[aulos43]

In the second quarter of the 18th century, owing to a confluence of wealth, political stability, enlightened patronage and an abundance of musical talent, a relatively large (for the time), highly disciplined orchestra was developed at Mannheim, by then the capital of the Electorate of the Palatinate. Johann Stamitz is seen as a prime contributor and a major innovator, putting Mannheim on the map of world musical capitals, along with Paris, Vienna and Hamburg.

One of the innovations was a concerted crescendo by the whole orchestra -- it was said to make the ladies swoon. This became known as the Mannheim Crescendo.

Walt