Stamitz, Johann (1717-1757)

The six symphonies published in Paris by La Chevardière in 1763 as Opus 7 all appear to have been composed over the period ca 1747-1753. The title page of the publication reads: "SIX / SIMPHONIES / a quatre Parties obliges / avec Haubois et Cors de chasse / Composes par Mr / JEAN STAMITZ / Directeur de la Musique de S.A.S. / Mr l'Electeur Palatin Mannheim. / OEUVRE VII..." The present work, the fifth of the set, was probably composed between 1749 and 1752.Wolf considers the work more akin to an orchestral quartet than a symphony and indeed F5 was issued in London two years later by Bremner as 'Quartetto VI' of a set of six symphonies by various authors. The title page of Bremner's print, upon which this edition is based, reads: In the absence of the autograph score or a set of authentic parts this edition presents as faithfully as possible the intentions of the composer as transmitted in the source. The notation of articulation and dynamic markings has been standardised throughout and, where missing, markings have been reconstructed from parallel passages. These are indicated by the use of dotted slurs or brackets where appropriate. Like most eighteenth-century sources, Bremner's print is inconsistent in its notation of appoggiature; these have also been standardised to minimise confusion. Obvious wrong notes have been silently corrected; otherwise, any editorial emendation with no authority from the source is placed within brackets. Allan Badley