Stamitz, Johann

Preface

JOHANN STAMITZ -THE PERIODICAL OVERTURE IN 8 PARTS IX

Published by Robert Bremner at the Harp and Hautboy, opposite Somerset-House, in the Strand
Issued: 29 February 1764; price 2 shillings
Source: Henry Watson Music Library – Courtesy of Manchester Libraries,
Information and Archives, Manchester City Council: BR580St315
Editors: Barnaby Priest & Alyson McLamore
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COMMENTARY
Customers who had acquired the first set of six Periodical Overtures published by Robert Bremner (c.1713–1789) knew that Johann Stamitz (1717–1757) was the only composer to have been represented twice in that set (Periodical Overtures No. 3 and No. 6), suggesting that there had been strong sales of Stamitz’s first contribution to the series. Bremner then used another Stamitz symphony to inaugurate the second set (Periodical Overture No. 7), and we can speculate that it, too, sold well, leading Bremner to publish this fourth Stamitz selection, the Periodical Overture No. 9.
It is probable that Bremner was responding to a British craze for the products of the celebrated Mannheim school of composers. Stamitz was the ensemble leader who had initially brought the Mannheim orchestra to a peak of fame. He had moved to Mannheim from his native Bohemia around 1741, joining the court ensemble as a violinist. On the last day of 1742, Elector Carl Philipp died, and his successor, Carl Theodor, proved to be a generous patron of the arts. Within three years, Stamitz was earning 900 gulden, making him the highest-paid instrumentalist in the Mannheim court, and in 1750, a new post was created for him: “Director of Instrumental Music.” …

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