Composer, violinist. Son of Johann Stamitz. He studied with his father and also with Christian Cannabich, Ignaz Holzbauer, and Franz X. Richter. He joined the Mannheim orchestra in 1762 and went to Paris with his brother Anton in 1770, where they performed together at the Concert spirituel for the first time in 1772. He traveled widely as a virtuoso on the violin, viola, and viola d'amore during the 1770s and 1780s. He wrote more than fifty symphonies; at least thirty-eight symphonies concertantes; and more than sixty concertos for violin, viola, viola d'amore, cello, clarinet, flute, and other instruments. He also wrote a good deal of chamber music for various combinations.