Jan Václav Antonín Stamic

Czech composer and violinist (June 18, 1717, Německý Brod, presently Havlíčkův Brod, Czechia – March 27, 1757, Mannheim, Germany), during his life in Mannheim germanized as Johann Wenzel Anton Stamitz (usually referred as Johann Stamitz). Father of Carl Stamitz (or Karel Stamic) and Anton Stamitz (Antonín Stamic in Czech, baptized Tadeáš Johan Nepomuk Stamic), also composers. He belongs to the co-founders of the classical era in music. His main innovation was in the adoption of symphonic works to the cycle of four movements - he was the first composer to use it consistently. He also contributed to the development of the sonata form, most often used in the first movements of symphonies. Stamic was the founder of famous "Mannheim school", very important for the development of classicist style.