Anton Stamitz, the son of the pioneer of the symphonic form Johann Stamitz, is one of the lesser known composers of the Mannheim circle. Unlike his older brother Carl, Anton Stamitz published only few compositions, and only relatively few manuscripts of his works are extant today. We also know quite little about his life. He was born in Deutsch Brod (today Havlickuv Brod) on 27 November 1750 and was named Anton Thadäus Johann Nepomuk. At the age of ten, he was already employed as a violinist in the Mannheim orchestra. In 1770 he accompanied his brother Carl to Strasbourg and later to Paris. He then decided to settle in Paris and was active there primarily as a violin teacher. His most famous pupil was Rodolphe Kreutzer. Anton Stamitz died most likely before 1809.

Many of Anton Stamitz’ works are written in the light and pleasant but not too original style characteristic of the second generation of Mannheim musicians. However, some of his works (above all the chamber music pieces) disclose occasional personal traits such as surprising harmonic turns and a remarkable sensitivity of expression. The present work, reprinted here for the first time on the basis of a contemporary edition, has been drawn from a collection of flute music brought out by his Parisian publisher. The original print is in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris and leaves no room for doubt that this is actually a piece for unaccompanied flute.

Peter Gradenwitz, Spring 1956