The fame of the Stamitz family is inextricably linked to the so-called 'Mannheimer Schule', the court orchestra that distinguished itself in the mid-eighteenth century by an unprecedented precision of interplay at the time. A large number of pieces were written for this orchestra by various court musicians. Some typical style characteristics later prompted musicologists to speak of a specific
… 'Mannheimer Schule'. The founders of orchestra and musical style include Johann Wenzel Stamitz (1717-1757) from Bohemia, who worked in Mannheim from 1742 until his death. His sons Carl Philipp and Johann Anton grew up in this musical nest, but later settled in Jena and Paris respectively, where they died penniless. Five string quartets of this illustrious trio have been brought together on this CD. They are generally somewhat concise three-part pieces, lasting a maximum of fifteen minutes. They are typical precursors of the classical era: the instrumentation and the formal principles of Haydn and Mozart are already present, but there is no thematic effect, let alone equal treatment of the four instruments. Instead, musical ideas are tied together in a very elegant way, which are mainly entrusted to the first violin. A nice anthology with music from two generations from an influential musical lineage. (JvG) the instrumentation and form principles of Haydn and Mozart are already present, but there is no thematic effect, let alone equal treatment of the four instruments. Instead, musical ideas are tied together in a very elegant way, which are mainly entrusted to the first violin. A nice anthology with music from two generations from an influential musical lineage. (JvG) the instrumentation and form principles of Haydn and Mozart are already present, but there is no thematic effect, let alone equal treatment of the four instruments. Instead, musical ideas are tied together in a very elegant way, which are mainly entrusted to the first violin. A nice anthology with music from two generations from an influential musical lineage. (JvG)more
