Carl Stamitz (SHTAH-mitz)

Born May 8, 1745 in Mannheim, Germany

Died November 9, 1801

Nationality: German

Period/Style: Classical

About the composer:

Carl Stamitz loved the sound of the clarinet!  He wrote 11 concertos for it, but that was only a small part of the music he composed during his lifetime.  He also wrote dozens of concertos for other instruments as well as 50 symphonies, and lots of music that we call “chamber music.”  That means music for small groups of instruments, like a string quartet or a trio.  Part of the reason Stamitz liked the clarinet so much is that it’s not all that different in sound or pitch from the instrument he played, the viola.  He was one of the best viola players of his day, and he earned his living playing in an orchestra and giving solo concerts all over Europe.

About the music:

Clarinet Concerto # 3  (15 min)

Clarinet Concerto #11  (18 min)

Both of these concertos are written in three sections called “movements.”  The first movement is marked “allegro” which means fast and lively.  The second is slower and lyrical, with a lovely melody.  The third is a rondo, which is fast and dance-like. Notice how easily and skillfully the clarinet player glides over the fast-moving notes in the first and third movements, and listen to the beautiful singing quality of the instrument in the slow movement.

Suggested activities:

See if you can find out what a clarinet was called during the Classical period. I’ll give you a hint: it’s a lot like the name of a particular breed of dog!

Find out what a viola is, and how it’s different from a violin.