Carl Stamitz was born in 1717 to Johann Stamitz, founder of the renowned Mannheim School of composers. Carl was a precocious musician, earning a post in the Mannheim court orchestra at age 17, where he continued in various leadership positions as a performer until his departure in 1770. The rest of Stamitz’s career is filled with travel throughout Europe as a virtuoso and composer, producing a prolific number of works throughout his life. Unfortunately, Stamitz lived at a time where financial security was not feasible as a freelance composer/performer and Stamitz accrued significant debts by the end of his life. 

During his 7 years in Paris, Stamitz became acquainted with Joseph Beer, a Bohemian Clarinet virtuoso. It was this relationship that began Stamitz’s intense focus on writing for solo clarinet, leading to 11 clarinet concertos over the course of his life.  Johannes Wojciechowski, the editor of the Peters edition of Concerto No. 3, states categorically that Stamitz, “...ranks as the originator of the clarinet concerto having been the first to recognize the soloistic possibilities of the clarinet and to establish it in the orchestra!”

Stamitz’s Clarinet Concerto No. 3 is composed in the classical style. The opening movement is in basic Sonata form and alternates between more full tutti sections, in which the strings take on a leading role, and solo sections in which the clarinet soloist plays over the orchestra. The piece features sparkling and sprightly music throughout its opening movement, bringing a joyous quality to any concert program.