Mannheim School

The Mannheim School refers to an orchestra and opera company which was based at the elector's court at Mannheim, Germany from 1720 to 1781, as well as the style of composition which flourished from 1750 under the direction of Johann Stamitz. Made up of some of the finest musicians in all of Europe, the Mannheim court orchestra was renowned for its precision and dynamic control; Charles Burney, a contemporary writer and critic, called it "an army of generals," referring to the fact that so many of the musicians were excellent soloists and composers in their own right. Since their period of activity comes between the end of the Baroque and the beginning of the Classical period, their stylistic diversity were symptomatic of, if not an important influence on, the change which was occurring in musical style during the mid 18th-century.