from a violin concerto, Romance by Anton Stamitz. It seems that a music gene ran in the Stamitz family. Violin virtuoso, Johann Stamitz, performed and composed at the dawning of the Classical period. “It is difficult to overestimate Stamitz’s influence” on the both the sonata form and the Minuet and Trio movement he added to the Classical symphony [1].  We also see his influence in his two sons Carl and Anton who followed in his footsteps. Both boys were violinist and composers. Johann Stamitz died in 1757 when Carl was 11 years old and Anton was only 7 years old. 

Found on www.interlude.hk

The two brothers moved to Paris and performed in both France and England. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote to his father after hearing the Anton Stamitz in Paris.

“Of the two Stamitz brothers only the younger one is here, the elder “the real composer (à la Hafeneder) is in London. They indeed are two wretched scribblers, gamblers, swillers and adulterers – not the kind of people for me. The one who is here has scarcely a decent coat to his back.” [2]

The Stamitz brothers were known for their gambling addiction and were often in debt. Anton taught violin while in Paris and was the teacher of the violinist Rudolph Kreutzer, to whom Beethoven dedicated one of his sonatas. He also played in the court orchestra at Versaille. Nothing is known about him once the French Revolution began. His death date is also unknown.

His Compositions

Anton Stamitz’ works for viola and flute are performed more often than his violin compositions. This is the second movement, “Romance,” from Concerto in G Major, Op. 27 for Violin and Orchestra, by Anton Stamitz. Printed bowings are the composers. It uses both 3rd  5th, and 1 measure of 7th position. Some off the string bowing for brushed 16th notes. Look at other pieces at Level 6.   The piano reduction is one I created from the orchestra score. You can find the original string orchestra parts on IMSLP.