Carl Stamitz

Karel Stamic (May 7, 1745 - November 1801), who took the German form of his name Karl Stamitz and is now better known as Carl, was a Bohemian composer. He was the most prominent of the second generation of the so-called Mannheim school.

Carl was born in Mannheim and was first taught music by Johann Stamitz, his father and founder of the Mannheim school. He played in the orchestra at Mannheim from 1762 and in 1770 moved to Paris where he became known as a violinist. He later lived in a number of places, including Prague and London.

Stamitz wrote over fifty symphonies and about as many concertos for various instruments, as well as a quantity of chamber music.